In addition to being a gifted songwriter, Isbell is regarded as an exceptional guitar player. His style is mostly in the alt-country genre, but is also infused with rock and blues elements.
Jason Isbell's debut solo album Sirens from the Ditch was released on July 10th, 2007, on New West Records. With his band The 400 Unit, he toured in support of this release in the US and Canada during the summer and fall of 2007. Both Isbell and the band released a follow-up album, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit on February 17, 2009.
24 frames
Jason Isbell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And this is how you make yourself worthy of the love that she
Gave to you back when you didn't own a beautiful thing
This is how you make yourself call your mother
And this is how you make yourself closer to your brother
And remember him back when he was small enough to help you sing
He's something like a pipe bomb ready to blow
And everything you built that's all for show goes up in flames
In twenty- four frames
This is how you see yourself floating on the ceiling
And this is how you help her when her heart stops beating
What happened to the part of you that noticed every changing wind
This is how you talk to her when no one else is listening
And this is how you help her when the muse goes missing
You vanish so she can go drowning in a dream again
You thought God was an architect, now you know
He's something like a pipe bomb ready to blow
And everything you built that's all for show goes up in flames
In twenty- four frames
You thought God was an architect, now you know
He's sitting in a black car ready to go
You made some new friends after the show
But you'll forget their names
In twenty- four frames
In twenty- four frames
The song "24 Frames" by Jason Isbell is a poignant piece of music that talks about losing everything and realizing that the world is not as beautiful and perfect as it seems. The lyrics are focused on self-evaluation, the value of relationships, and the mundane aspects of life that we often overlook. In the first verse, Isbell talks about how one can make oneself disappear, become worthy of love and appreciate the value of material possessions. It is a way of acknowledging that our worth is not tied to what we own, but what we represent as individuals.
The second verse is about retaining relationships, namely familial connections that one should protect and foster. It's easy to forget what makes our loved ones special when we're caught up in our own lives. However, we must make an effort to maintain that closeness and remember the people who have helped shape our lives. In the chorus, Isbell throws in a line about how God is not an architect but more like a pipe bomb that's ready to blow, a metaphor for how we often expect everything to be perfect, but in reality, things can explode and fall apart.
The final verse is about keeping a lookout for the people we care for, offering support when they need it, and not running away when things get tough. The final chorus brings things full circle with the realization that God is always there, we might not always see him, but he is always listening and responding to our prayers.
Interesting Facts about 24 Frames:
1) 24 Frames was released in 2015 on the album titled, Something More Than Free.
2) The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best American Roots Performance and Best Americana Album.
3) The song was John Mayer's favourite song of 2015 and he even quoted a lyric from it on his album The Search For Everything.
4) The song's title comes from the 24 frames per second that are used in movies, TV shows, and other forms of visual media.
5) Isbell said that the song took just 45 minutes to write, which is uncommon for him.
6) The music video for the song features footage of Isbell and his band performing live, as well as a snippet of his wife, Amanda Shires, who is also a musician.
7) The album "Something More Than Free" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
8) Isbell played "24 Frames" on an episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in 2015.
9) Isbell has stated that the song was partially inspired by the photography of William Eggleston.
10) "24 Frames" is one of Isbell's most played songs during live performances.
Chords:
Verse: Am, F, C, G
Chorus: F, C, G, Am
Line by Line Meaning
This is how you make yourself vanish into nothing
This is the process of becoming insignificant and inconspicuous
And this is how you make yourself worthy of the love that she gave to you back when you didn't own a beautiful thing
This is the process of increasing your self-worth to match the love you received when you had nothing to offer
This is how you make yourself call your mother
This is the process of overcoming personal barriers to reach out to your mother
And this is how you make yourself closer to your brother
This is the process of building a stronger bond with your brother
And remember him back when he was small enough to help you sing
Recalling memories of when he was young and could sing with you
You thought God was an architect, now you know
Realizing that your previous beliefs about God were incorrect
He's something like a pipe bomb ready to blow
God is not what you expected and can be destructive
And everything you built that's all for show goes up in flames
Things you have created for superficial reasons will be destroyed
In twenty-four frames
In a fleeting moment
This is how you see yourself floating on the ceiling
This is the process of having an out-of-body experience
And this is how you help her when her heart stops beating
This is how you save someone's life when they experience cardiac arrest
What happened to the part of you that noticed every changing wind
Why did you lose your ability to be mindful of your surroundings?
This is how you talk to her when no one else is listening
This is the process of confidential communication with someone
And this is how you help her when the muse goes missing
This is the process of helping someone who has lost their inspiration
You vanish so she can go drowning in a dream again
You disappear so someone else can continue to enjoy their fantasy
He's sitting in a black car ready to go
God is always present, ready to take action
You made some new friends after the show
You met new people after a performance
But you'll forget their names
You won't remember their names
In twenty-four frames
In a fleeting moment
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JASON ISBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@garyf4912
This is the first song I heard just minutes after my little girl died in my arms. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Of all the songs that could have came in the radio it was THIS one that did. I consider that divine intervention on the highest level.
@joemelissa6345
I’m so sorry, Gary. I can only imagine what hearing this song at that moment must have been like for you.
@yesmamnosir7997
I’ve been exactly where you been. Strange how this comment seemed to find me. It’s the reason I won’t cover Waltz#2 by Elliott Smith. “I’m never gonna know you now, but I’m gonna love you anyhow.”
@RichM0410
I’m sorry and I understand. God bless your daughter
@michaelwillingham5503
That just made me choke up a bit
@shelleyannwalters2375
I am so sorry Gary.
@FlipTrackz
Genuinely one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard. It’s a subtle reminder to all Christians that God gives you what you need, not what you want. His plan is sometimes beyond our understanding.
@red_widow2054
When I first heard this song the lines “you thought God was an architect now you know he’s something like a pipe bomb ready to blow” hit me really hard. They carry so much meaning, I love it
@jessicagriffith1593
My favorite line..brilliant
@tylerworrell7807
Remember where were living