Jandek plays a very strange and frequently atonal form of folk and blues music, often using an open and unconventional chord structure. Jandek's music is unique, but his lyrics closely mirror the country blues and folk traditions of Eastern Texas.
Barely a handful of people claim to have contacted Jandek, whose steadfastness in anonymity is legendary. Without any conventional attempts at promotion, he releases albums through his own record label Corwood Industries, which is addressed at a Houston post office box. Fans can write to Corwood for a typewritten catalogue and order Jandek’s albums, usually at inexpensive prices. Jandek’s work has been available on vinyl and on compact discs. Many of his albums feature pictures of the same young man (seen above) at various ages; in light of Jandek's live performances it is almost entirely certain that the person featured on the album covers is Jandek himself.
Jandek’s first album, Ready for the House (1978), was first accredited to a band called “The Units” but it was obviously a solo work. Jandek presumably plays acoustic guitar and has recorded much of his work apparently unaccompanied (assuming that the person singing is also the person playing guitar). However many other songs feature female vocals and/or different male vocalists. Others feature bass guitar, electric guitar and/or drums, presumably played by collaborators. No proper credits list has ever appeared on an album, but song titles have included "Nancy Sings" and "John Plays Drums".
Some of Jandek’s allure stems from his small but devoted fan base which has included Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore, Kurt Cobain, Indian Jewelry, and K Records founder Calvin Johnson.
The mystery of Jandek's identity was partially resolved in October 2004 when Jandek performed live in Scotland, at the Instal 04 music festival in Glasgow. This was Jandek's first known live appearance and performed with Richard Youngs (bass) and Alex Neilson (drums). The man on stage was obviously the same man who appears on the album covers. Corwood stipulated that the performance was not publicized in advance. Since then, "The Representative of Corwood Industries" (as Jandek sometimes insists on being called) has played a lot of concerts and recorded all of them for future releases. The last years have seen an even higher release frequency, even for Jandek.
For more information, you may go here:
www.tisue.net/jandek
www.jandekoncorwood.com
Echo
Jandek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you get along
Won't you get along
Won't you get along
Won't you get along
Won't you get along
Won't you get along
The lyrics of Jandek's song "Echo" are quite simple and repetitive, with the main refrain consisting of the repeated plea, "Won't you get along?" The repetition of this phrase gives the song a hypnotic quality, almost like a mantra or a plea for help. It could be interpreted as a call for people to come together and cooperate, to put aside their differences and work towards understanding and harmony. The song seems to suggest that we are all in this together, and we need to find a way to get along if we want to survive and thrive.
Another possible interpretation of the lyrics is that they are a reflection of Jandek's own struggles with isolation and loneliness. The repetition of the phrase "Won't you get along?" could be a way of reaching out to others and asking for help, or it could be a cry of frustration at being unable to connect with anyone else. The song has a melancholy and contemplative feel, which adds to this sense of introspection and reflection.
Overall, "Echo" is a simple but powerful song that raises important questions about the nature of human relationships and the challenges of finding connection and understanding in a complex and often hostile world.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you get along
Can we please resolve any conflicts and live in harmony?
Won't you get along
Can we find common ground and stop arguing?
Won't you get along
Can we put our differences aside and coexist peacefully?
Won't you get along
Can we stop the hostility and just get along?
Won't you get along
Can we work towards a peaceful resolution and get along?
Won't you get along
Can we overcome our conflicts and find a way to coexist?
Won't you get along
Can we stop the fighting and hostility and just get along?
Won't you get along
Can we find a way to peacefully coexist and get along?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alex Katunich, Brandon Charles Boyd, Christopher E. Kilmore, Jose Anthony II Pasillas, Michael Aaron Einziger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DeadKoby
Yup... that's the unmistakable sound of Jandek
@harrisonwintergreen1147
When you can't sing or play the guitar but still have fans who worship you
@dalenickey4717
To paraphrase Florence Foster Jenkins, they said he couldn’t sing and play guitar, but they can’t say he ‘didn’t’ sing and ply guitar’….
@joelswafford351
Will there be a part 2?
@dalenickey4717
+Joel Swafford - I think fate conspired against my plans to produce a film on the L.A. gig. additional footage and audience interviews were somehow deleted and erased. However, I did conduct a phone interview with band member Kris Bernard; the transcript of which, you can read on my review of the gig for The Muse Patrol. Link >>> http://themusepatrol.com/2014/06/02/corwood-goes-to-hollywood-jandek-live-at-the-echoplex-may-24th-2014-concert-review/
@jonnyfavors7585
Jandeck? More like Jankum..