On a cold spring morning in 1975, J.P. … Read Full Bio ↴http://www.jpkalliomusic.com
On a cold spring morning in 1975, J.P. Kallio was born in a lift of a maternity hospital, in Helsinki. Completely blue and not breathing, but he proved to be a fighter. Always one step a head of the game and not scared to take the rough road. These are just some of the character building moments of his life that have shaped J.P. Kallio in to the songwriter, singer and guitarist he is today.
The music is organic, catchy and stays with you long after hearing the songs for the first time. J.P. draws his influences from singer songwriters like Tom Waits, Ben Harper and Dave Mathews, but you can also hear his love for good rock music in the vain of Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Foo fighters. His love for blues guitar is evident, as is his 14 years of backing Irish traditional music. “It is bluesy, folky rock with a good portion of old and modern sounds”.
His début CD “On a shoestring” is to be released in March/April of 2011. The songs consist of few older songs that J.P. has performed over the years with numerous bands he has worked with, but most of the material is brand new songs. The arrangements vary from simple acoustic guitar and voice to full band productions. “There is time to be gentle and time to rock it out”
J.P. has always had a keen interest in the music business. He has decided to write weekly blog about his experience of recording and releasing his first solo CD. In the blog he is sharing his experience in the industry ups and downs, where he succeeds and where he fails. “Irish music scene has been good to me and I want to give back something in return, and I hope this blog will be valuable information for other artists on a similar path”
J.P. is no stranger to live performance; he has done well over 2000 concerts in the past fourteen years he has worked as full time musician. He has toured extensively around the world with several bands weeks, even months at a time. He has developed a strong stage presence and knows how to connect with the audience. Whether it is with a band or just him and his guitar, J.P. throws every last bit of himself in to the performance.
This Town
J.P. Kallio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over the river
I gave you my coat
When I felt you shiver
Only two ways
Out of this town
One is that bridge
The other's in the ground
For all your looking nothing seen
I'll get a job
Working at the plant
The very next day
A new trans am
You're knocked up
Ready to drop
Just in time
For the next layoff
Take another cruise down Queen
For all the looking nothing seen
No happy endings in this song
When your choices turned out wrong
The snow fell low
Over the river
I gave you my coat
When I felt you shiver
In J.P. Kallio's song "This Town," the lyrics describe a bleak and stagnant small town where life seems to be stuck in a never-ending cycle of disappointment and missed opportunities. The first verse sets the somber tone with the falling snow, symbolizing the cold and harsh environment. The singer offers their coat to someone they care about, showing a sense of compassion and empathy. However, this act of kindness contrasts with the overall theme of disillusionment and frustration that follows.
The following lines, "Only two ways, out of this town, one is that bridge, the other's in the ground," suggest that there are limited means of escape from the town's oppressive atmosphere. The bridge symbolizes the possibility of leaving town, while the phrase "in the ground" refers to a more sinister option, implying that some residents may choose to end their lives.
Continuing with a sense of resignation, the lyrics depict the singer getting a job at the local factory, indicating a lack of opportunities or ambition. The mention of a "new trans am" represents a fleeting moment of hope and excitement, which is quickly shattered by the news of an unplanned pregnancy and the impending layoff. The narrative suggests that happiness is elusive and that making wrong choices condemns individuals to a cycle of disappointment and unfulfilled dreams.
The repetition of "take another cruise down Queen, for all your looking nothing seen" reinforces the idea that despite searching, there is a sense of hopelessness and emptiness in this town. The concluding verse brings back the falling snow and the act of offering one's coat, highlighting the cyclical nature of this town and the futile attempts to find comfort and solace.
Overall, "This Town" portrays a bleak existence trapped within a small town, where life is marked by missed opportunities, limited options for escape, and a sense of hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
The snow fell low
The snow descended gently to the ground
Over the river
Above the flowing body of water
I gave you my coat
I offered you my coat
When I felt you shiver
Upon sensing your tremor
Only two ways
Merely two options
Out of this town
To escape from this locality
One is that bridge
One involves crossing the bridge
The other's in the ground
The alternative is six feet under
Take another cruise down Queen
Embark on another journey along Queen Street
For all your looking nothing seen
Despite your searching, nothing is found
I'll get a job
I will obtain employment
Working at the plant
Employed at the factory
The very next day
Immediately after
A new trans am
A brand new Trans Am vehicle
You're knocked up
You're pregnant
Ready to drop
Preparing to give birth
Just in time
Right on schedule
For the next layoff
To coincide with the subsequent job cuts
No happy endings in this song
This song lacks cheerful conclusions
When your choices turned out wrong
When your decisions resulted in unfavorable outcomes
The snow fell low
The snow descended gently to the ground
Over the river
Above the flowing body of water
I gave you my coat
I offered you my coat
When I felt you shiver
Upon sensing your tremor
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Gerald Fillion
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind