Now he's residing in Silverlake, LA. Debut album 'Hallelujah World' was released in 2002 on Rough Trade and received great press write-ups internationally. Also appeared on the Faultline album 'Your Love Means Everything' in 2002/2004 (EMI), where he performed backing vocals to Michael Stipe on the track 'Greenfields' and played guitar on the track 'Where Is My Boy?' performed by Chris Martin. A move to Portland, Oregon and now Silverlake inspired the writing of his second album, 'Revenge Songs'.
David Kosten from Faultline proved instrumental in helping Jacob bring 'Revenge Songs', to the public, with plans to make the album available on his own label in the UK, and helping Jacob find a licensee for the album around the world. He was also responsible for bringing Jacob to the attention of Chrysalis Music CEO Jeremy Lascelles, who after a short acoustic performance in his LA hotel room, signed Jacob to the publishing company. Jeremy previously championed Ray LaMontagne and Bat for Lashes.
After Chrysalis put one of Jacob's tracks on a sampler circulated at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006, the musical directors of US drama 'The OC' put one of his songs, 'On A Saturday', in the last ever episode of the popular series, responsible for significantly boosting the profile of a number of artists including Jem, Imogen Heap and Death Cab for Cutie. The episode has screened in the US in February and is yet to screen in the UK. Jacob is the only unsigned artist whose music was used in the final episode.
Variously inspired by Joanna Newsom, Nina Simone, Paul McCartney, Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel and America, 'Revenge Songs' is a capitivating piece of work. Described by Jacob as 'modern field recordings', Jacob took the documentary approach to recording the new album. Little of 'Revenge Songs' was recorded conventionally in a studio, most was recorded in Jacob's home in Portland, and all background noise has been left in the finished record. On 'Zero Integrity' you can hear an ambulance siren in the background. He recorded other tracks in underground carparks and concrete art galleries.
At a time when music has never been more available to the masses, Jacob is building a special relationship with his fans through a more personal touch. Like the anti-folk musicians before him, he has developed a core fanbase in the US by doing tours of fan's living rooms, sourcing interest from his website forum or Myspace page. He is extending this plan to the UK in April 2007 when he travels across the Atlantic for a show at the Borderline venue in London, and is using the opportunity to set up at least three living room shows in Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and London.
He also plans to shoot the video for the single release of 'On A Saturday' guerilla-style in Soho Square, inviting fans to join him on Saturday 21st April to appear in the video. The video will be a short film, featuring excerpts from different shows in the UK, and footage from Soho Square. He also offers fans the chance to buy very special, limited edition, first copies of 'Revenge Songs', with sleeves designed and hand made by Jacob.
http://www.myspace.com/themusicofjacobgolden
I'm Your Man
Jacob Golden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a secret here hidden somewhere
And the words repeated psalm-like cause that's my birthright.
I wondered if I could get low enough to the ground with my headphones on and the fire ants biting at my hands…
I was bitten by a sour frame of mind that day
And I didn't mean to treat you in a hurtful way
But my dreams had all expired and my thoughts were static
I was looking at my future in a box in the attic
Will you please come see me, we could form a new band
Does that sound like a reacouring bad luck hand
I'm a microphone
I'm a tambourine
I'm a record sleeve
I'm a melatron
I'm your man
I shall wear the impossible dream in a tattoo on my arm for my friends to see
To remind me when my focus turns from love to depression
And I'll pray to George Harrison's reincarnation
It was After The Gold Rush spinning in my heart
And I thought we could invent a supernatural art
But the band went down in a fiery zeppelin
And I smashed my guitar at the gates of heaven
And the well in the Murakami book went dry
Mr Wind Up Bird can you tell me why
So I looked for the answer in Norwegian Wood
And the million little pieces of my childhood
The billion little pieces of my childhood.
I'm a perfect rhyme
I'm a drum machine
I'm a radio
I'm a symphony
I'm your man
The lyrics in Jacob Golden's song, "I'm Your Man," explore themes of insecurity, disappointment, and perseverance. The first lines, "I lifted up the storm drain and pushed my hands into the dirt. There's a secret here hidden somewhere," suggest a search for something elusive, possibly a hidden truth or purpose. The repetition of the phrase "Don't worry there's a master plan" presents a reassuring sentiment but also hints at a lack of control or uncertainty about the future. The lines "But my dreams had all expired and my thoughts were static / I was looking at my future in a box in the attic" convey a sense of disappointment, as if the singer's aspirations have been left to gather dust. The reference to forming a new band indicates a desire to move forward and create something new.
The chorus of the song presents a series of images that suggest the singer's versatility and adaptability. The lines "I'm a microphone / I'm a tambourine / I'm a record sleeve / I'm a mellotron / I'm your man" imply that the singer is willing to take on whatever role is required of him. The verses that follow continue the theme of searching for meaning and understanding, as the singer references books by Haruki Murakami and The Beatles. The line "I shall wear the impossible dream in a tattoo on my arm for my friends to see" suggests that the singer is determined to hold onto his dreams and beliefs, even if they seem unlikely or unattainable.
Overall, "I'm Your Man" is a song that explores the complexities of human emotion and the struggle to find one's place in the world. The lyrics suggest that while life may be uncertain and difficult at times, it is important to keep searching, keep dreaming, and keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I lifted up the storm drain and pushed my hands into the dirt
Trying to uncover a hidden secret
And the words repeated psalm-like cause that's my birthright.
This is a part of who I am
I wondered if I could get low enough to the ground with my headphones on and the fire ants biting at my hands...
Don't worry, I have a plan
I was bitten by a sour frame of mind that day
I was feeling down at that moment
And I didn't mean to treat you in a hurtful way
I'm sorry for my actions
But my dreams had all expired and my thoughts were static
I was feeling stuck and unmotivated
I was looking at my future in a box in the attic
I was feeling trapped by my past
Will you please come see me, we could form a new band
Let's collaborate and create something new
Does that sound like a recurring bad luck hand
Am I doomed to repeat past mistakes?
I'm a microphone
I'm an instrument
I'm a tambourine
I'm a rhythmic element
I'm a record sleeve
I'm a protective cover
I'm a mellotron
I'm a unique instrument
I'm your man
I'm here for you
I shall wear the impossible dream in a tattoo on my arm for my friends to see
I'll always hold onto my dreams
To remind me when my focus turns from love to depression
To keep me grounded and positive
And I'll pray to George Harrison's reincarnation
I find comfort in music and spirituality
It was After The Gold Rush spinning in my heart
I was moved by the music
And I thought we could invent a supernatural art
Creativity is limitless
But the band went down in a fiery zeppelin
Things didn't go as planned
And I smashed my guitar at the gates of heaven
I expressed my anger and frustration
And the well in the Murakami book went dry
I was running out of inspiration
Mr Wind Up Bird can you tell me why
I'm searching for answers
So I looked for the answer in Norwegian Wood
I turned to art for guidance
And the million little pieces of my childhood
All my experiences have shaped me
The billion little pieces of my childhood.
All my experiences have shaped me
I'm a perfect rhyme
I'm in harmony with myself
I'm a drum machine
I keep the beat
I'm a radio
I broadcast my message
I'm a symphony
I'm complex and multifaceted
I'm your man
I'm here for you
Contributed by Bella W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hadasah
Years later and I'm still obsessed with this album. Beautiful music ❤
The Broke And Broken
You are so inspiring x