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
Starting Over
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm feeling good and I want more
But you've got one thing on your mind
It's leaving everything behind
And I feel like starting over
More now, as I'm older
Drop your skirt down past your knees
If this is the last we ever meet
Let's go out in style and see
If you feel like starting over
Or you'll look back when you're older
At times we had together
And realize there was nothing better
And I feel like starting over
More now, as I'm older
Maybe some of that was a bit too much
It's just that we won't stay in touch
So come on baby, come over to me
We should fuck and them we'll see
In Hayden's song Starting Over, the lyrics depict a narrative of a person looking to begin anew after experiencing life for some time. The subject of the piece seems to be caught up in a climactic moment where they are conflicted. They want more but the other person has different intentions, they are looking to leave everything behind. The idea of starting over, even as someone gets older, becomes more and more appealing as the years go on.
The second verse brings in more emotional complexity to the song. The singer of the song tries to convince the other person that if it is truly the last time they will meet, they should make the best of the situation and "go out in style". The suggestion that after this encounter the two will never see each other again adds to the melancholic atmosphere created by the song. By juxtaposing their desire to start over with the reality of the situation that they will part ways is a very honest representation of life's bittersweet nature.
Overall, Hayden's Starting Over is a poignant piece that highlights one of the most universal human experiences, the desire for a fresh start. By entwining it with the theme of fleeting moments, he creates an introspective, relatable mood that will resonate with many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Your legs are at the door
You have arrived, making your presence known
I'm feeling good and I want more
I am experiencing positive sensations and desire further pleasurable experience
But you've got one thing on your mind
Your focus is solely on one thing
It's leaving everything behind
You are motivated to abandon all current circumstances
And I feel like starting over
I have a strong inclination to begin anew
More now, as I'm older
This sentiment is even stronger now that I have aged
Come on now, come over to me
Please approach me with haste
Drop your skirt down past your knees
Please remove your clothing, starting with the article covering your lower half
If this is the last we ever meet
If this instance turns out to be our final encounter
Let's go out in style and see
Let us have a formidable experience before departing
If you feel like starting over
If you are also inclined to initiate a fresh start
Or you'll look back when you're older
So that when you reach a later stage in life, you may not have regrets
At times we had together
Recalling the memories we shared in the past
And realize there was nothing better
Recognizing that nothing is superior to those experiences
Maybe some of that was a bit too much
I may have expressed myself excessively
It's just that we won't stay in touch
We are unlikely to remain in communication
So come on baby, come over to me
Please advance towards me, my dear
We should fuck and then we'll see
We should engage in sexual activity and then re-evaluate our situation
Contributed by Camden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.