DeYarmond Edison is a band of young men with a propensity for sounding old. Their modern elucidation of the singer-songwriter style comes from having soaked up the soul of the past, as well as a vision of the limitless potential for the future of Americana music. They ring it out on their audiences with a mature variety of instrumentation, including piano, banjo, blues harp, vibraphone, pedal steel guitar, organ, an array of electric and cross-acoustic guitars, fretless bass, and a drum set from the 1930's.
The songs are born from seasoned songwriter Justin Vernon (a Bug Music Nashville-published writer), and expanded, colored and filled in by brothers Phil and Brad Cook (who have been with Vernon for nine years), Brian Moen, Joe Westerlund, and Christopher Porterfield. Their stunning list of influences bleed through into their music without ever taking over DYE's own handle on originality. With feet in the grave of the blues, ala Muddy Waters and Mississippi John Hurt, through to the birth of new Americana music from composers such as Bill Frisell and singers like Richard Buckner – without ever leaving behind the gospel of Mahalia Jackson, the high lonesome sounds of Ralph Stanley, the wickedness of Tom Waits, the sensibility of Bonnie Raitt, the R and B of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, the rock of Springsteen, tenderness of Jackson Browne and the hidden existentialism of John Prine. - From Volume One Mag
The band dissolved in 2006, with the Cooks and Westerlund going on to form Megafaun, and Justin Vernon leading Bon Iver. The band reunited to play two shows in their hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin in October of 2007.
The Lake
DeYarmond Edison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My sun sets fire to my feeling
I'm on the path near the lake
And it's stopping my breathing
but it's still not a surprise
It's in my chest
It's in my ribs
It's my grieving
But it's not sad
It's more of a longing
That comes for the season
That I'm in
And I always wonder just where it's been
And when I die
I hope my soul doesn't go on and fly
I hope it just stays right here
Looking up into the sky
Cause I know where I'm gonna die
For a beautiful lover in the morning
And once in the evening
I see the kids in the water
Full of being
And then I will smile
And the winter months only last for a while
Looking up at the grey
But I wouldn't ever have to worry 'bout freezing
Just sit and ponder
Never have to think about reason
I'd be just somebody's memory
But how different is it
When you're just walking down the street
You're always in a place that you're not
You're inside of your loved ones
I'm just someone's friend
I still wake up every day
And don't see an end
The stillness kills me
With a filledness that brings us to staring
Out far beyond the shore
The fire's brewing and glaring
On the mirror on the lake
And in the hold there's black, there's red,
Orange and with the blue
Never mind the breeze, never mind the miracles,
I got me and I got you
I know that this is my fate
And if I was God
This isn't even something that I could create
And if I was God
This isn't even something that I could create
And if I was God
This isn't even something that I could create
And when I die
I hope my soul doesn't go on and fly
I hope it just stays right here
Looking up into the sky
Cause I know where I'm gonna die
When the Lord comes down
To take me back to the sky
When the Lord comes down
To bring us back to the sky
When the Lord comes down
I'll look Him straight in the eye
I'll look Him straight in the eye
DeYarmond Edison’s song “The Lake” captures the essence of the emotional roller coaster that is life. The haunting melody is accompanied by profound lyrics that playfully describe the emotions that bubble up during the changing seasons. The song is a reflection of the band members’ experiences as they spend time on the path near the lake, where they feel the heat of the sun set fire to their feelings and stop their breathing. This is a metaphor for the intensity of emotions experienced during various stages of life.
The lyrics also talk about the longing that comes with the changing seasons. The writer describes the stillness that kills him with a “filledness that brings us to staring” out far beyond the shore. The line captures the vacant but full feeling that often comes with introspection. There is a sense of yearning for connection, appreciation, and significance that The Lake so eloquently captures.
