After breaking up with his girlfriend, moving out of his house, and joining a 12-step program for addiction, Ebert began work on a story about a messianic figure named Edward Sharpe. According to Ebert, Sharpe "was sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind ... but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love." Ebert later met singer Jade Castrinos in Los Angeles, California, United States. In the summer of 2009, as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Ebert and Castrinos toured the country with a group of fellow musicians in a big white school bus.
Its song "Home" was voted number 15 on the Australian Triple J Hottest 100's 2009 countdown, the largest music poll in the world.
Members:
Alex Ebert – vocals, guitar, percussion, piano
Jade Castrinos – vocals, guitar (Past member 2009-2013)
Nico Aglietti – guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals
Stewart Cole – trumpet, percussion, keyboards, tenor ukulele, vocals
Tay Strathairn – piano, vocals
Aaron Older – bass, vocals, banjo, percussion
Josh Collazo – drums, percussion, vocals
Orpheo McCord – percussion, vocals
Nora Kirkpatrick – accordion, vocals
Christian Letts – guitar, vocals
Additional personnel:
Chris Richard – vocals, percussion
Anna Bulbrook – violin, vocals
Aaron Embry – keyboards, piano, vocals
Tyler James – piano, vocals
Ryan Richter – guitar, lap steel, vocals
Michael Farfel – announcer, management
The Ballad Of Yaya
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Parachute princess
The movie is over
Lay that dirt on me
Jump the deck Yaya
Howl at the sun Yaya
I see you changing though youre not the only one
Let it be done Yaya
Yeah you're not the only one
Running for the sun Yaya
Running for the sun Yaya
Oh you're looking tall
Quite a big fall
Don't let the ground scare you
Just a cinema mindfuck
The martyrdom dumb dumbs
Wake up the sun Yaya
Suffering meaning
The movie is over
Lay that dirt on me
Jump the deck Yaya
Howl at the sun Yaya
I see you changing oh you're not the only one
Howl at the moon Yaya
Let it be done Yaya
I see you changing oh you're not the only one
Howl at the moon Yaya, howl at the sun Yaya
Yeah you're not the only one
Running for the sun Yaya
Running for the sun Yaya
Oh we're living heart
All our lives are dreams
Call to kumbaya
When you scream
Oh the ground is cold when it splits the body round and round you go
Oh its understood it's going to be hard
Resurrection love, Yaya proves her love
Don't let the ground scare you
Suffering papa
The movie is over
"The Ballad of Yaya" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros is a song with cryptic and symbolic lyrics that invite interpretation. It appears to be about a character named Yaya who is going through a transformative journey. The lyrics start with the line "Block out the sun Yaya," which could be interpreted as Yaya trying to shield herself from the harsh realities or influences of the world. The line "Parachute princess" suggests that Yaya may be a dreamer or someone who yearns for freedom and escape.
As the song progresses, there is a sense of Yaya undergoing some kind of change. The repeated lines "Jump the deck Yaya" and "Howl at the sun Yaya" imply a rebellious spirit and a desire to break free from constraints. The lyrics also mention Yaya not being the only one going through changes, indicating that others are also seeking personal growth or transformation.
The chorus encourages Yaya to "run for the sun," which could symbolize striving for enlightenment or personal fulfillment. The lyrics touch upon themes of suffering and martyrdom as well, with lines like "Suffering meaning" and "Resurrection love." The repeated line "The movie is over, lay that dirt on me" suggests the end of a chapter or the need to move on from past experiences.
Overall, "The Ballad of Yaya" invites listeners to interpret its lyrics in their own way, but it seems to be a song about personal growth, self-discovery, and the universal human experience of going through change.
Line by Line Meaning
Block out the sun Yaya
Yaya wants to shield herself from the harsh realities of life and live in her own world.
Parachute princess
Yaya sees herself as someone who can escape any situation, like a princess floating down with a parachute.
The movie is over
Yaya realizes that her idealized version of life is not sustainable and that she needs to face reality.
Lay that dirt on me
Yaya is willing to accept the consequences of her actions and face the challenges that come her way without complaint.
Jump the deck Yaya
Yaya wants to take risks and make bold choices, not being afraid of the consequences.
Howl at the sun Yaya
Yaya expresses her desire to rebel against societal norms and expectations, wanting to be free and wild.
I see you changing though you're not the only one
Yaya acknowledges that change is a universal experience and that she is not the only person going through it.
Howl at the moon Yaya
Yaya wants to embrace her primal instincts and tap into her inner desires and passions.
Let it be done Yaya
Yaya is ready to let go of things that hold her back and move forward in her life.
Yeah you're not the only one
Yaya reassures herself and others that they are not alone in their struggles and transformations.
Running for the sun Yaya
Yaya is constantly striving for happiness and a brighter future, chasing after her dreams.
Oh you're looking tall
Yaya sees herself as confident and strong, ready to face any challenges that come her way.
Quite a big fall
Yaya acknowledges that taking risks and pursuing dreams can come with great challenges and potential failures.
Don't let the ground scare you
Yaya advises herself and others to not be afraid of failure or setbacks, as they are a natural part of the journey.
Just a cinema mindfuck
Yaya realizes that the fantasies and illusions we create in our minds can be deceiving and unrealistic.
The martyrdom dumb dumbs
Yaya criticizes those who play the victim and refuse to take responsibility for their actions, calling them foolish.
Wake up the sun Yaya
Yaya wants to bring her own light and positivity into her life, waking up to a new day full of possibilities.
Suffering meaning
Yaya believes that suffering has a purpose and can lead to personal growth and understanding.
Oh we're living heart
Yaya and her community live with passion and emotion, embracing life's experiences with an open heart.
All our lives are dreams
Yaya believes that life is shaped by our dreams and aspirations, and we have the power to turn them into reality.
Call to kumbaya
Yaya calls for unity and harmony, inviting others to come together and find peace.
When you scream
Yaya acknowledges that expressing our emotions and frustrations is important for healing and personal growth.
Oh the ground is cold when it splits the body round and round you go
Yaya reflects on the harsh reality of life and how it can break us down, sending us in circles.
Oh it's understood it's going to be hard
Yaya knows that facing challenges and hardships is an unavoidable part of life, but she is ready to persevere.
Resurrection love, Yaya proves her love
Yaya wants to show her enduring and transformative love, rising above any obstacles or setbacks.
Suffering papa
Yaya acknowledges the pain and struggles of those around her, showing empathy and compassion for their suffering.
The movie is over
Yaya reinforces the idea that it's time to leave behind illusions and face reality head-on.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alex Ebert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind