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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Old Fashioned Way
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We went to an old fashioned way
To get my haircut
By an old fashioned barber
He sat me on his chair
Sharpened his blades and cut my hair
I asked him if he'd shave my beard
Tradition ends in fear
we walked down the road
New haircut, feeling good I know
Things will get better
Summer is right around the corner
I stopped and looked into your eyes
Some days I'm depressed
Don't know why
Today I'm glad
To be alive
In the first verse of the song "Old Fashioned Way," the singer recalls a simpler time when he visited an old-fashioned barber to get his hair cut. The experience was a departure from the modern grooming methods that he's used to. As the barber cut his hair, he realized that he missed the tradition and discipline that old-fashioned grooming represents. The singer then asked the barber to shave his beard but was refused. The song's refrain, "Tradition ends in fear," is a commentary on how society tends to favor progress and convenience over tradition and ritual.
In the second verse, the singer and his companion take a walk after leaving the barbershop. He feels optimistic about life and the upcoming summer. However, he also reveals that he struggles with depression, which is a stark contrast to the carefree mood just moments before. Nevertheless, the singer expresses gratitude for being alive in the present moment.
"Old Fashioned Way" is a song that reflects on the beauty and nostalgia that comes with traditional grooming and the simple joys of life. It urges us to slow down, appreciate our heritage, and not fear the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember the day
I want to recall a particular day of the past.
We went to an old fashioned way
We traveled to a place where traditional methods are still being used.
To get my haircut
I went there to shorten my hair.
By an old fashioned barber
I preferred a barber who knows classic haircuts very well.
He sat me on his chair
He made me sit on his barber's chair.
Sharpened his blades and cut my hair
He enhanced the sharpness of his razor and proceeded to cut my hair with it.
I asked him if he'd shave my beard
I requested him to shave my beard as well.
He said he stopped doing that last year
He told me that he stopped doing beard shaving a year ago.
Tradition ends in fear
Not following the traditional ways of doing things can lead to apprehension.
We walked down the road
We strolled along the path.
New haircut, feeling good I know
I felt content about my new haircut.
Things will get better
I'm optimistic that the situation will improve.
Summer is right around the corner
Summer is almost here.
I stopped and looked into your eyes
I paused and gazed into your eyes.
Some days I'm depressed
There are days when I feel sad.
Don't know why
I'm not sure why I feel that way.
Today I'm glad
But today, I'm happy and content.
To be alive
I'm grateful for being alive and able to experience this moment.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Hayden Desser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind