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.
www.hardwoodrecords.com
www.myspace.com/hayden
Elk Lake Serenade
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't believe that one thing changes everything
And nothing will ever be the same
Again
The same
Again
The lyrics of Hayden's song Elk Lake Serenade is a contemplation on how a single event can drastically alter one's perception of the world. The line "Can't believe that one thing changes everything" suggests that something significant has happened in the singer's life that has called into question everything they held true. The repetition of the phrase "And nothing will ever be the same" emphasizes the sense of loss and confusion that the singer is experiencing. The use of the word "Again" at the end of the verse suggests that the singer is yearning for a return to how things were before, while also acknowledging that it is impossible.
The emotional impact of the lyrics is heightened by Hayden's sparse, melancholic acoustic guitar melody. The simple chords and repetitive melody drive home the sense of loss and confusion that the lyrics describe. Ultimately, Elk Lake Serenade is a powerful exploration of how a single event can fundamentally alter our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
I
It's hard to accept how a single event can drastically alter everything we know
Can't believe that one thing changes everything
It's unimaginable how something small can have such a huge impact on our lives
And nothing will ever be the same
The repercussions of this event will be long-lasting, and things will never return to the way they were before
Again
This is a painful realization and the word 'again' emphasizes the permanence of this change
The same
The artist is acknowledging that they may have taken the familiarity and stability of their old life for granted
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind