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
For Today
Jandek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For today I'll play your guitar
For today I'll be real nice
For today I'll cut you thrice
For today I'll cup your eyes
For today make no disguise
There's a blanket for ya, doctor
There's a full-fledged man of war
And scuff marks on your floor
For today you smoked a cigar
For today you felt real cool
For today you wore a blue shirt
For today you wore some old brown shoes
The lyrics to "For Today" by Jandek showcase the singer's willingness to live in the present and take risks. The opening lines, "For today I'll smoke a cigar/For today I'll play your guitar," suggest that the singer is willing to indulge in pleasure and experiment with new activities. This is further emphasized by the line, "For today I'll be real nice/For today I'll cut you thrice," which implies that the singer is willing to take risks and embrace the unexpected.
The juxtaposition of these reckless acts with more vulnerable lines like "For today I'll cup your eyes/For today make no disguise" suggests that the singer is also open to intimacy and connection. The line "There's a blanket for ya, doctor" implies that the singer is offering comfort and care to someone, perhaps a lover or friend. The reference to a "man of war" creates a contrast between violence and tenderness that underscores the complexity of the singer's emotional state.
Overall, "For Today" is a song about living in the moment, embracing pleasure and vulnerability, and taking risks despite the potential for pain or disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
For today I'll smoke a cigar
I'll indulge in something I don't usually do to give me a sense of pleasure for the day.
For today I'll play your guitar
I'll try something new and perhaps expand my skill set, even if it's just for the day.
For today I'll be real nice
I'll make an extra effort to show kindness and positivity towards those around me today.
For today I'll cut you thrice
I'll bring harm to someone else, potentially out of anger or frustration.
For today I'll cup your eyes
I'll offer comfort and support to someone in need today.
For today make no disguise
I'll be honest and genuine in my interactions with others, not hiding behind a false persona or front.
There's a blanket for ya, doctor
There's comfort and healing available to you, perhaps in a medical sense.
There's a full-fledged man of war
There's a force to be reckoned with, perhaps referring to a powerful entity or individual.
There's an ink spot on your jersey
There's evidence of a mistake or misstep, potentially visible for all to see.
And scuff marks on your floor
There's damage or wear to your surroundings, potentially indicating carelessness or neglect.
For today you smoked a cigar
You indulged in something you don't usually do to give you a sense of pleasure for the day.
For today you felt real cool
You had a sense of confidence or satisfaction in yourself for the day.
For today you wore a blue shirt
You made a choice in your appearance today, potentially indicating a desire for self-expression or individuality.
For today you wore some old brown shoes
You chose comfort and familiarity over fashion or trendiness in your footwear today.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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