Born in 1969 to singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and wife Sara Lowndes, Jakob Dylan grew up in Los Angeles and briefly enrolled in Parsons School of Design, before turning his attention back to music, forming The Wallflowers in 1989. it has been reported that Jakob does not like his famous father to be mentioned during interviews. This is not because of animosity between the two, as is widely assumed, but because Jakob has stated that he wants to make his own name for himself, and does not want to open doors or sell tickets by capitalizing on his family name. Dylan talked more in-depth about his father in a 2005 interview with The New York Times, saying they have a "great relationship".
Jakob married his childhood sweetheart, screenwriter Nicole Paige Denny (Paige Dylan), in a ceremony at Sara Dylan's house in 1992. Their first child, Levi, was born two years later. They had a second son James in 1998 and a third son in 2000. Jakob shares his family's desire for an anonymous personal life: "The world's as big as the block you live on, and I like to keep it small. I have had the same friends since I was eleven years old." Jakob says he is often amused when asked the question, "When did you change your name to Dylan?"
The Wallflowers got their start playing alongside other aspiring rockers at Canter's delicatessen in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. In 1992 the band signed to Virgin Records and released their self-titled debut album. The debut sold poorly however, and after they were released from Virgin Records, the band had difficulty finding a new record deal. Eventually, with the help of manager Andrew Slater and a demo tape of "6th Avenue Heartache," they landed a new deal with Interscope Records.
Before releasing Bringing Down The Horse in 1996, the band re-grouped. Original members Peter Yanowitz and Tobi Miller departed; and guitarist Michael Ward, bassist Greg Richling, and drummer Mario Calire joined the band. The only remaining original members that carried over were Jakob Dylan and keyboardist Rami Jaffee. The album yielded several hit singles, including "6th Avenue Heartache," "One Headlight," and "The Difference." The album sold over four million copies and won two Grammy Awards, for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rock Song.
The Wallflowers followed up the album with the release of Breach in 2000. Although not as commercially successful as their prior album, it was certified Gold and garnered two Top 40 hits, "Sleepwalker" and "Letters From The Wasteland". The band released three more albums on Interscope before taking a break in 2006.
During the band's hiatus, Dylan launched his solo career and released two solo albums to critical acclaim. Seeing Things, was produced by Rick Rubin and released on June 10, 2008. It captured Dylan's songwriting in a stripped-down acoustic atmosphere, and was well received by critics. His follow-up, Women and Country in 2010, saw Dylan reuniting with producer T-Bone Burnett for an americana record. The album featured a large ensemble of musicians, including vocalists Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, guitarists Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz, and drummer Jay Bellerose. It reached #12 on Billboard's Top 200.
The Wallflowers mainstay lineup reunited for the 2012 album Glad All Over, before all the remaining members left. Dylan decided to take a break from making music and started working on a documentary with producer/director (and longtime manager) Andrew Slater. The documentary film "Echo In The Canyon" was released in 2018, and received mostly positive reviews.
In 2021, The Wallflowers announced they would release their first new album in nearly a decade -- Exit Wounds, with the band continuing as a Jakob Dylan solo project. Exit Wounds debuted at #3 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart, making it the band's highest charting album (with Bringing Down The Horse having peaked at #4).
Will It Grow
Jakob Dylan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our tug of war has only made me want you more
Now steeped in hard luck and doomed to roam
My love is braver than you know
My forefathers they worked this land
And I was schooled in the tyranny of nature's plans
Now dressed in thunder a cloud came around
In the shape of a lion a hand came down
Now damn this valley and damn this cold
It takes so long to let me know
It's plant and reap and plow and sow
But tell me will it grow?
Dig my ditches in the golden sun
I'd be robbing these trains if I could catch me one
Now Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday's gone
Got me stone cold sober and a drought so long
Boarded mansions and ghost filled yards
There's a boy in a water tower counting cars
Steel trap open and empty stalls
There's a well-worn saddle but the horse is gone
Now damn this valley and damn this cold
It takes so long to let me know
It's plant and reap and plow and sow
But tell me will it grow? (Will it grow?)
Jet black starlit midnight rolls
I am down in the garden where I let you go
Up on the surface the earth looks round
But it's a godless city of cold flat ground
Now damn this valley and damn this cold
It takes so long to let me know
It's plant and reap and plow and sow
But tell me will it grow?
Will it grow?
Will it grow?
Will it grow?
Hmmmm
Jakob Dylan's "Will It Grow" is a poetic expression of the connection between love, land, and hardship. In the first verse, Dylan promises not to give up on his love interest despite the battles they face, comparing their struggle to a tug of war that only intensifies his desire for her. He then reflects on his upbringing in a family that worked the land and the harsh realities of nature's plans. In the second verse, Dylan paints a bleak picture of his surroundings, with references to drought, abandoned mansions, and empty stalls, highlighting the challenging and unforgiving environment he calls home.
Throughout the song, Dylan poses a question, "Will it grow?" which serves as a metaphor for the uncertainty and unpredictability of life. He questions whether his love will withstand the struggles they face and whether the land will yield crops despite the hardships it faces. The line "Damn this valley and damn this cold" emphasizes the difficulty and hardships of agriculture and relationships, portraying the challenges of living in a harsh, isolated environment where growth is never guaranteed.
In the final verse, Dylan leaves the valley and retreats to a garden where he has let go of his love. He observes the roundness of the earth from a godless city, suggesting a sense of alienation and disconnection from nature. The song's ending leaves the listener with a sense of uncertainty, with Dylan's question "Will it grow?" remaining unanswered as he navigates the challenges of living in a difficult environment.
Line by Line Meaning
I made a promise to not let go
I promised to hold on to you and not let go.
Our tug of war has only made me want you more
The more we struggle against each other, the more I desire you.
Now steeped in hard luck and doomed to roam
I'm currently experiencing misfortune and am wandering aimlessly.
My love is braver than you know
My love is courageous, even if you don't realize it.
My forefathers they worked this land
My ancestors farmed and cultivated this soil.
And I was schooled in the tyranny of nature's plans
I learned firsthand about the harsh, unforgiving ways of nature.
Now dressed in thunder a cloud came around
A menacing storm cloud appeared, signaling trouble.
In the shape of a lion a hand came down
A powerful force, like that of a lion's paw, descended upon us.
Now damn this valley and damn this cold
I curse this valley and the bitter cold that accompanies it.
It takes so long to let me know
It's taking too much time to figure things out.
It's plant and reap and plow and sow
The process of farming: planting, harvesting, tilling, and planting again.
But tell me will it grow?
I'm unsure if my efforts will yield any fruit.
Dig my ditches in the golden sun
The labor of digging trenches in the bright, warm sunlight.
I'd be robbing these trains if I could catch me one
I'd resort to stealing from passing trains if I had the chance.
Now Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday's gone
Time passes by and is lost, one day after the other.
Got me stone cold sober and a drought so long
The parched land and long spell of dry weather have left me completely sober.
Boarded mansions and ghost filled yards
Abandoned, boarded-up mansions and overgrown, spooky yards.
There's a boy in a water tower counting cars
A young boy sits atop a water tower, counting the passing cars.
Steel trap open and empty stalls
The steel trap is set but there's nothing to catch; the stalls are empty.
There's a well-worn saddle but the horse is gone
The saddle is worn from use but the horse is nowhere to be found.
Jet black starlit midnight rolls
A black, starry midnight sky rolls overhead.
I am down in the garden where I let you go
I'm in the garden where I said goodbye to you.
Up on the surface the earth looks round
From above, the earth appears round and whole.
But it's a godless city of cold flat ground
In reality, it's a soulless city with dreary, flat terrain.
Will it grow?
The repeated question of whether or not things will grow, flourish, or thrive.
Will it grow?
The repeated question of whether or not things will grow, flourish, or thrive.
Will it grow?
The repeated question of whether or not things will grow, flourish, or thrive.
Will it grow?
The repeated question of whether or not things will grow, flourish, or thrive.
Contributed by Jordyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Miriam Welling
You're right. His voice is really magical and you calm down when he's singing. Greetings from Germany :)
Mav & Jenn Shorthair
BEAUTIFUL song w fantastic lyrics! Jakob is phenonemal! <3
Sometime Alias
A Master Class from Jakob acknowledging that the art of the craft is to deliver a song with inbuilt legendary past , prescencei a moment in time and possibilities into the future ie the window is wide open
karynroseboom11
This is amazing!
Tulung Santy
Beautiful song,beautiful voice,beautiful liric
LastKisses
So beautiful!
Love ❤️✨
Beautiful beautiful beautiful what a voice
Eileen McNally
I am crazy about him and have been listening to this song just about every morning lately...over and over again. Quite rich.
Soulsearchingpodcast channel
Eileen McNally it's addictive
Sometime Alias
Im on " The Santa Fe Trial"being entertained by s brilliant Wordsmith, Vocalist and Musician. Thanks Jakob.