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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www.myspace.com/hayden
Lonely Security Guard
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But when you get up close you'll see
He could not hurt a flea
He stands there in the heat
Looking straight down a his feet
And with his hands and an old receipt
He makes a swan so real it breathes
Can make a cricket from a parking ticket
Can make a bird from some thrown out words
But he cannot control this herd
'Cause he does not look up when he should
He relies on the people's good
A big mistake in this neighborhood
Oh so lonely security guard, didn't notice me at all
So I grabbed the first thing I saw
And walked right out the front door
But he had just made a paper sword
And threw me right down on the floor
And everyone standing near that store
Witnessed a one-sided war
Origami Security guard, he looks so mean from afar
But when you get up close you'll see
That he's no cup of tea
The song "Lonely Security Guard" by Hayden is a poignant tribute to the character of a security guard who is often overlooked or feared by people. The opening line of the song refers to the guard's apparent mean demeanor, but as the lyrics progress, we learn that he is an individual with a gentle side. The image of the security guard making a swan out of an old receipt is a perfect metaphor for the beauty that lies within this man despite his outwardly gruff appearance.
The chorus uses irony to emphasize the loneliness of the security guard. The refrain "Oh so lonely security guard" contrasts sharply with the images of the guard's creativity - he can make people cry with a business card, or create a cricket out of a parking ticket. This lonely man's talent is also reflected in the line "he can make a bird from some thrown out words." However, these talents do not necessarily make him happy, as he is still isolated from the world around him.
The final verse takes a more surreal turn, as Hayden tells the story of his encounter with the security guard. The guard's paper sword is another symbol of his talent; his attack on Hayden can be seen as an expression of his frustration at being overlooked. Overall, the "Lonely Security Guard" is a lyrical depiction of an individual who is undervalued by society, but who possesses an inner beauty that is often missed.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh so lonely security guard, he looks so mean from afar
The security guard appears to be intimidating and unapproachable from a distance
But when you get up close you'll see
However, upon closer observation, his demeanor is quite the opposite
He could not hurt a flea
The security guard is harmless and poses no threat to anyone
He stands there in the heat
The security guard stands outside in the heat, doing his job
Looking straight down a his feet
He keeps his focus on the ground, rather than paying attention to his surroundings
And with his hands and an old receipt
He creates art with everyday objects, such as receipts
He makes a swan so real it breathes
The security guard's origami skills are so impressive that his creations seem to come to life
Can make you cry with a business card
He has a talent for turning mundane objects into something extraordinary
Can make a cricket from a parking ticket
Even a parking ticket can be transformed into a work of art in the hands of the security guard
Can make a bird from some thrown out words
He has a way of turning discarded objects into beautiful creations
But he cannot control this herd
Despite his many talents, he is unable to manage the large crowd of people around him
'Cause he does not look up when he should
He is too focused on his own artwork, and fails to pay attention to his surroundings
He relies on the people's good
He trusts that people will behave properly, and does not take strict measures to enforce security
A big mistake in this neighborhood
This lack of strict security may be a mistake in a dangerous area
Didn't notice me at all
The security guard fails to notice someone stealing from the store he is guarding
So I grabbed the first thing I saw
The thief takes advantage of the security guard's obliviousness and steals from the store
And walked right out the front door
The thief is able to escape without difficulty
But he had just made a paper sword
The security guard had been in the middle of making a new origami piece
And threw me right down on the floor
The security guard uses his new creation to fight off the thief
And everyone standing near that store
Onlookers witnessed the one-sided altercation between the security guard and the thief
Witnessed a one-sided war
The thief was no match for the security guard's origami weapon, and the altercation was one-sided
Origami Security guard, he looks so mean from afar
The security guard's intense focus on his artwork can make him appear unapproachable from a distance
That he's no cup of tea
However, upon closer observation, he proves to be an interesting and talented individual
Contributed by Keira K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.