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.
New South Wales
Jason Isbell Lyrics
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Across the table from each other
A thousand miles from both our mothers,
Barely old enough to rust
Here we sit
Pretending both our hearts are anchors
Taking candy from these strangers
And here we sit
Singing words nobody taught us
Drinking fire, and spitting sawdust,
Trying to teach ourselves to breathe
We haven't yet,
But every chorus brings us closer
Every flyer and every poster
Gives a piece of what we need
And the sand that they call cocaine cost you twice as much as gold
You'd be better off to drink your coffee black
But I swear, the land it listened to the stories that we told
God bless the busted boat that brings us back
Morning's rough
It don't give a damn about the mission
Has no aesthetic or tradition,
Only lessons never learned
And I'd had enough
About a month ago tomorrow
Parting holds no trace of sorrow
For the bitter and the burned
And the piss they call tequila even Waylon wouldn't drink
Well I'd rather sip this Listerine I packed
But I swear, we've never seen a better place to sit and think
God bless the busted ship that brings us back
And the sand that they call cocaine cost you twice as much as gold
You'd be better off to drink your coffee black
But I swear, the land it listened to the stories that we told
God bless the busted boat that brings us back
"New South Wales" is a song by American singer-songwriter Jason Isbell, which can be found in his studio album "Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit". The song tells the story of two young people who meet and connect on a road trip in Australia's New South Wales. The lyrics are rich with imagery, including "drinking fire" and "spitting sawdust," which provide a sense of the rough-and-tumble, transient nature of their travels.
The first verse sets the scene - the two protagonists are a long way from home, unsure of what they're doing and where they're going. They're pretending to be anchored to one place, but really they're just searching for something to hold onto. The second verse introduces the idea of learning and growing through the journey. They're trying to teach themselves to breathe and every chorus brings them closer to finding that sense of belonging. The final verse reflects on the hardships of the journey - the rough mornings and the bitter goodbyes. But despite it all, the land listens to their stories and brings them back home.
In "New South Wales", Isbell creates a hauntingly beautiful portrait of two young people searching for something in a strange and unfamiliar place. The song is a reminder that sometimes the greatest journeys aren't the ones that take us across continents or over oceans, but the ones that take us deep within ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we sit
Two people are sitting across from each other.
Across the table from each other
They are sitting on opposite sides of a table.
A thousand miles from both our mothers,
They are far away from their mothers who are not present.
Barely old enough to rust
They are young and inexperienced, like objects that are just starting to decay.
Here we sit
They are still sitting across from each other.
Pretending both our hearts are anchors
They are pretending to be emotionally stable, like anchors that keep a ship steady.
Taking candy from these strangers
They are accepting things from people they do not know.
Amidst the diesel and the dust
They are in a place that is dirty and polluted.
And here we sit
Again, they are still sitting across from each other.
Singing words nobody taught us
They are singing songs that they learned on their own.
Drinking fire, and spitting sawdust,
They are drinking strong alcohol and feeling the effects, and coughing up the dust from the environment.
Trying to teach ourselves to breathe
They are learning how to live and survive on their own.
We haven't yet,
They have not succeeded in this task yet.
But every chorus brings us closer
Each time they sing a chorus, they feel more adept at living without guidance.
Every flyer and every poster
Advertisements and promotions teach them something new about the world.
Gives a piece of what we need
Each new thing they learn helps them along their journey.
And the sand that they call cocaine cost you twice as much as gold
Drugs are very expensive in this place.
You'd be better off to drink your coffee black
It is advisable to avoid drugs and simply drink coffee.
But I swear, the land it listened to the stories that we told
The environment has been witness to their journey and experiences.
God bless the busted boat that brings us back
They are grateful for the old, worn out boats that bring them home.
Morning's rough
The morning is difficult and unpleasant.
It don't give a damn about the mission
The morning does not care about their goals or plans.
Has no aesthetic or tradition,
There is nothing visually appealing or culturally significant about the morning.
Only lessons never learned
They continue to struggle and make mistakes without ever truly learning from them.
And I'd had enough
One of the people has grown tired of this lifestyle.
About a month ago tomorrow
It has been almost a month since they last felt content or satisfied.
Parting holds no trace of sorrow
Saying goodbye does not bring any sadness or regret.
For the bitter and the burned
Both people have experienced hardship and are now hardened by their struggles.
And the piss they call tequila even Waylon wouldn't drink
Even strong, seasoned drinkers would not enjoy the low quality tequila available in this place.
Well I'd rather sip this Listerine I packed
One of the people would rather drink mouthwash than the tequila.
But I swear, we've never seen a better place to sit and think
Despite the struggles, they feel like this is the best place to reflect on their journey and experiences.
God bless the busted ship that brings us back
They are grateful for the old, worn out ships that bring them home.
And the sand that they call cocaine cost you twice as much as gold
Once again, drugs are expensive in this place.
You'd be better off to drink your coffee black
Once again, it is advisable to avoid drugs and stick to coffee.
But I swear, the land it listened to the stories that we told
Once again, the environment has been a silent witness to their journey and experiences.
God bless the busted boat that brings us back
Once again, they are grateful for the old, worn out boats that bring them home.
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.