Delta Spirit is a band from San Diego, California, United States, beginning… Read Full Bio ↴Delta Spirit is a band from San Diego, California, United States, beginning in 2005. This band is most known for their intense live performances, their congregational song-writing, and their driving rhythm. The group consists of Jon Jameson (bass), Brandon Young (percussion), Matthew Vasquez (vocals/guitars), Kelly Winrich (multi-instrumentals) and Will McLaren (guitar).

"The raw spirit of indie rock. An amplified, rocking version of ’60s protest folk. The soulful passion of the Violent Femmes and The Waterboys." All of these comparisons have been made in attempts to describe Delta Spirit, the southern California five-piece who might just be one of the most important new bands of the decade. Each description contains elements of the truth, but the real answer to the question “who is Delta Spirit?” lies within Ode to Sunshine, the band’s captivating debut. The group’s DIY ethic shines throughout the album, with songs honed razor-sharp over a year of non-stop touring across America. Opening sold-out tours for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cold War Kids, and Dr. Dog, the band developed a riveting live show and gained a loyal following amongst tastemaker music fans, earning them invites to national festivals like Austin City Limits, Noise Pop and Sasquatch. So it would not be an understatement to call Ode to Sunshine one of the year’s most highly-anticipated debuts. But don’t take our word for it; in the words of Delta Spirit: “If you’re feeling what I’m feeling come on, all you soul searching people come on.”

Jonathan Jameson of Delta Spirit took a few minutes out of the band’s busy touring schedule to answer a few questions about the band, their music, and Ode to Sunshine.

Where in California did the band come together? How did you meet?

We are all from Southern California. Brandon met Matt while he was singing and playing guitar by the train tracks in San Diego. The rest is boring.

Who plays what and sings? Do you trade off instruments on different songs?

Brandon plays drums and percussion. Sean plays guitar, does some percussion and hits a big drum. Jon exclusively plays bass with the occasional vocal. Kelly plays piano, hits a drum, sings, hits a trashcan, plays guitar and a high strung guitar. Matt plays guitar, sings and plays piano.

Your songs are credited to the band as a whole. Could you describe how they come together? Are the lyrics collaborative as well?

It’s always a new experience. Matt and Kelly write the lyrics with minor editing done by the band. Songs come as jams, ideas, almost complete chords, hummed notes, drum beats, etc.

Some of the songs have very infectious sing along melodies (like the ba ba ba’s in “People C’mon”). Do you envision your music as communal, for audiences to participate in as well as listen to?

Our music feels most at home when we play it with people as opposed to at people. There is a mystery to music played live. It brings us out of ourselves into something bigger, something beyond our individuality. Sometimes it happens, other times the songs are just songs.

You recorded Ode to Sunshine at a cabin in Julian, California, out in the desert east of San Diego. Did the isolation of the setting influence the vibe of the album (like say, Dylan and The Band’s Basement Tapes)?

It feels like sun, saunas, dogs, friends, Old Crow and Coke, Eli Thompson, beards, hot days, long star filled nights, good books, hikes, shorts, bbq and just the way we wanted to make our first record.

Your music has been compared to current indie rockers, ’80s punk roots bands, and sixties folk rockers. Was there any music you listened to growing up, or that you listen to now, that you hear seeping into your current sound?

We were born in the ’80s, grew up in the ’90s and have parents from the ’60s. We are proud of the bands that are making great music now. Maybe it’s like the Waterboys covering Harry Nilsson or maybe a song by the Weavers at a rally, but on tour next month with Richard Swift. We want to be found in the lineage of honest and true music that has found its way through every current of music history.

There seems to be a conscience in the music, a sense of taking responsibility for ourselves, each other, and the world. What do you feel is special about this moment in history, and this generation, and the place of music and art in society? Are you encouraged by the energy you feel coming back to you from your audiences?

There is a feeling of possibility in our age. We feel that same possibility with our band. There is a deep connection there. We don’t want to forget about the most important thing for us, which is simply making good music, but that does include being aware of what’s going on in the world as well as what’s going on in our own heads and souls. We aren’t self-aggrandizing cock rockers or activist idealist hippies. We just want to be honest about ourselves and how we see the world, not minimizing the darkness or the hope, because both are very real.

Your original DIY version of Ode to Sunshine featured austere black & white artwork, while the new cover is much warmer, with the smiling face of Dr. Thomas Payne (an uncle of one of the band members) raising a toast while at a scientific convention on bark beetles. The Rounder release also features an additional song, “Streetwalker,” which despite its somber subject features a Phil Spector / Brian Wilson groove. Do the new artwork and song show a new side to the band?

I think that before when we were looking at the album it felt kinda heavy to us and serious. About the big things in life. Like a dusty record of Kennedy speeches. But I think we realized that the true feeling of the album also included what we were feeling while making it and recording it and that those bits of summer and excitement and wonder break through every once in a while. It’s as if after listening to those sobering speeches we found the pics of the Kennedys on vacation and now it all really made sense. The light and the dark. Sometimes you have to laugh at the serious stuff to be able to do something about it.

From the opening Rubber Soul-esque acoustic guitars of “Tomorrow Goes Away” to the saloon piano-over-grunge chords of “Trashcan,” from the harmonica-driven protest waltz “People, Turn Around” to the insistent surf rock drums of “Children,” Ode to Sunshine perfectly captures the energy and hope of a new generation that’s rising like a phoenix to change the world. And with Delta Spirit providing the soundtrack, this is one revolution you can dance to.

Scarecrow
Delta Spirit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, scarecrow
You know why I'm asleep?
All the weight you bear you cannot carry

You know you're just like you're mother
And your bag all packed to go
And you hid your heart from everyone you know

You say you'd never love another
Unless they bore your own name
Oh, your kin, they trample on you just the same

Oh, I gave my love to a harlot I'm told
And the blackness of a scarecrow no one knows
Well, I'm red in the blood that I have drained
That I wasted in a rain

Well, your love that takes your picture
And your love that worships
Well, if you can't see it then soon you will

And you frequent the same strip club
You love to watch the ladies dance
Well, you always know I don't do shit like that

While I was out in Scotland
You were out with him
And you took your shot and you threw up your limbs

Well, I gave my love to a harlot I'm told
And the blackness of a scarecrow you cannot hold
Well, I'm red in the blood that I have drained
That I wasted in a rain

Well, you deserve applause for splitting me into
Well, I count you on the list of a mortal few
Well, I hope that you were happy
I could only wish you the best
But your beauty vacant setting in the west

And this may just say redundant
Because you've chosen your own fate
Was I more to you than just a pretty face?

Well, I'll give my love to a harlot, I will
And the blackness of a scarecrow you cannot kill

Well, I'm red in the blood that I have drained
That I wasted waiting for rain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Delta Spirit’s song “Scarecrow” are quite introspective, even haunting in their portrayal of a person who feels both trapped and abandoned. The opening line addresses the song’s namesake, the scarecrow, and how it appears to be in a state of slumber. However, the true subject matter of the song is revealed as the lyrics progress. The singer seems to be addressing someone they were once in love with, who has since distanced themselves emotionally. The line “You hid your heart from everyone you know” is particularly poignant in describing a person who has built up walls to protect themselves.

The reference to the scarecrow’s mother is a strange, yet effective, metaphor for how the person addressed in the song has inherited traits that cause them to push people away. The mention of their bag being packed to go implies a constant state of readiness to leave, which creates an unsettling and unstable atmosphere. The singer also mentions that this person will only love someone if they share their name, which further emphasizes how insular and self-focused they are.

The image of wasting blood in the rain creates a visceral, emotional response, and the repetition of the line “I gave my love to a harlot I'm told” adds to the song’s sense of loss and disillusionment. The lyrics also highlight the contrast between the singer and the person they are addressing, with references to strip clubs and infidelity juxtaposed with the line “you always know I don't do shit like that.”

Overall, “Scarecrow” is a powerful and effective exploration of emotional distance and the struggle to connect with others. The use of metaphors and vivid imagery creates a haunting and memorable listening experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, scarecrow
The singer addresses someone or something that serves as a representation of a human form made of straw to convey that it is useless and incapable of fulfilling its purpose.

You know why I'm asleep? All the weight you bear you cannot carry
The singer questions the reason for their mental absence and implies how the person or entity epitomized by the scarecrow is burdened with struggles and responsibilities beyond their endurance.

You know you're just like you're mother And your bag all packed to go And you hid your heart from everyone you know
The singer compares the scarecrow to its mother and highlights its readiness to leave behind everything it has and minimize showing vulnerability around others.

You say you'd never love another Unless they bore your own name Oh, your kin, they trample on you just the same
The artist remarks that the scarecrow only favors those who share its family name and that even its relatives do not treat it any differently from how they treat others.

Oh, I gave my love to a harlot I'm told And the blackness of a scarecrow no one knows Well, I'm red in the blood that I have drained That I wasted in a rain
The artist confides in the scarecrow and shares about his past relationship that had negative consequences on him and how it has taken its toll on him, which is concealed in the obscurity of the scarecrow.

Well, your love that takes your picture And your love that worships Well, if you can't see it then soon you will
The singer mentions how the personified scarecrow holds onto a relationship that idolizes them and takes them for granted, warning that they will realize the truth soon if they do not wake up to reality, depicted as a lover who takes their picture and worships them.

And you frequent the same strip club You love to watch the ladies dance Well, you always know I don't do shit like that
The singer acknowledges the personified scarecrow's inclination towards activities like visiting strip clubs, which is in stark contrast to the singer's lifestyle and choices.

While I was out in Scotland You were out with him And you took your shot and you threw up your limbs
The artist reveals how the scarecrow was unfaithful while the artist was away and how it lost all self-control.

Well, you deserve applause for splitting me into Well, I count you on the list of a mortal few Well, I hope that you were happy I could only wish you the best But your beauty vacant setting in the west
The artist sarcastically applauds the scarecrow for being responsible for breaking their heart and acknowledges their rare ability to perform such an act. The artist ends by wishing the scarecrow happiness and conveys it is slowly losing its charm and appeal.

And this may just say redundant Because you've chosen your own fate Was I more to you than just a pretty face?
The artist realizes that the scarecrow's destiny was inevitable because it chose its path and questions whether the artist meant more to the scarecrow than just an attractive appearance.

Well, I'll give my love to a harlot, I will And the blackness of a scarecrow you cannot kill Well, I'm red in the blood that I have drained That I wasted waiting for rain
The singer declares that they will indulge in another frivolous love affair and admits that the significance of the personified scarecrow is indestructible, akin to the inexistence of the darkness within the straw. They lament the countless efforts they put into the past relationship that were as futile as waiting for rain in a drought.

Contributed by Kayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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