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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I'll Tell Him Tonight
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flashing lights and sirens rang
They took you and put you inside
I walked the house ten times
And I'm riding down to let you know
That I love you although it doesn't show
When we argued about the car
I want you to know
That I am so
Thankful that you're here
How come everything has to change?
I wish were four and six and in the rain
When we were six and eight we dressed the same
When we were twenty-four and twenty-six I wrote this down
And I'm coming down to let you know
That I love you though it doesn't show
When we argued about the car
I want you to know
That I am so
Thankful that you're here
The song "I'll Tell Him Tonight" by Hayden is a heartfelt and introspective piece that speaks of the singer's relationship with their partner. The song begins with memories of a significant moment in their history, "the day it came," which seems to be a reference to a particular traumatic event that involved sirens and flashing lights. The event prompted the singer to stay up and walk around the house ten times, which can be interpreted as restlessness and unease. The lyrics go on to express regret over past arguments and misunderstandings, as the singer acknowledges that they may not have shown their love adequately. This sentiment is palpable in the following lines: "I'm riding down to let you know/ That I love you although it doesn't show/ When we argued about the car/ I want you to know/ That I am so/ Thankful that you're here."
The second verse of the song further emphasizes the theme of change and the passage of time. The singer reflects upon a time in their childhood when they were "four and six and in the rain," and when they were in their early twenties, "twenty-four and twenty-six." The lyrics evoke a longing for a simpler time when things were less complex, and the relationship felt more straightforward. This nostalgia is tempered by a sense of gratitude for the present, as the singer once again states their thankfulness for their partner's presence.
In essence, "I'll Tell Him Tonight" is a message of love and reassurance that despite past hurts and the inevitability of change, love remains a constant in the singer's life. It is an ode to vulnerability and the willingness to express deep feelings, even if it means acknowledging past mistakes and shortcomings.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember the day it came
I vividly recall the day when the incident occurred
Flashing lights and sirens rang
The scenario was characterized by the sound of alarms and sirens accompanied by flashing lights
They took you and put you inside
The authorities took you and confined you.
I walked the house ten times
I gaited back and forth throughout my home in distress or worry.
And I'm riding down to let you know
At this moment, I'm traveling to inform you
That I love you although it doesn't show
Even though I don't always show it, I do love you deeply
When we argued about the car
At the moment of our disagreement about the vehicle
I want you to know
I need you to recognize the fact
That I am so
I'm extremely
Thankful that you're here
I am grateful that you are with me now
How come everything has to change?
As transformations become obvious, I'm questioning why everything can't remain consistent.
I wish were four and six and in the rain
I recall a time when we were younger, and I long to return to that moment
When we were six and eight we dressed the same
Once, at the age of six and eight, we wore the identical outfits.
When we were twenty-four and twenty-six I wrote this down
At the age of twenty-four and twenty-six, I jotted down the lyrics
And I'm coming down to let you know
At this moment, I'm descending to convey to you
That I love you though it doesn't show
Despite my inability to express myself adequately, I do love you deeply.
When we argued about the car
When we engaged in a disagreement about the car
I want you to know
I need you to understand
That I am so
I am extremely
Thankful that you're here
I am grateful that you are with me now
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Paul Hayden Desser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fedoremile2404
Any chance anyone has a live version of choking. When he used to play it with those insane breaks?? One of the live highlights of any show ive been to in 20 yrs of concerts.
@aricohen8827
EXACTLY!!! I wish it existed, but never heard it.