He spent some time in Italy studying art before coming back to Manhattan to further his education at New York's Institute of Fine Arts while working with several New York bands. In 1969 he formed a group called Grinder's Switch, and they released just one album - Garland Jeffreys & Grinder's Switch. Members of Grinder's Switch played on debut solo album of another co-founder of The Velvet Underground, John Cale - Vintage Violence (1970). Garland even wrote one song for this album (Fairweather Friend) and did back-up vocals for it. In 1973 Jeffreys released his own debut album entitled simply 'Garland Jeffreys. During the mid-70s he was touring with reggae artists like Jimmy Cliff and Toots & the Maytals and in 1977 he released his critically acclaimed Ghost Writer. In 1980 Jeffreys made a cover of ? & the Mysterians' 96 Tears. Then, after a long silence he released Don't Call Me Buckwheat (1992). Every song in this album has strong antiracial lyrics ('Welcome to the World', 'Hail Hail Rock'n'Roll', 'I Was Afraid of Malcolm' etc.). He followed with Wildlife Dictionary in 1997. In 2003 Garland covered Skip James' Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues for the film by Wim Wenders from the project Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: The Soul of a Man. Another compilation of greatest hits (with three new songs) - I'm Alive was released in 2006 in Europe only.
In 2011 Jeffreys roared back with self-released The King of In Between. It racked up numerous best of the year accolades in the US and Jeffreys began touring heavily. Recently it was #25 in best of the year in Rolling Stone Germany.
1969 - Garland Jeffreys & Grinder's Switch
1973 - Garland Jeffreys
1977 - Ghost Writer
1978 - One-Eyed Jack
1979 - American Boy & Girl
1980 - Escape Artist
1982 - Rock & Roll Adult
1983 - Guts for Love
1992 - Don't Call Me Buckwheat
1992 - Matador & More...
1997 - Wildlife Dictionary
2006 - I'm Alive
2011 - The King of In Between
2013 - Truth Serum
2017 - 14 Steps to Harlem
Lift Me Up
Garland Jeffreys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the underground
And I met a lot of people
Tryin' to keep me down
Oh, step by step
Your love is gonna lift me
Step by step, higher and higher
Your love is gonna life me, higher
Lift me up, higher and higher
Lift me up off of my knees
Lift me up, higher and higher
Lift me up I'm begging you please
Down so long like the underdog
Oh no, no but you'll never
Never find me in the L.A. fog
I say step by step
Your love is gonna lift me
Step by step, higher and higher
Step by step
Your love is gonna lift me, higher
Lift me up, higher and higher
Lift me up off of my knees
Lift me up, higher and higher
Lift me up I'm begging you please
Oh, step by step
Your love is gonna lift me
Step by step, higher and higher
Step by step
Your love is gonna lift me, higher
In Garland Jeffreys's song Lift Me Up, the opening lines establish the singer's identity as "the restless child / Of the underground." This suggests that they feel out of place or in opposition to mainstream society. The next lines reveal that the singer has faced resistance from many people who have tried to keep them down. However, the chorus of the song offers hope that there is someone who can lift the singer up: "Step by step / Your love is gonna lift me / Step by step, higher and higher / Step by step / Your love is gonna lift me, higher." The repetition of "step by step" creates a sense of gradual, steady progress, and the use of the word "love" suggests that the person who can lift the singer up is someone who cares for them deeply.
The second verse introduces the idea that the singer has been "down so long like the underdog," implying that they have experienced hardship and struggle. But the following line ("Oh no, no but you'll never / Never find me in the L.A. fog") suggests that the singer is not defeated, despite these challenges. The final lines of the song repeat the chorus, emphasizing that the singer is relying on someone else's love to lift them up: "Lift me up, higher and higher / Lift me up off of my knees / Lift me up, higher and higher / Lift me up I'm begging you please." The repetition of "higher and higher" creates a sense of ascension, and the final line's use of the word "begging" suggests a sense of desperation and urgency.
Overall, the song Lift Me Up explores themes of resilience, perseverance, and the transformative power of love. The lyrics suggest that even when faced with adversity and opposition, there is always the possibility of finding someone who can lift us up and help us rise above our challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the restless child
I am a person who cannot be calm or still due to a sense of restlessness
Of the underground
I am from the world of urban subcultures that is characterized by elements such as music, fashion or lifestyle
And I met a lot of people
I've had a lot of encounters with people in my life
Tryin' to keep me down
These people have tried to prevent me from succeeding or making progress in my life
Oh, step by step
Gradually or slowly but surely
Your love is gonna lift me
Your affection, support, or encouragement will help me rise above my challenges
Step by step, higher and higher
Each time I make progress, I become better and stronger
Lift me up, higher and higher
I need you to help me rise above my problems and achieve my goals
Lift me up off of my knees
I am asking you to help me stop feeling defeated or hopeless
Lift me up I'm begging you please
This is a plea for help or support
Down so long like the underdog
I have been struggling for so long without much recognition or success
Oh no, no but you'll never
I have faith that with your help I can overcome these challenges
Never find me in the L.A. fog
Greater Los Angeles's culture and way of life does not appeal to me, thus I do not belong there
Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.