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
Wild Strawberries
Jandek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On raging walls (?)
Sun, salt, and sea
Walkin' down the halls
I'm wondering where
The murdering town
I'm beating a hundred
From way down below
Out in Ohio
You're down in the numbers
You're listed forty-five
You heard and you answered
Â??I'm not dead, I'm aliveâ??
You'll walk on a tightrope
Wear the suit of a clown
You rear back in anger
Don't forget there's no answer
Watch your feet and where they're goin'
Don't forget you're a dancer
The opening verse of Jandek's song "Wild Strawberries" describes a beach scene with "beachcombers in dozens" walking along "raging walls." The singer seems to be observing from a distance, pondering the location of a "murdering town" while contemplating life from "way down below." The location he speaks of being called out in Ohio is a figurative safe haven from the chaos and violence of the world.
As the song progresses, the singer speaks to someone who is "listed forty-five" and who has "answered" that they are "not dead." This may suggest that the two individuals are connected through some sort of dark past, as indicated by the preceding reference to a "murdering town." The person on the other end of the conversation is advised to be cautious while "walking on a tightrope" and carrying the weight of being a "dancer." These seemingly unrelated phrases could serve as a metaphor for navigating through life's challenges and maintaining one's sense of balance and identity in the face of adversity.
Overall, "Wild Strawberries" is a reflective and introspective piece that forces the listener to confront the harsh realities of the world while finding solace in small, fleeting moments of beauty and tranquility.
Line by Line Meaning
Beachcombers in dozens
Many people walking along the beach looking for things.
On raging walls (?)
Possibly referring to the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Sun, salt, and sea
The common elements present at the beach.
Walkin' down the halls
Metaphorical description of walking along the beach between the waves and the shore.
I'm wondering where
The artist is curious about something they have not yet found or discovered.
The murdering town
A place where there has been a great deal of violence or death.
I'm beating a hundred
The singer has a strong determination or drive to achieve something.
From way down below
Possibly a reference to feeling like an underdog or outsider in a particular situation or place.
There's a place you could call me
The artist is offering some kind of connection or identity to the listener.
Out in Ohio
Possibly referring to a specific place of importance or memory for the artist.
You're down in the numbers
The listener is one of many people in a particular group or identity.
You're listed forty-five
A specific reference to the listener's identity or status among a group.
You heard and you answered
The listener has responded to the singer in some way.
I'm not dead, I'm alive
A declaration of resilience or refusal to give up.
You'll walk on a tightrope
Metaphorical description of balancing risks or challenges.
Wear the suit of a clown
Possibly a reference to the need to put on a facade or disguise in certain situations.
You rear back in anger
The listener is prone to reacting with anger in some situations.
Don't forget there's no answer
A reminder that life does not always offer clear explanations or solutions to problems.
Watch your feet and where they're goin'
Be mindful and aware of your actions and their consequences.
Don't forget you're a dancer
Remember to embrace the natural rhythm and flow of life instead of constantly resisting it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Virgo Sagittarius
Beachcombers in dozens
On raging walls
Sun, salt, and sea
Walkin' down the halls
I'm wondering where
The murdering town
I'm beating a hundred
From way down below
There's a place you could call me
Out in Ohio
You're down in the numbers
You're listed forty-five
You heard and you answered
"I'm not dead, I'm alive"
You'll walk on a tightrope
Wear the suit of a clown
You rear back in anger
Don't forget there's no answer
Watch your feet and where they're goin'
Don't forget you're a dancer
C. Foster
this is the most chilling song about beachcombers since the days before recording equipment, also when beachcombing was discussed more often
D1GG1STARDUST
Beachcombers in dozens
On raging walls (?)
Sun, salt, and sea
Walkin’ down the halls
I’m wondering where
The murdering town
I’m beating a hundred
From way down below
There’s a place you could call me
Out in Ohio
You’re down in the numbers
You’re listed forty-five
You heard and you answered
“I’m not dead, I’m alive”
You’ll walk on a tightrope
Wear the suit of a clown
You rear back in anger
Don’t forget there’s no answer
Watch your feet and where they’re goin’
Don’t forget you’re a dancer
lemonflower
I never knew beachcombing could be so dark.
Mike
Very dodecahedronic, wicked contrapuntal, aleatoric as hell, and definitely non-Abrahamic.
Jim, the Curator
Totes anagogic, massively haruspex, wicked anechoic, echolalia for days - maybe even weeks.