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.
Grown
Jason Isbell Lyrics
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And I followed it in the ditch
Oh baby, I'm just carrying on
Far be it for me to bitch
Last night I heard the distant hum
Of another damn hurricane
Oh, Sunnie tell me where you've gone
You took my little hand
You took me to your room
You taught me how to want something
I learned how to move
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown
Last year I heard your momma had
A little trouble with the thin red line
I always knew that you could
Understand and not undermine
You took me to your room
I let my eyes adjust
You taught me how to want something
I learned how to lust
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown
All them years ago
You took a nervous little kid
And you taught me how to slow it down just a little bit
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown
Oh, oh, oh, oh you made me feel so grown
Oh, oh, oh you made me feel so grown
The song "Grown" by Jason Isbell is packed with meaning and emotion. The lyrics are vividly descriptive, capturing a number of events from the singer's past. The opening lines, "Last night I heard the sirens' song and I followed it in the ditch," suggest a feeling of restlessness and a desire to escape from one's current situation. The next stanza introduces the character of Sunnie, who is likely a former lover or friend, based on the references to "your room" and "Purple Rain."
The singer reminisces about the lessons Sunnie taught him, including how to "want something" and "lust." These lines suggest a sexual awakening or perhaps a coming-of-age experience, as the singer learns about his own desires and how to act on them. The final stanza suggests that these lessons were valuable and life-changing, as Sunnie helped the singer to slow down and mature. Overall, "Grown" is a bittersweet tribute to a past relationship and the way it shaped the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I heard the sirens' song
Yesterday night, I heard the sound of sirens indicating a call, and it made me want to follow the noise.
And I followed it in the ditch
I went along the path where the noise led me, in the hope of finding the source of the sound.
Oh baby, I'm just carrying on
Despite what happened, I'm pressing ahead with my life and trying to keep going.
Far be it for me to bitch
I'm not going to complain about the situation I'm in and accept responsibility for where I am now.
Last night I heard the distant hum
I heard the humming noise of something that was far away from where I was, and it caught my attention.
Of another damn hurricane
It was the sound of a hurricane, a natural disaster that brings destruction and chaos.
Oh, Sunnie tell me where you've gone
I'm asking Sunnie, who I assume is someone I knew and possibly lost contact with, where they have disappeared to.
Are you still dancing to 'Purple rain'?
I'm curious to know if Sunnie is still listening or dancing to the same music we used to share memories with.
You took my little hand
You took hold of my hand when I was younger and more vulnerable.
You took me to your room
You took me to a private space where you could teach me valuable lessons, away from any potential distractions.
You taught me how to want something
You showed me how to desire things, to have an idea in my head of what I want to accomplish and pursue after.
I learned how to move
You taught me how to take action, to start somewhere and to make progress to achieve what I wanted.
Oh, oh, you made me feel so grown
You helped me mature and develop my mental capacity/growth, change my perspective of the world and make me feel more like an adult.
Last year I heard your momma had
I found out last year that your mother had an issue, which I assume was health-related.
A little trouble with the thin red line
The thin red line refers to a person's health and the problems they might have encountered. I heard that you had this issue.
I always knew that you could
I had faith in you, that even with troubles you would rise above it and overcome the obstacles that came your way.
Understand and not undermine
I understood what you were going through, and I didn't let it diminish your worth or ignore your situation.
I let my eyes adjust
When I first entered your room, I needed to allow myself time to become accustomed to the new setting, to become more comfortable with the unfamiliar surroundings.
I learned how to lust
You showed me a different side of myself, one that is passionate and magnetic.
All them years ago
Those memories seemed like they happened way in the past, a longing for a different time that once was.
You took a nervous little kid
When you first met me, I was still young and scared, looking for someone to guide me and show me the way.
And you taught me how to slow it down just a little bit
You taught me how to relax, to take things one step at a time, and not rush through the journey, especially if I want to enjoy it properly.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jason Isbell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Preston
on Yvette
I can barely make out a little light from the house on the cul-de-sac
Bedroom upstairs, it's a family affair.
I've watched you in class, your eyes are cut glass and you stay covered up
Head to your toe, so nobody will know it was you
I might not be a man yet,
But that bastard will never be,
So I'm cleaning my Weatherby
My sight and my scope
And I hope against hope.
I hope against hope.
Your mother seems nice, I don't understand why she won't say anything.
As if she can't see who he turned out to be.
I might not be a man yet,
But your father will never be,
So I load up my Weatherby.
I let out my breath
And I couple with death.
I couple with death.
Saw your father last night in the window the light made a silhouette.
Saw him hold you that way, he won't hold you that way anymore, Yvette.