Growing up in Burlington, Jamison was surrounded by music from a young age. His father is a classical composer and one of his ancestors is the popular Civil War era songwriter George Frederick Root. After stints in college, folk choirs, and various bands, Jamison set about demoing a handful of solo songs on an old Korg 8-track recording his father gave to him. After a bit of polish, those demos became his debut EP, 2016's The Rains, a warm set that melded folk guitar, lyrical introspection, and understated electronic flourishes. Jamison returned in early 2017 with a pair of singles, offering a new original tune, "The Jacket," as well as his modern take on Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind." In October of that year, he delivered his first full-length release, The Wilds, which was followed in early 2018 by The Wilds Quartets, an EP of three songs from that album arranged with a string quartet. Throughout the early part of 2019, Jamison issued a string of thoughtful singles like "Gloria" "Boys," both of which appeared on his sophomore album Gloria Duplex, later that year.
Heading into the next decade, Jamison called on an array of collaborators from the folk and indie rock world to help with his next project. The result was 2020's Tourism, a five-song EP that featured contributions from artists like Darlingside, Joseph, and Fenne Lily. The collaborations continued, first with 2021's "To Ash" featuring Nico Muhly, and 2022's "Make It Out" with Maisie Peters.
Boys
Henry Jamison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
couldn't get the moon outta my head so I woke before the break of day and walked along the coast of Galway
Sittin' at a boardwalk bar drinkin' a whiskey feeling all the rage of a modern man
We used to feel our rage just like the sea now we get it on an installment plan
All my love
to you and yours
I guess I'm a long way from where I was drunk off my ass in some suburban town
I betrayed my friend, nineteen and Darwinian I'll never live that down
But I fell into a good girl's good graces and I poured my heart right into hers She's more an Artemis in muddy laces than a Venus in furs
All my love to you and yours
and all the college boys they're dressing up in suits thinking life's a war
Spring is coming
let me be like the cherry tree renewed and fruitful
All my love to you and yours
and all the college boys they're dressing up in suits thinking life's a war
The lyrics in Henry Jamison's song Boys are a commentary on the state of modern masculinity and the societal pressures that come with it. The first verse opens with the singer unable to sleep and feeling overwhelmed by his emotions. He decides to take a walk along the coast of Galway, perhaps as a way to clear his head and find some peace.
The second verse finds the singer at a bar, drinking whiskey and feeling angry about the state of the world. He contrasts this with the way things used to be, when people experienced their emotions more naturally and authentically. He also touches on the societal expectations placed on young boys, who are taught that life is a war and must be approached as such. The singer reflects on his own past mistakes but notes that he's now in a better place and has found love with a woman who embodies strength and resilience.
The chorus repeats the line "all my love to you and yours," which can be interpreted as a message of well-wishes to those who are struggling with these same issues related to masculinity and societal pressure. The mention of "baby boys" and "college boys" implies that these pressures are felt at all stages of life.
Overall, the song is a thoughtful and insightful commentary on the challenges of being a man in today's world, and the ways in which society shapes our understanding of masculinity.
Line by Line Meaning
Thought I was drowning in that bed
I felt suffocated and overwhelmed in that bed
couldn't get the moon outta my head so I woke before the break of day and walked along the coast of Galway
I was restless and couldn't sleep, so I got up early and went for a walk by the sea in Galway
Sittin' at a boardwalk bar drinkin' a whiskey feeling all the rage of a modern man
I am sitting at a bar on the boardwalk, feeling angry about the modern world, while drinking a whiskey
We used to feel our rage just like the sea now we get it on an installment plan
In the past, we used to feel and express our rage like the sea, but now it's more like a payment plan - controlled and spread out over time
All my love to you and yours and all the baby boys they're dressing them in blue teaching them that life's a war
I send my love to you and your family, but I worry about the way society teaches young boys to be tough and competitive from an early age
I guess I'm a long way from where I was drunk off my ass in some suburban town
I have come a long way from my past when I was drunk and irresponsible in a suburb
I betrayed my friend, nineteen and Darwinian I'll never live that down
I made a mistake and betrayed a friend when I was nineteen years old, and I still feel guilty about it
But I fell into a good girl's good graces and I poured my heart right into hers She's more an Artemis in muddy laces than a Venus in furs
I found a good woman who accepted and appreciated me, and she is a strong and natural person rather than a submissive one
Spring is coming let me be like the cherry tree renewed and fruitful
Spring is near, and I hope to be like a cherry tree - renewed and productive
All my love to you and yours and all the college boys they're dressing up in suits thinking life's a war
Once again, I send my love to you and your family, but I also worry about the pressure put on young men to succeed and conquer in life
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Ultra Tunes
Written by: HENRY JAMISON, THOMAS WAYLAND BARTLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sebastian Madrigal
Thought I was drowning in my bed
Couldn't get the moon out of my head
So I awoke before the break of day
And walked along the coast of Galway
Sitting at the boardwalk bar, drinking a whiskey
Feeling all the rage of a modern man
We used to feel our rage just like the sea
Now we get it on an instalment plan
All my love
To you and yours
And all the baby boys, they're dressing them in blue
Teaching them that life's a roar
I guess I'm a long way from where I was
Drunk off my ass in some suburban town
I betrayed my friend, nineteen and darwinian
I'll never live that down
But I fell into a good girl's good graces
And I poured my heart right into hers
She's more an optimist in muddy races
Than a Venus in first
All my love
To you and yours
And all the college boys, they're dressing up in suits
Thinking life's a roar
Spring is coming
Let me be like leeches
Renew
Footfall
All my love
To you and yours
And all the baby boys, they're dressing them in blue
Teaching them that life's a roar
All my love
To you and yours
And all the college boys, they're dressing up in suits
Thinking life's a roa
CallMeMrX
As audibly brilliant as the narrative is relevant.
Being a son, a brother and since first hearing this - a father, your words are made all the more meaningful to me.
Zen north
I actually love your music so much,it speaks to me on such a deep personal level and inspires me to get out of bed everyday. I wish i had the money to see you in concert..
Manan Jain
I love this song so much, it feels like its something so close and personal.
Every time a person liking this comment will make me revisit this song.
Great work out there mate!
Joshua Roman
Just now found this. And i cannot stop listening. Its like amazing poetry ❤️
Meg Williams
This song is so stunning
Jane kely
Amazing! That's a beautiful song! ❤️
richardkanemusic
Great song. Heard it on Spotify playing madden 21. Keep up the good work
maria eduarda
maravilhoso!
Jason Renne
Great work, sir.
Syd
So good ❤