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
Wallingford
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reaching out and not letting go
Many times I find I am let down
By the ones, who keep me close
Are you kept then told like a secret
Do you find that you're kept in the dark
Calling out, your voice is an echo
As a whole
As a whole
Free to fly but your wings haven't grown out
Many windows in the house
Please tell us what concerns you
Not to help, but to look the part
Anxiously awaiting your arrival
You look like you could use a rest
Overwhelmed by all the excitement
Better friends to take your place
As a whole
As a whole
As a whole
As a whole
The lyrics of Damien Jurado's song "Wallingford" speak to the challenges of finding true trust and support in relationships. The opening lines convey a sense of vulnerability and a need for a dependable hand to hold onto. However, the singer suggests that the people closest to him have let him down in the past, leading to feelings of isolation and being kept in the dark. The line "calling out, your voice is an echo, no words come back, but your own" captures the sense of futility that can arise when seeking connection with others.
The song's chorus, "as a whole," is repeated several times throughout the song, suggesting a desire for unity and a sense of belonging. However, this desire is contrasted with the feeling of being "free to fly but your wings haven't grown out," suggesting a sense of limitation or feeling trapped in one's current situation. The lines "please tell us what concerns you, not to help, but to look the part" convey a sense of insincerity and inauthenticity in social interactions, adding to the overall feeling of disillusionment with human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
What I need is a hand that'll hold on
I require someone to give me support and stability by being there for me when I need them.
Reaching out and not letting go
This person should extend their hand to mine, and not let go until I'm ready to move on my own again.
Many times I find I am let down
I often feel disappointed or frustrated by the people around me.
By the ones, who keep me close
The people I rely on the most are often the ones who disappoint me the most.
Are you kept then told like a secret
Do you feel like you're being hidden away, kept out of sight from others in some way?
Do you find that you're kept in the dark
Do you feel left out of important conversations or decisions, like you're not being told everything you should be?
Calling out, your voice is an echo
Do you feel like nobody is listening to you, or like your words are just bouncing off of an invisible wall?
No words come back, but your own
Even when you try to communicate, it feels like nobody is really engaging with you or understanding what you're saying.
Free to fly but your wings haven't grown out
You are technically free to do what you want, but you feel like you aren't ready or prepared enough to take on the responsibility.
Many windows in the house
There are many possible avenues that you could explore or paths you could take, but you're not sure which ones to choose.
Please tell us what concerns you
People are encouraging you to share your thoughts, feelings, and worries with them, but it feels like they're just going through the motions rather than actually caring about what you have to say.
Not to help, but to look the part
People may be asking for your input or advice, but they're not actually interested in implementing any changes based on what you say.
Anxiously awaiting your arrival
People are looking forward to seeing you, but you feel a sense of pressure or anxiety about living up to their expectations.
You look like you could use a rest
Others can tell that you are tired or burnt out, and they want you to take a break or rest for a while.
Overwhelmed by all the excitement
You're feeling anxious or stressed out about something that other people are finding energizing or fun.
Better friends to take your place
You feel like you're being replaced by other people who could do a better job of meeting or exceeding the expectations of those around you.
As a whole
All of these different experiences and emotions taken together create a sense of dissonance or dissatisfaction.
As a whole
All of these different experiences and emotions taken together create a sense of dissonance or dissatisfaction.
As a whole
All of these different experiences and emotions taken together create a sense of dissonance or dissatisfaction.
As a whole
All of these different experiences and emotions taken together create a sense of dissonance or dissatisfaction.
Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.