In 1996, he released his first solo album Jason Falkner Presents Author Unknown, which was produced, written, and performed almost entirely by Falkner (the only exception being some guitar overdub done by Alain Johannes). Although it received strong critical reviews, it was not a commercial success. During that same year, he wrote several songs on Brendan Benson's album One Mississippi, and played various instruments on an album released in 1996 by Susanna Hoffs. In 1997, he worked with Eric Matthews on a second album, The Lateness of the Hour, co-producing and assisting on five tracks.
In 1999, Falkner released Can You Still Feel?, another album written and performed as an entire solo effort and was produced with Nigel Godrich. In 2000 Jason was kept very busy, touring and contributing to various projects, including working with and touring as a bassist for the French band Air, and contributing guitar parts to a few Paul McCartney songs. He recorded a song for a tribute album, and played backup on Roger Joseph Manning Jr. and Brian Reitzell's album Logan's Sanctuary.
Jason is credited as performing several instruments on Beck's albums The Information and Modern Guilt from 2006 and 2008. He is currently a part of Beck and St. Vincent's touring bands.
He released his third album I'm OK... You're OK in Japan in 2007. In 2009, he released his fourth album All Quiet on the Noise Floor, again only in Japan. In 2015, he worked with R. Stevie Moore, releasing a collaboration album called Make It Be.
Follow Me
Jason Falkner Lyrics
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All the ugly things about you I read
Seems to me we could move right along
Without singing the same old song
Everyday I see your picture
And it makes me smile, that's for sure
But are you proud of all that you've done
After all, it has been so much fun
Can't they see you're not like the fakes
Who have careers off of others mistakes
Well, I can see and I understand
Follow me, you'll like what you see
Pull yourself out of your own history
I'm someone that you've come to believe
Follow me, now I've got just what you need
Everybody's talkin' so loud
Of how they knew you before you became proud
Well, I can dream of a day
When we'll never have to go our own ways
Go your own way
Can't they see you're not like the fakes
Who have careers off of public mistakes
Well, I can see and I understand, so
Follow me, you'll like what you see
Pull yourself out of your own history
I'm someone that you've come to believe
Follow me, now I've got just what you need
Follow me, you'll like what you see
Pull yourself out of your own misery
I'm someone that you've come to believe
Follow me, now I've got just what you need
The lyrics of Jason Falkner's song "Follow Me" are about a person who's struggling to reconcile the image they have of someone they admire with the unflattering things they've read about them. Despite this, they still look at their picture every day and are happy to imagine that they're proud of everything they've done. The lyrics suggest that the person being admired is not like the other "fakes" who have built their careers on the mistakes of others. The song then becomes an invitation to that person to follow the singer's lead and find a way to move forward without being held back by their history or the negative things that have been said about them.
The idea of following someone who can provide a path to a better future is a recurrent theme in American popular culture, particularly in the realm of self-help and personal development. In this song, the singer is presenting themselves as a guide to the person they are addressing, offering them an escape from their own misery and a way to move forward. The lyrics are presented in a straightforward, simple way that allows the listener to imagine themselves in the position of the person being addressed, and to feel the sort of hope and possibility that the singer is offering.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to believe
I refuse to accept the ugly things I read about you.
All the ugly things about you I read
The negative things I've learnt about you from external sources.
Seems to me we could move right along
We can forge ahead ignoring the naysayers.
Without singing the same old song
Breaking free from cliches and stereotypes to carve our own paths.
Everyday I see your picture
Seeing your picture brings me joy every day.
And it makes me smile, that's for sure
Your picture always puts a smile on my face.
But are you proud of all that you've done
Are you satisfied and proud of your accomplishments?
After all, it has been so much fun
You've had so much fun along the way.
Can't they see you're not like the fakes
It's unfair for people to mistake you for a fake who gains fame off others' mistakes.
Who have careers off of others mistakes
People who thrive on the misfortunes of others to make a living.
Well, I can see and I understand
I see through the fake portrayals and understand the real you.
Follow me, you'll like what you see
Trust me, following me will lead you to something you'll admire.
Pull yourself out of your own history
It's time to move away from past mistakes and create something new.
I'm someone that you've come to believe
I am someone you trust and rely on.
Follow me, now I've got just what you need
Following me now will lead you to what you've been searching for.
Everybody's talkin' so loud
Everyone is talking too much about you.
Of how they knew you before you became proud
People brag about knowing you before your success.
Well, I can dream of a day
I dream of a day when things will be different.
When we'll never have to go our own ways
When we'll never have to part ways.
Go your own way
Do things on your own terms.
Pull yourself out of your own misery
Remove yourself from the burden of your own sadness.
I'm someone that you've come to believe
I am the person you trust.
Follow me, now I've got just what you need
I have what you need, just follow me.
Contributed by Christian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.