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
European Jewel
Jandek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just a shaking shake
Just a breaking break broke me today in the afternoon
No matter who you fool, it's a European jewel all in the sky
The lyrics of Jandek's song "European Jewel" are cryptic and open to interpretation, but one possible reading is that the singer is struggling with mental illness or an altered state of consciousness. The line "there's bugs in my brain" suggests a sense of infestation or invasion, and the lack of feeling "any pain" could be a symptom of dissociation or numbness. The repetition of "just a shaking shake" and "just a breaking break" could convey a sense of fragmentation or instability, as if the singer's mind and body are coming apart.
The line "broke me today in the afternoon" suggests a sudden and traumatic event that caused the singer's breakdown, but the cause is left vague. The final line, "no matter who you fool, it's a European jewel all in the sky," is more enigmatic. It could be read as a statement about the illusory nature of material success or social status, suggesting that even if one manages to deceive others, the truth is ultimately revealed in the vastness of the natural world. Alternatively, it could be a more optimistic statement about the beauty and mystery of the universe, implying that even in moments of trauma and confusion, there is something sublime to be found in the cosmos.
Line by Line Meaning
There's bugs in my brain, I can't feel any pain
I am experiencing an unusual, possibly alarming sensation in my head, and I am immune to the sensation of physical pain.
Just a shaking shake
The feeling in my head is causing me to shake or tremble involuntarily.
Just a breaking break broke me today in the afternoon
The sensation in my head became so intense that it overwhelmed me and caused me to break down emotionally.
No matter who you fool, it's a European jewel all in the sky
Regardless of any attempts to deceive or manipulate, the beauty of the European sky cannot be denied or obscured.
Contributed by Leah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Anthony Green
This is quite accessible by Jandek's standard. It's amazing that he plays an entirely new set every gig, all new material. I think that is unique.
Edward Reno
A letter came, it's not the same, the ink was blue...
I love that line.
Max Brazzini
The best way to end a song. It's like to fall into an abyss...
mark nix
In the future Jandek will be top 40
RetinalHaemorrhage
The best version of it, I think :) Every other version he's recorded has drums, which don't do a whole lot for me. Plus the guitar on this one is at its best!
Virgo Sagittarius
You sure are cool, a European jewel
I dig you most
A letter came, it's not the same
The ink was blue
A relative stopped by to say he saw you, hey
A walkin' down a lonesome town
Some time ago
He said you had a mouth so bad
The lips were rotting off
You dropped a tear to end his fear
You seem quite well
It's a long time spell
I'm wonderin' well
You got an infection
There's bugs in my brain, I can't feel any pain
Just a shaking shake
Just a breaking break
Broke me today in the afternoon
No matter who you fool
It's a European Jewel, aw, in disguise
SummerOfGeorge
Man i was feeling so down today, you know that mood indigo... and that was really the only Song that did it for me :)
Hector Foley
JUST A SHAKY SHA-