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.
heart for hire
DeYarmond Edison Lyrics
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You should know that I've hung it all around
I've been through places you wouldn't want to go
Lost some love passin' through the tolls
It ain't easy to please me
And you will surely tire
That's why I'm leavin'
I'll be lonely, baby
Now when I do retire
And it's cold where you were sleepin'
And now my heart's for hire
Hire
You shoulda known when I was thinner than your sight
You shoulda known the way I held that kitchen knife
And the way I was falling to the ground
You found out when you heard that ugly sound
Heard that ugly sound
It ain't easy to please me
And you will surely tire
That's why I'm leavin'
No trippin' on your wire
I'll be lonely, baby
Now when I do retire
And it's cold where you were sleepin'
And now my heart's for hire
Have I loved enough
Have I loved too much
Am I about as heart for hire
No pitting polish scrub
The lyrics of DeYarmond Edison's song "Heart for Hire" are about a person who has been through a lot of emotional pain in their life and is now warning their romantic partner about how difficult it is to make them happy. They liken their heart to "thirsty ground" that has been cracked and hung all around. They have been through some difficult experiences that their partner may not want to go through and have lost love in the process.
The chorus of the song explains how difficult it is to please them and how their partner will surely tire in trying to do so. The singer has decided to leave and not trip on their partner's wire. They know they will be lonely when they retire and it will be cold where their partner was sleeping. They have now made their heart available to hire as they have become emotionally detached from their partner.
The second verse is about the singer's past life when they were thinner and holding a kitchen knife. Their partner found out that they were falling to the ground when they heard an ugly sound. The singer questions whether they have loved enough or too much and wonder if their heart is now for hire with no pitting, polish or scrub.
Line by Line Meaning
You should know that it's cracked like thirsty ground
You should understand that my heart is broken and desperate for love.
You should know that I've hung it all around
You should know that I've tried everything to find love.
I've been through places you wouldn't want to go
I have experienced hardships and heartbreak that most people would avoid.
Lost some love passin' through the tolls
I have lost love while travelling through life's obstacles.
It ain't easy to please me
I am not easily satisfied.
And you will surely tire
And I know you will eventually become exhausted trying to make me happy.
That's why I'm leavin'
And that's why I'm leaving you.
No trippin' on your wire
I won't get caught up in your games anymore.
I'll be lonely, baby
I know I'll be lonely without you.
Now when I do retire
Eventually, when I settle down and retire from my current lifestyle.
And it's cold where you were sleepin'
I imagine that it's lonely where you are without me.
And now my heart's for hire
And now I am willing to sell my heart's love to anyone who can love me better.
You shoulda known when I was thinner than your sight
You should have seen the warning signs when I was thin and fragile.
You shoulda known the way I held that kitchen knife
You should have seen the anger and frustration in me when I held that knife.
And the way I was falling to the ground
And how I was in despair and falling apart.
You found out when you heard that ugly sound
You knew how bad it was when you heard the sound of my broken heart.
Have I loved enough
Have I given enough love in my life?
Have I loved too much
Or have I given too much love and ended up getting hurt?
Am I about as heart for hire
Is it time for me to offer my heart's love to someone who can appreciate it?
No pitting polish scrub
I won't waste my energy trying to polish something that is damaged beyond repair.
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.