The last few lines where the writer hopes their soul does not fly away but stays right where they are, and the line “when the lord comes down, I’ll look him straight in the eye” convey a sense of acceptance of mortality and resignation to the inevitability of death. The lyrics suggest the importance of cherishing each moment as an opportunity to connect with loved ones, appreciate beautiful moments and be present for as long as possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Every once in the months
Occasionally, every few months
My sun sets fire to my feeling
My emotions ignite and intensify
I'm on the path near the lake
I am walking on a trail near a body of water
And it's stopping my breathing
It is causing me to feel breathless and overwhelmed
but it's still not a surprise
Despite the intensity of my emotions, it is not unexpected
It's in my chest
The feeling is located in my chest
It's in my ribs
I feel the intensity in my ribcage
It's not my heart
My heart is not the source of my overwhelming emotion
It's my grieving
It is connected to my pain over something lost or absent
But it's not sad
Despite the connection to grief, the feeling is not necessarily sad
It's more of a longing
It is a strong desire or yearning
That comes for the season
It is a feeling that only appears during a certain time or season
That I'm in
It corresponds to my current experience or situation
And I always wonder just where it's been
I am curious about the origin or previous occurrences of this feeling
And when I die
At the time of my death
I hope my soul doesn't go on and fly
I don't want my soul to move on to an afterlife
I hope it just stays right here
I want my soul to remain in this world
Looking up into the sky
I want my soul to stay present and watchful
Cause I know where I'm gonna die
I have a sense of where and when my physical death will occur
For a beautiful lover in the morning
In the morning, I have a beautiful lover to enjoy
And once in the evening
Once in the evening, I have a beautiful lover to enjoy
I see the kids in the water
I observe children playing in the water
Full of being
They are lively and active
And then I will smile
Their joy brings a smile to my face
And the winter months only last for a while
The cold, dark season doesn't endure forever
Looking up at the grey
I am gazing at a grey, overcast sky
But I wouldn't ever have to worry 'bout freezing
I'm not concerned with feeling cold in this moment
Just sit and ponder
I can relax and contemplate
Never have to think about reason
I don't have to consider logical explanations or justifications
I'd be just somebody's memory
In the future, I will exist only as a recollection in someone's mind
But how different is it
However, the situation is quite different
When you're just walking down the street
In a typical moment of daily life
You're always in a place that you're not
You are always surrounded by unfamiliar surroundings and people
You're inside of your loved ones
You experience familiarity and comfort within relationships
I'm just someone's friend
I have a limited relationship with people
I still wake up every day
I still begin each day the same way
And don't see an end
I remain curious about the future and its possibilities
The stillness kills me
The quietness is difficult to bear
With a filledness that brings us to staring
Despite the silence, there is a sense of fullness that compels contemplation
Out far beyond the shore
I gaze beyond the water's edge
The fire's brewing and glaring
There is a strong, focused energy in the air
On the mirror on the lake
The water reflects the sky and surroundings like a mirror
And in the hold there's black, there's red,
In the depths of the water, there are dark and vibrant colors
Orange and with the blue
There is also more neutral color in the water
Never mind the breeze, never mind the miracles,
Despite the wind and seemingly miraculous beauty, it is easy to ignore them
I got me and I got you
I have myself and another person with me
I know that this is my fate
I believe that my life is predetermined
And if I was God
Hypothetically, if I were the creator of the universe
This isn't even something that I could create
This beauty and complexity exceeds what any deity could create
When the Lord comes down
At the time of the Lord's return
To take me back to the sky
To bring me to an afterlife in the heavens
To bring us back to the sky
To bring all people to an afterlife in the heavens
I'll look Him straight in the eye
I will look the Lord directly in the eyes
Contributed by Ava F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Collin Carlson
Justin Vernon is one of the last musicians left who plays directly from his heart. You can tell when a musician has a real heart by how many songs of his you can listen to and still be amazed by what you're hearing. He is one of the last musicians who has yet to write a bad song.
Wout G
This is one of my favourite songs all time. I listen to it every night before sleeping.
Ramanuj Baruah
Still do?
Wout G
@Ramanuj Baruah Well not every night, but still listen to it anyways.
ozan
taste
Harrison Wismer
This is SO good. makes me wanna go live a simple life next to a beautiful lake
64ccd
I'd love the famed message of where I might get ahold of the album :) Thanks for putting this fantastic piece of music up
Kowa- sai
Time for a DeYarmond Edison budget box set with a bonus disc of outtakes.
Giselle Ringsrud
Manitou ❤
Danny Reed
Listening in 2022 and seeing Bon Iver in a week for the first time! Love Deyarmond Edison too