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.
Heart On A String
Jason Isbell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was searching for a friend.
You saw my need and you came along.
With that charm you took me in.
Then one night you captured my heart.
Turned the smoke into a flame.
'Cause you keep it hanging on your string.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
'Cause you keep it hanging on your string.
That way of loving is my weakness.
You made me yours, body and soul.
My mind tells me I should leave you,
But my heart can't let me go.
You tied me down to you and you went away.
Turned all of my pleasure into pain.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
'Cause you keep it hanging on your string.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
'Cause you keep it hanging on your string.
Every time I try to break loose,
That's when you tie a knot on your string.
I can't hold up to what I'm going through.
My heart is weakening from the strain.
I know, I know if you untied me baby,
I'd be bound to you just the same.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
If you keep it hanging on your string.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
If you keep it hanging on your string.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
If you keep it hanging on your string.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
'Cause you keep it hanging on your string.
"Heart on a String" is a melancholic song by Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit that draws on the concept of emotional bondage, a situation in which one individual is deeply in love with someone who has and keeps the power to control them. The song centers on a tale of a man who was searching for love, and then met someone who burst into his life "with charm” and took hold of his heart. Despite the love interest's manipulations, the singer of the song cannot help but return to them, for their grasp on his heart remains strong.
In the first verse, the singer reveals that they were alone and needed a friend but then met someone who showed them kindness and seemingly turned their life around. The following verse, however, details the love interest's manipulation, how they captured the singer's heart and keep it captive, like "hanging on a string." The chorus repeats this assertion, and the last verse expresses the singer's desire to break free from this toxic relationship despite their weakness.
Jason Isbell claimed in an interview with American Songwriter that the song is written from the perspective of a young person you might recognize, who has fallen in with somebody they couldn't resist, but who ultimately couldn't spare them all that much respect. It's about self-destructive romantic love, and the feelings of weakness and helplessness that often accompany it.
Line by Line Meaning
I was out there all alone.
The singer was feeling lonely and lost.
I was searching for a friend.
The singer was looking for someone to connect with.
You saw my need and you came along.
The person being sung to recognized the singer's loneliness and offered friendship.
With that charm you took me in.
The person being sung to was able to make the singer feel comfortable and welcome.
Then one night you captured my heart.
The singer fell in love with the person being sung to.
Turned the smoke into a flame.
The person being sung to ignited the singer's passion and desire.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
The singer is unable to move on from the person being sung to.
'Cause you keep it hanging on your string.
The person being sung to has emotional control over the singer.
That way of loving is my weakness.
The singer is vulnerable to the type of love the person being sung to provides.
You made me yours, body and soul.
The person being sung to has complete emotional and physical control over the singer.
My mind tells me I should leave you,
The singer's rational thoughts advise them to end the relationship.
But my heart can't let me go.
The singer's feelings of love for the person being sung to are too strong.
You tied me down to you and you went away.
The person being sung to has left the singer feeling powerless and alone.
Turned all of my pleasure into pain.
The person being sung to caused the singer pain and heartbreak.
Every time I try to break loose,
The singer has attempted to move on from the person being sung to.
That's when you tie a knot on your string.
The person being sung to pulls the singer back in when they try to leave.
I can't hold up to what I'm going through.
The singer is struggling to deal with the emotional turmoil caused by the relationship.
My heart is weakening from the strain.
The singer's feelings for the person being sung to are causing emotional exhaustion and pain.
I know, I know if you untied me baby,
The singer realizes that they should end the relationship.
I'd be bound to you just the same.
The singer knows that even if they leave, they will still be emotionally tied to the person being sung to.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
The singer is unable to move on from the person being sung to.
If you keep it hanging on your string.
The person being sung to still has emotional control over the singer.
I can't free my heart from you baby,
The singer is unable to move on from the person being sung to.
'Cause you keep it hanging on your string.
The person being sung to still has emotional control over the singer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE HENRY JACKSON, MICKEY BUCKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rob Volansky
please post the whole album!
countrynuno
southern soul rises again
R Davis
Sounds like Bonnie Raitt singing harmonies. Anybody know for sure? I can't imagine it being her without one of her signature slide solos...or at least singing lead on a verse...
Chris Daniel
Abby Owens
Adam Northam
Alabama sound...
ps100able
SAVE YOUR CONFEDERATE MONEY, THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN!
TriangleChoke96
terrible version...