While living as a student in Oregon he founded the lively American Rock / Folk group Wolf Colonel which recorded multiple releases on Olympia Washington's K Records. After years of touring with a rotating band roster and solo he began recording and touring as a solo act, (although sometimes with backing band). He released 3 records on K Records as Jason Anderson.
Extensive touring eventually led him back to his New England roots. He began playing shows around the New England subcontinent in the mid 00's solo and in a duo call The Rabbits. More recently he has been in a project group doing American Rock.
Jason's recordings are a history of artistic progression from humorous and hopeful youth through to the sweet and thoughtful mid-20's. His live concerts are appealing to all ages and genders, his theatrical performing style recalls the works of Homer and Plato, and reminds audience members why people like to see musicians play music.
The Library
Jason Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mass at 10 a.m.
And apathy's a glove in which evil will slip a hand.
No, I don't know if I would go that far,
The sentiment seems unforgiving.
Although, I do agree,
The unexamined life is not worth living.
Decorated like Christmas trees.
Collecting years like hockey cards
There is boredom and there is victory
But those afternoons, when you stumble on
Even the tiniest epiphany
Well, you feel so in focus
And it's, it's amazing.
So I walk &try to look about as if for the first time.
The poetry of imperfect pavement
Or a turned off arbee's sign.
This exercise in forced perspective, the tiring push &pull.
As we strive for freedom &presence
Through clinging &letting go.
Yes, we strive for freedom &presence
Though empty, &hollow.
In Jason Anderson's song The Library, the opening lines refer to a Baptist church and the message outside advertising their morning mass. The lyrics then take a darker turn as the singer discusses the power of apathy - the idea that doing nothing can allow evil to slip in unnoticed. However, the singer stops short of fully embracing this idea, acknowledging that it is a harsh sentiment. Instead, he focuses on the importance of examining one's life, suggesting that an unexamined life is not worth living.
The rest of the song centers around the idea of living intentionally and being present in one's experiences. The singer likens life to a collection of stamps or hockey cards, with some moments being boring and others triumphant. However, he suggests that the real joy comes in those moments of epiphany, when even the smallest thing can bring about a renewed sense of focus and wonder. He goes on to describe an exercise in "forced perspective," intentionally looking at the world around him as if for the first time. Through this striving for freedom and presence, he recognizes that there may be moments of emptiness and hollowness, but ultimately it is worth it to push and pull towards living with intention.
Overall, Jason Anderson's The Library is a reflection on living with intentionality and being present in one's experiences. The opening lines suggest the potential dangers of apathy and the importance of examining one's life, while the rest of the lyrics encourage the listener to be open to moments of epiphany and to actively strive for freedom and presence.
Line by Line Meaning
A sign outside the baptist church reads:
The song starts by describing the words written outside a church which announces the schedule for mass.
Mass at 10 a.m.
The announcement is simple, stating the time the Mass is going to take place.
And apathy's a glove in which evil will slip a hand.
The song then comments on the fact that apathy is a way that evil infiltrates people's lives.
No, I don't know if I would go that far,
Then the singer retorts that he's not sure it goes as far as the previous statement on apathy.
The sentiment seems unforgiving.
However, he agrees that the meaning behind apathy is indeed dark and serious.
Although, I do agree,
The song continues to say that a compromise can be made.
The unexamined life is not worth living.
And that a life not analyzed and reflected upon is as if useless and not worth living.
We fill our days like books of stamps
The next verses present an analogy of people's lives with books of stamps, filing their time and memories within them.
Decorated like Christmas trees.
Like trees decorated with ornaments, adding color and highlights to their lives.
Collecting years like hockey cards
As if collecting trophies, people gather years like cards, a memento of their lives.
There is boredom and there is victory
The song claims that in people's lives, there can be dullness and joy, monotony, and accomplishments.
But those afternoons when you stumble on
Then the song describes how occasionally there can be moments where an epiphany or realization is found.
Even the tiniest epiphany
The epiphany does not need to be big, even small realizations are significant.
Well, you feel so in focus
These moments can bring an incredible sense of clarity and focus.
And it's, it's amazing.
The experience of the epiphany itself is nothing short of incredible.
So I walk &try to look about as if for the first time.
The song then illustrates the act of walking around seeing the world with fresh eyes.
The poetry of imperfect pavement
The mundane things we often overlook hold simple beauty and significance.
Or a turned-off Arby's sign.
Even things like a turned-off Arby's sign take on a new meaning when viewed with a fresh perspective.
This exercise in forced perspective, the tiring push &pull.
The act of adjusting one's perspective can be exhausting as one must push and pull their mind to see things in a new way.
As we strive for freedom &presence
However, this is an act of seeking inner freedom and presence in one's own life.
Through clinging & letting go.
Letting go of old beliefs and ideas while simultaneously clinging onto new ones.
Yes, we strive for freedom &presence
To conclude, the song reiterates that humans search for trust, freedom, and meaning, even though these goals can seem empty and hollow.
Though empty, &hollow.
Furthermore, life, goals, and perspectives alike can be empty and meaningless, but that doesn't mean they lack importance to people's lives.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind