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
Lullaby
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The light's been replaced by blue
You lie awake in your room
Thinking about what to do
And everything depends
On one single chance
Should you accept this dance
Days come and then they go
Is this your life you're meant to know
Is it too late for you to glow
Everything depends
On one single chance
Should you accept this dance
The long long day is through
Figure out what is true
Close your eyes and think about
What you can live without
Close your eyes and think about
What you can live without
In this song, Hayden is describing a person who has reached a point in their life where they are reflecting on their choices and wondering if they have missed an opportunity or made a wrong turn. The person is lying awake thinking about what to do and cannot sleep because of the weight of their thoughts. They are feeling lost and unsure of what their future will hold. The lyrics are telling us that there is a chance for change and they need to make a decision on whether to accept it or not. They are questioning if they have lived the life they were meant to live or if it is too late for them to shine.
Hayden is using the metaphor of a dance to describe life. Life is like a dance and we can choose to accept the invitation or decline. The chorus repeats the idea that everything depends on one single chance; the person has the opportunity to change their life but they must be willing to take it. The lyrics are encouraging the listener to think about what they want to live without and what is truly important to them.
Overall, the song is about self-reflection and taking control of your life. The lyrics remind us that we have the power to change our circumstances and make our lives what we want them to be. It is a message of hope that encourages the listener to take risks and make the most out of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
The long long day is through
The tiring and exhausting day has finally come to an end.
The light's been replaced by blue
The bright light of the day has been replaced by the dark blue hue of the night.
You lie awake in your room
You are lying in bed, unable to sleep, possibly due to the thoughts racing through your mind.
Thinking about what to do
You are contemplating your next move or decision.
And everything depends
Your future and success are contingent upon your actions.
On one single chance
Your fate rests on one crucial opportunity that presents itself.
Should you accept this dance
Is it wise to take a chance and seize the opportunity that presents itself?
The last ten years have flown
The past decade has gone by quickly.
Days come and then they go
Time passes quickly, and every day is unique and fleeting.
Is this your life you're meant to know
Are you living the life you were destined to have or meant to live?
Is it too late for you to glow
Do you think it's too late for you to shine, accomplish great things or leave a positive impact?
Everything depends
Your future and success are contingent upon your actions.
On one single chance
Your fate rests on one crucial opportunity that presents itself.
Should you accept this dance
Is it wise to take a chance and seize the opportunity that presents itself?
The long long day is through
The tiring and exhausting day has finally come to an end.
Figure out what is true
Reflect and determine what your beliefs and aspirations are.
Close your eyes and think about
Take a moment to calmly contemplate and consider.
What you can live without
Decide what aspects, people or habits of your life can be discarded to create a better life.
Close your eyes and think about
Take a moment to calmly contemplate and consider.
What you can live without
Decide what aspects, people or habits of your life can be discarded to create a better life.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Paul Hayden Desser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind