Yet, just one year ago - with two albums already to his name, a raft of rave reviews, and a legion of fans from five years of solid gigging - Jack was about to pack it all in.
Having left his former label and management, he had become thoroughly disillusioned with the music biz at the age of 27. “I was seriously thinking about giving it all up,” he admits. He had just gotten married, had a kid on the way, and hadn't written a song in months.
Then, contemplating his next move last summer, a song came into his head. “I was thinking my career was over before it had really begun. Then this song came along and made me realise I wanted to make another album.”
That song, 'Knock Knock,' is one of the 13 self-penned songs that make up 'Before the Storm.' It's Jack's third album, but he sees it as a new beginning. “For me this is like starting all over again. The first two albums came from my imagination, but for this one I have drawn on my personal experience.”
The songs on 'Before the Storm' chart a turbulent relationship, and articulate the emotional dilemma of a young man torn between enjoying his freedom and settling down with the love of his life. There are fast songs and slow songs, sad ones and happy ones, songs about wild nights on the town and dark nights of the soul. What they share is the honesty of the lyrics and the catchiness of the tunes.
The son of a Polish-German model, whose own parents had fled the Holocaust, and an Italian actor who fled home to escape terrorist death threats, he grew up in London, Italy and Switzerland. Having spent school days “looking out of the window”, he first planned to become a footballer.
Next came a plan to study film in California, prompted by seeing 'The Graduate' at the age of 16, and falling in love with its Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack. That ambition was dramatically thwarted by Jack leaving home on September 11, 2001. “I woke up on a plane halfway across the Atlantic with military jets outside the window and the captain telling us the Pentagon had been hit, and the Twin Towers were no longer standing.” Fourteen frightening hours after taking off in Zurich, he was landing in Geneva. “My California dream came to a pretty abrupt end.”
When he finally made it to Los Angeles, he found a nation in shock, but fell in love with the city and its music. Encouraged by his mother, who had hung out with Hendrix and the Stones in her modelling years, he picked up a guitar and began to write tunes for the poetry he had written at school.
The outcome was 'Between The Minds', a debut album that showcased Jack's husky voice and knack for a catchy tune. Radio 2 loved it and he was invited to tour Europe with Corinne Bailey Rae, culminating in a gig in front of 9,000 fans at Hammersmith Apollo.
But Jack and his indie label were fighting to be heard against the machine of the industry. “It was just the wrong time for me to try to break through.”
A headline tour of Caffe Nero branches around Britain helped generate a buzz about Jack, but his second album, 'Harder than Easy,' failed to reach the audience it deserved when he parted ways with his first label.
Fast-forward to the Spring of 2012 and Jack is in the studio around the corner from his home. Recorded in just four days at KensalTown Studios, 'Before the Storm' is produced by Martin Terefe and The Suppliers, the Scandinavian collective behind a host of hits for artists including James Morrison and Jason Mraz.
“After eight years I have finally found my sound,” says Jack. “I feel like this is my first album. The first two felt like my education and my college years, and this feels like my first real job. I sat down and decided I wanted to make a great album, where every song could stand alone and yet be part of a great album. I think we've achieved it. I am very proud of this album.”
http://www.jacksavoretti.com/
Once Upon A Street
Jack Savoretti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He liked to write songs
He had the eyes of a fighter
Never did nobody wrong
He then became a lover
The day he found his heart
In the words of a hooker
She said
Where d'you think your going with that look upon your face
Nowhere for you
He said
I'm going nowhere, would you like to come too
He said I'm going nowhere would you like to come too
So they made love by a streetlight
While the raindrops washed their sin
And as he trespassed into her life
Well she fell in love with him
While touching her face
Looking for a love
He began to kiss her eyes
But at the taste of a tear drop
He heard the lady say goodbye
So he said
Where d'you think your going with that look upon you face
Nowhere for you
She said I'm going nowhere would you like to come too
Yeah
She said I'm going nowhere
He said I would love to come with you
The song "Once Upon A Street" by Jack Savoretti tells the story of a writer who starts writing songs, but then becomes a lover after falling in love with a prostitute he meets on the street. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of their encounter, as they make love under a streetlight while the rain washes away their sins. The writer is smitten with the prostitute, and she falls in love with him too. However, as they kiss, he tastes a tear on her cheek, and she tells him goodbye, revealing the sad reality of her life.
This song is a beautiful and poignant exploration of love, the fleeting nature of happiness, and the harsh realities of life that can bring it all crashing down. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery and detail, as Savoretti paints a picture of the two lovers in the rain. He uses metaphors and allegory to convey complicated feelings and emotions, adding depth and complexity to the story he tells.
Overall, "Once Upon A Street" is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the beauty and tragedy of human experience, and the ways in which we find connection and love in unexpected places.
Line by Line Meaning
There once was a writer
The story begins with introducing a writer.
He liked to write songs
The writer's interest was in writing songs.
He had the eyes of a fighter
Despite being a writer he had a fierce look in his eyes.
Never did nobody wrong
The writer had a good character and never harmed anyone.
He then became a lover
The writer fell in love with someone.
The day he found his heart
The day he fell in love.
In the words of a hooker
The writer found love in a prostitute.
Who walked the cold streets after dark
The prostitute walked alone in the dark streets at night.
She said
The prostitute spoke to the writer.
Where d'you think your going with that look upon your face
The prostitute questioned the writer's intentions.
Nowhere for you
The prostitute implied that the writer had nowhere to go.
He said
The writer responded to the prostitute.
I'm going nowhere, would you like to come too
The writer invited the prostitute to join him despite his uncertain destination.
He said I'm going nowhere would you like to come too
The writer repeated his offer to the prostitute.
So they made love by a streetlight
The writer and the prostitute had a romantic encounter under a streetlight.
While the raindrops washed their sin
The rain symbolically cleaned away their impurity and guilt.
And as he trespassed into her life
The writer entered the prostitute's life without permission.
Well she fell in love with him
The prostitute fell in love with the writer.
While touching her face
The writer touched the prostitute's face while holding her lovingly.
Looking for a love
The writer was searching for affection and emotional attachment.
He began to kiss her eyes
The writer intimately kissed the prostitute's eyes.
But at the taste of a tear drop
The writer tasted the tears of the prostitute indicating her sadness.
He heard the lady say goodbye
The prostitute said a sorrowful goodbye to the writer.
So he said
The writer spoke to the prostitute again.
Where d'you think your going with that look upon you face
The writer questioned the prostitute's intention to leave him.
Nowhere for you
The writer implied that she had nowhere to go.
She said I'm going nowhere would you like to come too
The prostitute invited him to join her.
Yeah
The writer agreed to join the prostitute.
She said I'm going nowhere
The prostitute reiterated that she had nowhere specific to go.
He said I would love to come with you
The writer expressed his desire to accompany her irrespective of their destination.
Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Josiana Dias
Uma voz dos anjos..é show de interpretação. ..simplesmente linda voz!
Bryan Phillipson
I went seeing him in Liverpool and i've got ta be honest , He was absolutely brilliant live..
Kate Stone
He's definitely a little Dylanesque but with a better voice!
Horse Caring5
Just beautiful....
Elle
Mellow, smooth and so sweet.
Les Rogers
Refreshing singer /songwriter....listen to for hours
Marie Sireeni
if anyone wants to write a text about my life I will ask Jack. this song is among the most beautiful I have heard. Thanks / M
Beth Hedges
This guy is amazing, and deserves way more veiws. D: <3
Kyle Cox
hell, he should be way more recognized. this guy is awesome
Horse Caring5
Beautiful!!