Springfield, Illinois native D… Read Full Bio ↴http://www.danielknox.com/signup.html
Springfield, Illinois native Daniel Knox escaped to the big city in 1999 to attend film school. Intent on composing his own scores, he began sneaking into the Hilton Tower’s Grand Ballroom to teach himself to play the piano. As this bit of mischief gradually paid off, plucking became music-making, and when he incorporated his booming tenor, sound-scapes became songs. Years later, he has amassed a dark and diverse repertoire, addictive as much for its narrative and lyrical deftness as for its musical lure.
In January of 2007, Knox accompanied filmmaker David Lynch on organ for the Chicago premier of Inland Empire at the historic Music Box Theater. This led to his participation in David Coulter’s (Damon Albarn, Tom Waits, Nick Cave) production of ‘Plague Songs’ at the Barbican in London alongside the likes of Damon Albarn, Rufus Wainwright, Sandy Dillon, Imogen Heap, and Phil Minton. It was a bang-up London debut - enough for the Evening Standard to refer to Knox as a “name to watch.”
Following the event, he played his first batch of shows outside the borders of Illinois to enthusiastic, capacity audiences in the UK and Ireland as the support act for the Handsome Family.
More recently, he performed with Rufus Wainwright and opera star, Jessye Norman at Robert Wilson’s Watermill Center, contributed vocals to Jarvis Cocker’s 2009 album Further Complications, lent a song to the short film Taxidermist (Bertie Films, UK) and shared stages with Cocker, Baby Dee, Camille O’Sullivan, the Bitter Tears, and A Hawk and a Hacksaw. He continues to add to his recorded output – which includes the full-length and first of a trilogy H.P. Johnson Presents : Disaster and the soon to be completed follow up Evryman For Himself.
Knox is recording Evryman at his home in Chicago. Some of the songs soar, some lilt and jeer, but all are stamped with his contagious melodies and preoccupation with styles of the 1920’s – a peculiar package for his lyrical jabs and barbs.
A Harold Arlen for the darker set, he bellows tales of disillusionment, obsession, and criminal intent with as much sarcasm as sincerity. Daniel Knox is a rogue at the piano, crooning, sneering and shouting so that his cast of characters may speak.
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“With his roguish wit and rich warble, this telegenic Chicagoan pianist was the highlight of the Barbican’s ‘Twisted Christmas’.”
Time Out London in a preview of “2009’s Hottest Music Acts”
“A name to watch” London’s Evening Standard
“Daniel Knox opens” Chicago Reader
“Divine Comedy-ish crooner” Time Out London
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Slowly
Daniel Knox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do it slowly.
Im yours of course im yours, only.
Stupid heart
Stupid heart is breaking
All of this
All of this
If you have to take it away,
Do it slowly
The opening lines of Daniel Knox's song Slowly express a reluctance to let something go, while acknowledging the inevitability of its loss. The plea to "do it slowly" implies a desire to savor every last moment before the inevitable separation. The singer acknowledges that he belongs to the object of his affection - "I'm yours of course I'm yours, only" - but the repetition of the word "only" comes across as both possessive and desperate, as if the singer is trying to convince himself as much as the object of his love.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals that his "stupid heart" is breaking. Despite his desire to hold on and cherish every moment, he knows that he cannot control what is happening. He resigns himself to the fact that he is a "broken man" who is "yours for the taking." This shift from a possessive stance to one of resignation highlights the theme of loss and acceptance that runs through the song.
Overall, Slowly is a poignant meditation on letting go and acknowledging the impermanence of love. The contradiction between the desire to hold on tightly and the recognition that everything must eventually come to an end creates a bittersweet emotional landscape that is both relatable and raw.
Line by Line Meaning
If you have to take it away,
If you must remove what belongs to me,
Do it slowly.
Do it gently and gradually, not abruptly or harshly.
I'm yours of course I'm yours, only.
I belong to you, exclusively and without question.
Stupid heart
My foolish, vulnerable heart
Stupid heart is breaking
My heart is hurting and slowly falling apart
All of this
Everything that is happening
All of this
The whole situation I am in
Broken man is yours for the taking
I am damaged and in pain, and you have the power to claim and possess me.
Writer(s): Daniel Knox
Contributed by Vivian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.