Ripping Stories For Boys is told from “the other side of the pride”, as Jacob puts it.
“For me, being a ‘man’ was something dark and incomprehensible and inescapable. Everything I wanted for myself drew me further and further away from the pride.”
Jacob’s music spans a wide range of styles and influences, from the sharply whimsical ode to the male obsession with cars (Drive to Kill) to painful and elegiac explorations of the different ways men deny their true selves (Casanova, Shepherds Sleeping). A recurring theme is the pressure of expectation. Aryan Boy is a thumping, almost spiteful anthem to the gay club scene.
Casanova
Jacob Diefenbach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try to forget about the things you let get out of hand on saturday night, but i'll be alright if he just keeps quiet, but mr. hyde says:
I was free tonight and just this once i won the fight, it's funny how what seemed so right left me reeling in the morning light."
Young boys, they still whisper in classrooms and corners.
The years go by but the fear remains, so you travel the world to find yourself again and somewhere in louisiana it clicks and you think:
Yeah, i was free that night. was i so bad to want to take a bite? friends come and go and i'm still alright, i'm still alright.
Put your right and left hand in the cookie jar, but be sure to brush the crumbs off before suspicions rise.
Gone from casanova to the village harlot, yeah, but they don't know you.
Those boys, they don't know you.
4.90's not much to pay for someone who's willing to be a cheer or an ear or a couple of beers.
The water was muddy but it's starting to clear, every day you let me near.
So don't walk away from the things you never want to say, you've found your man and that's okay by me.
I just want to see you smiling.
In Jacob Diefenbach's song Casanova, the lyrics describe the experiences of someone who is trying to forget their mistakes and find themselves again. The opening stanza uses a metaphor of putting on a brave face and black shoes for school to symbolize the idea of hiding one's true self from the world. The singer struggles against their own inner demons, embodied by Mr. Hyde, who taunts them with past mistakes and wrong decisions. The lyrics show the internal struggle of a person trying to move forward from past errors, while also acknowledging the fear that still lingers.
The song then takes a turn towards self-reflection when the singer travels to Louisiana and has a realization. This journey of self-discovery culminates in the realization that the singer can be free, that they are allowed to want and make mistakes, and that friends come and go, but they are still alright. The song then delves into the idea of putting oneself in potentially compromising situations but making sure to cover any tracks that may lead to suspicions, represented by putting hands in the cookie jar.
The song's title, Casanova, is ironic as it represents a person who is smooth and charming with women, but the singer shows that they have emerged from that phase of their life and have transformed from a Casanova to a village harlot. They recognize that nobody truly knows them, but they have found someone who cares for and accepts them. Ultimately, the song is about accepting oneself and not letting one's past dictate their present and future choices.
Line by Line Meaning
You put on your black shoes and your brave face for school.
You try to hide your struggles and put on a strong front for the world.
Try to forget about the things you let get out of hand on saturday night, but i'll be alright if he just keeps quiet, but mr. hyde says:
You try to move on from your mistakes, but fear the consequences if they come to light. Your inner demons haunt you with guilt and shame.
I was free tonight and just this once i won the fight, it's funny how what seemed so right left me reeling in the morning light.
You gave in to temptation and indulged in something that felt good at the time, but now regret it and feel the consequences.
Young boys, they still whisper in classrooms and corners.
Rumors and gossip continue to haunt you, even as you grow older.
The years go by but the fear remains, so you travel the world to find yourself again and somewhere in louisiana it clicks and you think:
Despite the passage of time, your anxieties and insecurities continue to linger. You embark on a journey of self-discovery and eventually find a moment of clarity and realization.
Yeah, i was free that night. was i so bad to want to take a bite? friends come and go and i'm still alright, i'm still alright.
You reflect on your actions and question if your desires were really so wrong. Despite losing some friends and facing consequences, you reassure yourself that you are still okay.
Put your right and left hand in the cookie jar, but be sure to brush the crumbs off before suspicions rise.
You engage in risky behavior, but take precautions to avoid getting caught or facing repercussions.
Gone from casanova to the village harlot, yeah, but they don't know you. Nobody really knows you. Those boys, they don't know you.
You have a reputation for being promiscuous, but feel misunderstood and unseen by those around you.
4.90's not much to pay for someone who's willing to be a cheer or an ear or a couple of beers.
You feel undervalued and used, as people only seem to want you for temporary comfort and entertainment.
The water was muddy but it's starting to clear, every day you let me near.
Your emotional state was once unclear and chaotic, but things are getting better as you let someone in and allow them to support you.
So don't walk away from the things you never want to say, you've found your man and that's okay by me. I just want to see you smiling.
You are encouraged to confront and express your feelings, as you have found someone supportive who wants to see you happy.
Contributed by Lauren N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.