Jurado's solo career began during the mid-1990s, releasing lo-fi folk based recordings on his own cassette-only label, Casa Recordings, beginning in 1995.
Jurado often makes use of found-sound and field-recording techniques, and has experimented with different forms of tape recordings. In 2000 he released Postcards and Audio Letters, a collection of found audio letters and fragments that he had found from sources such as thrift store tape players and answering machines. Also released in 2000 was Ghost of David,, Jurado's bleakest and most personal sounding record to date. I Break Chairs, (2002) was produced by long time friend, David Bazan. It was his last album for Sub Pop, and was a much rockier, electric affair. After signing for the Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian, Damien Jurado reverted to his trademark folk ballad-based style, releasing six more albums: Where Shall You Take Me? (2003), On My Way To Absence (2005), And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (2006), Caught in the Trees (2008), Saint Bartlett (2010) and Maraqopa (2012).
Official blog: iamcaughtinthetrees.blogspot.com
So on Nevada
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leaving the room saying you would come back and I believed you
Don't hide your smile, don't be set in your ways, hey hey hey
And I'll bide my time with you by my side in Colorado
The birds will fly south so you take their advice and Leave also
Don't call my bluff, don't guess what I do, ooh, ooh, ooh
I know that you mean well, but it's dragging me down
Oh, it's dragging me down
And I could map ties and I'll finally decide on a new home
I'll phone your from somewhere, sometime, so on, Nevada
Don't call my friends, they don't answer the phone, no, no, no
Well, it's not that I mind you just hanging around
I know that you mean well, but it's dragging me down
Whoa, it's dragging me down
The lyrics of Damien Jurado's song "So on Nevada" are quite poignant and introspective. The singer seems to be addressing a person who is always down, never feeling fine. He reminisces about a time when this person left the room, promising to come back, and he believed them. The singer pleads with this person to not hide their smile, not to be set in their ways and to heed the birds' advice and leave, even though it might be hard to do so.
The singer then goes on to express some frustration with this person's constant presence. He acknowledges that they mean well, but their constant hanging around is dragging him down. He says that he's been able to map out ties and will finally decide on a new home, and promises to call this person from somewhere, sometime, so on, Nevada. He urges this person not to call his friends because they don't answer the phone.
Overall, the song seems to be about the singer trying to let go of someone who is constantly bringing him down. He recognizes that this person means well but their constant presence is becoming suffocating. The repetition of the line "it's dragging me down" emphasizes the weight the singer feels from this person's presence. The reference to the birds flying south and the promise to call from Nevada symbolize a desire for change and new beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't recall ever a time when you felt fine
I cannot remember a single moment when you were truly happy.
Leaving the room saying you would come back and I believed you
You always promised to return, and I believed every word you said.
Don't hide your smile, don't be set in your ways, hey hey hey
Be genuine and open yourself up to new experiences.
And I'll bide my time with you by my side in Colorado
I am willing to wait patiently for you as long as you are with me in Colorado.
The birds will fly south so you take their advice and Leave also
As the birds migrate, take it as a sign to move on and leave as well.
Don't call my bluff, don't guess what I do, ooh, ooh, ooh
Do not try to read my actions or intentions and call out my bluffs.
Well, it's not that I mind you just hanging around
I do not necessarily object to your company.
I know that you mean well, but it's dragging me down
You have good intentions, but being around you is making me unhappy.
And I could map ties and I'll finally decide on a new home
I can sever old connections and finally make a decision on a new home.
I'll phone your from somewhere, sometime, so on, Nevada
I will call you from an unspecified location at an unspecified time, somewhere along the way in Nevada.
Don't call my friends, they don't answer the phone, no, no, no
Do not try to contact my friends, as they will not answer.
Whoa, it's dragging me down
This situation is having a negative effect on me and bringing me down.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Damien Jurado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind