Born as Dora Jarkowski, Jar was born in New York City on October 12, 1996. She was raised in Northern California. She later attended Choate Rosemary Hall, graduating in 2015.
Jar released her debut EP, titled Digital Meadow, in 2021. The EP is a seven-song collection of her signature dreamy, surrealist pop and silky, ethereal voice. It was produced alongside composer Jared Solomon. On the song “Scab Song,” Jar notes that she wrote it she was 19, and on her way to Solomon's house to complete the track, had decided to speed it up as an ode to faster beating of a heart while listening to music. Digital Meadow included collaborators like Solomonophonic, Felix Joseph, Ralph Castelli, Vron and John DeBold. Jar opened for The Neighbourhood's 2021 tour.
Jar released Comfortably In Pain, her second EP, in 2022. The EP received praise from critics at Pitchfork, NPR, and other publications, describing her flickering vocals and rock-pop to the likes of Faye Webster and St. Vincent.
Later that year, she appeared at The Great Escape festival and opened multiple dates of Billie Eilish's 2022 Happier Than Ever, The World Tour.
She released three singles, "Bumblebee", "Bump", and "Spell", before she announced her first North American, twelve-city-headlining tour. A music video was released for "Bump," which was directed by Jocelyn Antequil and plays with an Alice in Wonderland motif.
Jar has been listed on Vogue's "22 Rising Musicians Set To Rule 2022" and Alternative Press's "Rising Artists", among others.
A number of musicians such as Conan Gray and Remi Wolf cite Jar as a prominent influence in their work.
opening
Dora Jar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At least I was in another life
And I don't really wanna pick a side
I wonder why time goes by
Traveling, I'm trying to find a way
Unraveling the reasons I would stay, ahh ooh
Where I go when I see an opening?
With your money in a row
I go boom when the border's closing
Do you really wanna know
Where I go when I see an opening?
If you're ready come along
I'm gonna leave the station
Delicate
But I wanna give it till you can handle it
Big heart, little flame
Keep the candle lit
Marigold on fire in the sky
Low and behold a choir sings goodbye, ahh
Do you really wanna know
Where I go when I see an opening?
With your money in a row
I go boom when the border's closing
Do you really wanna know
Where I go when I see an opening?
If you're ready come along
I'm gonna leave the station
Do you really wanna know
Where I go when I see an opening?
With your money in a row
I go boom when the border's closing
Do you really wanna know
Where I go when I see an opening?
If you're ready come along
I'm gonna leave the station
The song "Opening" by Dora Jar is a soulful exploration of the passage of time and the search for one's true purpose in life. In the first verse, the singer reflects on a past life, indicating that she is perhaps in a state of transition or experiencing a significant change in her current existence. She expresses a desire not to take sides, hinting at a sense of ambiguity or confusion in her state of mind. This is further emphasized in the second half of the verse, where she wonders why time is passing by so quickly.
The second verse sees the singer traveling, as she seeks to find a way forward in her life. She wants to unravel the reasons for staying where she is at and moving forward in her life. This quest is perhaps what leads her to see the “opening,” a chance to make a change that might not have been there before. The chorus is a dramatic statement of the singer's willingness to seize the opportunity presented by this opening. The lines "Do you really wanna know where I go when I see an opening? / With your money in a row, I go boom when the border's closing" suggest that the singer is not afraid to take risks and will go for it when an opportunity presents itself. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes her conviction behind these choices.
The bridge shows the singer taking a delicate yet determined approach to life, with a big heart overcoming a small flame. The verse ends on a poetic note with the image of a marigold on fire in the sky and a choir signaling goodbye. It’s the end of a moment and start of a new beginning.
Overall, the song speaks to the universal desire for change and growth in life, and the importance of being willing to take risks and seize opportunities when they present themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Butterfly
I'm changing and transforming, just like a butterfly.
At least I was in another life
I feel like a different person than who I used to be in the past.
And I don't really wanna pick a side
I don't want to choose between different people or ideas.
I wonder why time goes by
I'm curious about why time seems to pass quickly and how it affects our lives.
Traveling, I'm trying to find a way
I'm on a journey to discover my purpose and direction in life.
Unraveling the reasons I would stay, ahh ooh
I'm trying to figure out why I might choose to stay in a certain situation or place, even if it's not right for me.
Do you really wanna know
Are you genuinely interested in knowing the truth about my experiences and feelings?
Where I go when I see an opening?
What do I do and where do I go when I'm presented with a new opportunity or chance to change my path in life?
With your money in a row
If you have your finances in order and are prepared for whatever comes your way.
I go boom when the border's closing
I make a big impact and take advantage of my opportunity while I still can, because things can change quickly.
If you're ready come along
If you feel prepared to join me on this journey and take risks to achieve your goals.
I'm gonna leave the station
I'm ready to move forward and start on a new path in life.
Delicate
I am fragile and sensitive, and need to be handled with care.
But I wanna give it till you can handle it
I want to push you to grow and develop, but only as much as you can handle without breaking.
Big heart, little flame
I have a lot of love and passion, but at times it can become dim and needs to be rekindled.
Keep the candle lit
Don't let my passions and interests die out; help me keep them alive and thriving.
Marigold on fire in the sky
A beautiful and vibrant flower is in flames in the sky, symbolizing the fleeting nature of life and the need to seize each moment.
Low and behold a choir sings goodbye, ahh
As life passes by, we often must say goodbye to people and opportunities, represented here by a choir singing.
Writer(s): Danny Parra, Dora Jar, Jesse
Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.