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
Middle of July
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're entwined
And I can't tell if it's day or night outside
I closed the blinds
And I feel so good inside
When you come into my mind
I can't wait till you come home
The phone
I don't know, is that your eyelash or mine?
I think it's mine
And tell me about the night we slept
Outside
When you had to leave
Decide
Whether we should even try
By a burned-out streetlight
In the middle of July
Hayden's song Middle of July depicts a passionate romance between two individuals who are so deeply connected that they can't tell where one begins and the other ends. The opening lines create a sense of intimacy and closeness, as the singer wonders if the body part he is touching belongs to him or his lover. The entwined bodies and closed blinds suggest that they are lost in their own world, oblivious to the outside world. The singer then goes on to describe the feeling of euphoria he experiences when he thinks of his lover and eagerly awaits their return home.
The second verse further showcases the depth of their connection, as they share memories of a night spent sleeping outside. This memory is not only a romantic one, but it also represents a moment of decision making in their relationship. The singer references a burned-out streetlight, which could represent a moment of darkness or even uncertainty, suggesting that they have gone through moments of hardship in their relationship.
Overall, the song captures the beauty and passion of a strong, intimate relationship, filled with great memories, deep affection, and moments of uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know if that's your leg, or is it mine?
We are so close that our limbs are entangled and hard to differentiate.
We're entwined
Our bodies are wrapped around each other and we can't seem to get close enough.
And I can't tell if it's day or night outside
Being with you is so consuming that time and reality seem to blur together.
I closed the blinds
I want to be fully present in this moment with you without any distractions.
And I feel so good inside
You bring me incredible joy and happiness.
When you come into my mind
You are always on my mind, even when we are apart.
I can't wait till you come home
I miss you dearly and I am excited for you to return.
And your skin will replace
The sensation of feeling your soft skin against mine will be better than any other feeling.
The phone
I will no longer need any other type of communication when I have you with me.
I don't know, is that your eyelash or mine?
Our physical closeness has grown so strong that we get confused as to whose body part is whose.
I think it's mine
I have become so comfortable with you that I can anticipate your every move.
And tell me about the night we slept
Reminisce with me about the night we shared a bed.
Outside
We embraced the beauty of nature and our surroundings as we slept.
When you had to leave
Our joyous time together had to eventually come to an end.
Decide
We were forced to make the tough decision of whether our relationship was worth pursuing despite the challenges.
Whether we should even try
We had to step back and assess whether our love for each other was enough to overcome any obstacles.
By a burned-out streetlight
Our conversation was taking place in a dimly-lit area, signifying the dark times and doubts we were experiencing.
In the middle of July
The heat of summer symbolizes the intensity of our emotions and the fact that even in the hottest times, our love can survive.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Hayden Desser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind