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 Way You Look
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I find I'm wanting more
It's so much a part of it
When I drop down from the sky
So much I could find
In a happy house so high above the clouds
It all depends how you feel
It's just the way that it is
I wanna be you
Breaking hearts, they make no sound
In this I have found an excuse for jealousy
Kill the sun and make them blind
So much they will find
In a happy house so high above the clouds
It's not the way that you look, no
It all depends how you feel
It's just the way that it is
I wanna be you
The lyrics of "The Way You Look" by Damien Jurado & Gathered in Song are thoughtful and introspective. The first verse describes a feeling of longing and desire for something more, from the ceiling to the floor. The second line emphasizes this feeling of wanting more, indicating that it is an integral part of the singer's being. However, the line 'It's so much a part of it' could also suggest that wanting more has become such a routine that it's lost its meaning, even though the feeling persists.
The second verse begins with the singer expressing a desire to escape the monotony of their everyday life. The sky is often associated with freedom and liberation, and the singer implies that dropping down from the sky would be a way to escape from their earthly problems. However, they also acknowledge that there could be many pleasant surprises waiting for them in a happy house high above the clouds. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for striving for a higher state of mind.
The chorus 'It's not the way that you look, no / It all depends how you feel / It's just the way that it is / I wanna be you' is a reflection on the superficiality of first impressions. It suggests that what lies beneath can be far more meaningful than what is on the surface. The singer wants to be like the person they are talking about, regardless of how they look. This could be an indication of the singer's insecurity about their own appearance or a commentary on how society values physical beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
From the ceiling to the floor
I feel like I am lacking something and I am searching for it everywhere
I find I'm wanting more
The feeling of emptiness persists and I crave for something more fulfilling
It's so much a part of it
The longing for something more meaningful is an integral part of my existence
When I drop down from the sky
When I am faced with reality instead of dreaming of idealistic scenarios
So much I could find
There are many possibilities and opportunities in the real world that can fulfill me
In a happy house so high above the clouds
In a state of idealistic bliss and ignorance, far from reality
It's not the way that you look, no
It's not just about physical appearance
It all depends how you feel
It is about how you feel and perceive things
It's just the way that it is
That's just the way things are and I have to accept it
I wanna be you
I envy your state of mind and wish to emulate it
Breaking hearts, they make no sound
Harming others emotionally does not make a sound but causes harm nonetheless
In this I have found an excuse for jealousy
I use this fact as an excuse to justify my jealousy towards others
Kill the sun and make them blind
By taking away their source of joy, they will see things the way I do
So much they will find
Once others lose their source of joy, they will be able to understand my perspective
In a happy house so high above the clouds
In a state of idealistic bliss and ignorance, far from reality
It's not the way that you look, no
It's not just about physical appearance
It all depends how you feel
It is about how you feel and perceive things
It's just the way that it is
That's just the way things are and I have to accept it
I wanna be you
I envy your state of mind and wish to emulate it
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind