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
The Falling Snow
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reaching for me in the falling snow
I would have stayed, you said I should go
How will you make it home
Leaving your way, I heard you got lost
Losing your voice to the ground below
I stayed awake until you were home
Come down from your mountain
You've been gone too long
If you will then you should say so
Don't leave me hanging on
Out from my open window
We could hear you breathing
Hope gone but it does not hold on
Every mountain falls
Somebody said you would be gone
Somebody said you would be gone
Somebody said you would be gone
Somebody said you would be gone
The Falling Snow, written and performed by Damien Jurado, tells the story of someone who fell so hard while trying to reach out for the singer, who is unsure about what to do. The falling snow acts as a metaphor for the confusion and uncertainty that he faces in trying to figure out what the other person wants. The singer alludes to the fact that he would have preferred to stay, but the falling snow made it difficult to decide.
The second verse shows the consequences of the person's decision: she got lost and lost her voice. The singer tries to help and stays awake until she makes it home, which takes days. The tension in the song comes from the conflict between staying and going, showing that sometimes the right decision is challenging to make. When the singer implores the other person to come down from the mountain, it's a metaphor for a return to reality and facing their issues rather than hiding. The refrain "Somebody said you would be gone" is a warning of the potential fallout when one is lost in their thoughts and unable to communicate.
Line by Line Meaning
When you fell, you fell so hard
When you stumbled and lost your way, you did so with great intensity and severity
Reaching for me in the falling snow
You were desperately trying to find me while surrounded by the cold, harsh winter weather
I would have stayed, you said I should go
Although I was willing to stay and help you, you insisted that I leave and let you figure things out on your own
How will you make it home
I am worried about your ability to find your way back to safety and security
Leaving your way, I heard you got lost
When you chose to go your own path without my guidance, I heard that you became disoriented and unable to find your way
Losing your voice to the ground below
You were so overwhelmed by your situation that you lost your voice and were unable to cry for help
I stayed awake until you were home
I stayed up all night, anxiously waiting for your safe return
It was days and days and
It seemed to take an unbearable amount of time for you to finally make it back home
Come down from your mountain
You have isolated yourself and created your own problems, it's time to come back down to reality
You've been gone too long
You have been absent for so long that it's causing concern and worry
If you will then you should say so
If you have a plan or a desire to change things, you need to communicate that to those who care about you
Don't leave me hanging on
It's unfair and hurtful to leave me in a state of uncertainty and doubt about your well-being
Out from my open window
I am watching and waiting for any sign of your presence or return
We could hear you breathing
Although you were lost and far away, we could still sense your presence and know that you are still alive
Hope gone but it does not hold on
Although it seems like all hope is lost, we still hold onto the possibility of your safe return
Every mountain falls
Even the greatest challenges can be overcome with perseverance and determination
Somebody said you would be gone
Rumors and speculation about your disappearance and absence have been circulating
Somebody said you would be gone
There are multiple sources claiming that you are no longer around
Somebody said you would be gone
The news of your disappearance has spread to the point where it's difficult to ignore
Somebody said you would be gone
It's been confirmed by multiple people that you are no longer here and it's causing great concern and worry
Contributed by Aaron R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
orbitalwarrior
best song on the album, for me. So beautiful!
Roscoe
thx for uploadin