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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The Hazards of Sitting Beneath Palm Trees
Hayden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You came here to leave there
And as the sun stained your legs and your arms
The men arrive with their one-track minds
You like that they're there when they ask you the time
They say what they do, and they'll do what you say
And they'll tell you some lies if you let them . . . stay
And you look, but not too far
Your eyes drift across the beach
And just before you reach me, he speaks
His face is red, and he's talking to breeze
You get up to leave as the sun hits the trees
And you jump in the water with him at . . . your feet
And I laugh, but not too hard
And I look, but not too far
The lyrics of Hayden's song The Hazards of Sitting Beneath Palm Trees describe a scene of a woman enjoying her summer in a tropical paradise, sitting on the beach wearing a summer hat, with a smile on her face. As she basks in the sun, men appear with their singular desires, hoping to spend time with her. She enjoys the attention and their company, but stays aware of their intentions. She knows they will tell lies if she allows them to stay. As one of the men engages her attention, she gets up to leave, but not before jumping into the water with him at her feet.
The author's theme of the song is a cautionary tale directed at the listener, warning them about the hazards of giving in to the temptation of flattery and sensual pleasures without being aware of the potential risks. The woman in the song is enjoying the moment but is ever watchful of the men around her, as she is aware that they can hurt her in ways she could never predict. The lyrics warn people that false intentions can lurk behind friendly smiles and that you need to be wary of those trying to take advantage of you.
Overall, the song asks its listeners to be cautious and aware of their surroundings and the motivations of others in interactions, especially in matters of the heart. The song warns that the beauty of the beach and the freedom of summer can cover a multitude of hazards, and to be aware of that.
Line by Line Meaning
With your summer hat and smile
You arrived at this destination with a positive outlook and a happy disposition.
You came here to leave there
You came to this place to escape your present circumstances.
And as the sun stained your legs and your arms
You enjoyed the sun's warmth as it soaked into your skin.
The men arrive with their one-track minds
Men with limited interests approach you.
You like that they're there when they ask you the time
You find it comforting that they are around and engage with you in small talk.
They say what they do, and they'll do what you say
They are eager to please you and follow your lead.
And they'll tell you some lies if you let them . . . stay
They may use deceit to try to impress you or keep your attention.
And you laugh, but not too hard
You find their behavior amusing but not comical enough to laugh boisterously.
And you look, but not too far
You notice the details around you but do not explore them deeply.
Your eyes drift across the beach
You survey the sand, ocean, and people nearby with a casual glance.
And just before you reach me, he speaks
Before you approach me, a man tries to get your attention with his words.
His face is red, and he's talking to breeze
He appears flustered and is speaking without a coherent audience.
You get up to leave as the sun hits the trees
As the sun sets, you decide to leave this place and move on.
And you jump in the water with him at . . . your feet
You spontaneouly join the man in the water next to you.
And I laugh, but not too hard
I find your behavior amusing but don't wish to draw too much attention.
And I look, but not too far
I observe my surroundings casually without focusing too much on any one thing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL HAYDEN DESSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind