Hayden is Paul Hayden Desser (born February 12, 1971), a Canadian singer-so… Read Full Bio ↴Hayden is Paul Hayden Desser (born February 12, 1971), a Canadian singer-songwriter from Thornhill, Ontario. His early works are a largely eclectic mix of genres from grunge to alternative country, as demonstrated by his first full album, Everything I Long For, released in 1995. Since then his work has become progressively more refined.

Combining elements of both rock and folk music, along with disturbingly personal sentiments, dark humor, and a voice able to channel both the falsetto highs of Neil Young and the wavering raspy low tones of Leonard Cohen, Toronto's Hayden Desser has spent his career creating uniquely affecting music.

The critically-acclaimed musician first appeared in the early '90s armed with only his four-track tape recorder, his unexpectedly low vocal range, and an extremely detuned guitar. Going simply by the name Hayden, he recorded his self-released cassette, In September, in 1994, and much of the material included evolved into his first proper LP, 1995's Everything I Long For. Initially self-released on his own Hardwood Records, the debut disc toed the line between beautiful and horrifying, touching on simple details of human interaction as well as delving into macabre tales that still retained an oddly personal edge. After a year of touring Canada, E.T.I.L.F. was picked up by Outpost Recordings (Geffen) and was released worldwide in early 1996. Tours of the U.S., Europe and Japan took up most of 1996, as well as writing and recording the title track to the Steve Buscemi-directed Tree’s Lounge. Hayden’s second full-length record. The Closer I Get (1998) was recorded in Toronto, Bearsville, N.Y., Seattle and Los Angeles. After another year of touring, Hayden closed the book on chapter one of his musical endeavors.

The next couple of years went by without any performances, but during 2000, Hayden began writing and recording in his Toronto home. The self-produced collection of songs was titled Skyscraper National Park and was released in 2001 to world–wide critical acclaim.

The following year, a live concert double CD was released, Live at Convocation Hall, a glimpse, for the listener, into what makes Hayden’s appearances such a favourite among his ever devoted fan base. His natural rapport with the crowd, along with an honest demeanour, has continued Hayden’s reputation as a unique and charming performer.

In 2004, Hayden released his 4th studio album. Elk-Lake Serenade continued in the direction of Skyscraper with it’s collection of warm and memorable recordings. 2004 also heralded Hayden’s return to the road with several tours that took him as far as Australia and New Zealand.

After a long period of writing and recording, Hayden returned in early 2008 with his 5th full-length studio record. In Field & Town is his most musically diverse and textured record to date. It captures his penchant for self-referential fiction and emotionally heavy songs and laces them with sharp hooks and smart lyrics. After supporting The National in Europe in November of ‘07, Hayden completed a sold-out theatre tour of Canada as well as spring and fall North American tours supporting Feist. In Field & Town was released on Fat Possum in the U.S.A. and November saw the release in Europe via the Affairs of the Heart label, combined with Nov./Dec. dates in the UK, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and Germany.

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Choking
Hayden Lyrics

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You once told me
The reason that
A lot of people
Choked to death
Was because they get up
And walk away
Right when they feel
Their throats give way

They leave the table
To avoid a scene
So no one hears them
And no one sees
And I just realized
That if you
Started Choking

I wouldn't know
What to do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Choking" by Hayden paint a rather somber picture of the fear and uncertainty that comes with witnessing someone choking. The song starts with Hayden reflecting on a conversation with someone in which they talked about the reason why many people die from choking - they get up and walk away when they feel their throats give way. The person in the conversation tells Hayden that people do this to avoid causing a scene, so no one hears or sees them choking. This sets the scene for the rest of the song, as Hayden then reflects on the fact that if this were to happen to the person he's singing about, he wouldn't know what to do.

The lyrics are powerful because they deal with a situation that many people can relate to. Choking is a common, everyday occurrence, but it can also be extremely dangerous. Hayden's lyrics capture the fear and uncertainty that comes with witnessing someone choking, and the feeling of helplessness that often accompanies it. The song is a reminder to us all to be more aware and conscious of our surroundings, and to take action if we see someone in distress.

Overall, "Choking" is a poignant and thought-provoking song that deals with a serious subject matter. Its lyrics are simple but effective, and the melody is beautiful in its melancholy. It's a song that hits close to home for many people, and its message is an important one - don't be afraid to take action if you see someone choking.

Line by Line Meaning

You once told me
You previously shared with me this specific information

The reason that
The explanation for something that follows

A lot of people
Many individuals

Choked to death
Died due to a blockage in their throat

Was because they get up
Occurs when someone stands up

And walk away
Then leaves the immediate area

Right when they feel
Just when they sense

Their throats give way
Their throat is obstructed and they struggle to breathe

They leave the table
They abandon their current location

To avoid a scene
In order to prevent drama or a disturbance

So no one hears them
They attempt to conceal their struggle from others