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
Sucker
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A cheap shot, I know, but someone had to do it
"It isn't like he deserves it," that's easy for you to say
He's not your kind, he's not your type
Just look into his eyes
On my side of town we let the lights go down
Get out your knives and go for a long drive
Eventually you'll, too, gather dust like the rest of us
Left out to rust
So tell me tonight, can we be magnetic
Lightning will strike and some of us will get it
Now that I'm social, I'm at your disposal, a chair at the table
Eventually you'll, too, gather dust like the rest of us
Left out to rust
The lyrics of the song Sucker by Damien Jurado paint a picture of a dark and conflicted mind. The first verse talks about blowing out someone's windows with both eyes closed, and admitting that it was a cheap shot but someone had to do it. The singer seems to be struggling with feelings of anger and resentment towards someone who may have wronged them in some way, but at the same time, they acknowledge that it may not be entirely justified. The use of the line "he's not your kind, he's not your type" implies that the singer may be feeling an outsider in some way, and projecting those feelings onto this other person.
The second verse connects this theme of feeling like an outsider to a larger context of societal norms. The singer talks about their side of town being different, and how they let the lights go down and go for a long drive with knives. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for a sense of danger or rebellion that the singer feels is missing from the more mainstream parts of society. They also refer to themselves as a "yard sale collectable for your table," implying that they see themselves as something that's been discarded or rejected by others. Additionally, the line "eventually you'll, too, gather dust like the rest of us left out to rust" gives the impression that the singer is resigned to a kind of bleak fate, in which everyone will eventually be forgotten and lost to time.
Overall, Sucker is a song about feeling disconnected and disillusioned with the world around you. It touches on themes of anger, rebellion, and inevitability, and suggests that there is a certain magnetism to these emotions that draws people towards them.
Line by Line Meaning
With both eyes closed I blew out his windows
I deliberately broke his car's windows while closing my eyes.
A cheap shot, I know, but someone had to do it
I admit it was an unfair move, but I felt like it had to be done.
"It isn't like he deserves it," that's easy for you to say
You don't understand why I did it and it's easy for you to say he didn't deserve it.
He's not your kind, he's not your type
He's not the kind of person you'd associate with or relate to.
Just look into his eyes
If you really knew him, you would see beyond his exterior.
On my side of town we let the lights go down
In my neighborhood, the streets are usually quiet and dimly lit.
Get out your knives and go for a long drive
Let's go for a drive and look for trouble or something to do.
I'm nothing special, a yard sale collectable for your table
I don't consider myself unique or valuable, just another item to be bought and sold like a used object.
Eventually you'll, too, gather dust like the rest of us
Inevitably, everyone will lose their shine and begin to decline like everything else.
Left out to rust
Abandoned or forgotten, like an old, rusting object.
So tell me tonight, can we be magnetic
Can we have an intense connection or attraction tonight?
Lightning will strike and some of us will get it
An unexpected and powerful event will happen, and some of us will be affected by it.
Now that I'm social, I'm at your disposal, a chair at the table
Since I'm more outgoing and friendly now, I'm there for you and can be counted on to be part of your life.
Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.