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
Steps Into Miles
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn every step into miles
And the straps attached to the suit are on fire
Your shoulders hold up my desire
Your arms
Are pulling me close
And my heart
And your feet are walking away with no trail beneath
The song "Steps Into Miles" by Hayden is a romantic ballad that beautifully depicts the feeling of being in love. The opening lines, "Your legs walk through the tile like a smile, turn every step into miles", metaphorically suggests that the person in question has a positive impact on the world around them. Every step they take and every move they make is so full of life and joy that it seems like they are leaving a mark everywhere they go. The reference to turning every step into miles further emphasizes that the person's impact is so great that their mere presence can change everything around them.
The second stanza, "And the straps attached to the suit are on fire, your shoulders hold up my desire" is an allusion to the passion and intensity of their love. The suit symbolizes the physical world, and the straps attached to it being on fire suggest that the person in question is so consumed by passion that they are breaking free from the physical world. The reference to shoulders holding up desire suggests that the person's love and dedication are so strong that they can carry the weight of their partner's desires effortlessly.
The final stanza, "Your arms are pulling me close and my heart is holding your toes, and your feet are walking away with no trail beneath" metaphorically suggests that the person is holding their partner firmly and tightly, even as they walk away. The reference to the heart holding the toes symbolizes the unshakable bond and deep connection that exists between the two people.
Line by Line Meaning
Your legs walk through the tile like a smile
You move with ease and joy, making the ground beneath you seem as though it's grinning
Turn every step into miles
Each small movement you make feels like a major accomplishment, covering greater distances than expected
And the straps attached to the suit are on fire
The restraints you've placed on yourself are burning, urging you to break free from constraint and convention
Your shoulders hold up my desire
Your strength and determination are what inspires and motivates me to pursue my goals and dreams
Your arms
The way you hold me
Are pulling me close
Bringing us together in a comforting embrace
And my heart
My emotions
Is holding your toes
I am rooting my connection to you, holding onto something that grounds me
And your feet are walking away with no trail beneath
You are blazing your own trail, stepping into the unknown with confidence and determination, leaving no trace behind as you move forward
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Paul Hayden Desser
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind