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.
Yvette
Jason Isbell Lyrics
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Bedroom upstairs, it's a family affair.
I've watched you in class, your eyes are cut glass and you stay covered upstairs
Head to your toe, so nobody will know it was you
I might not be a man yet,
But that bastard will never be,
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.
The lyrics to Jason Isbell's song Yvette are haunting and thought-provoking. The opening lines describe the singer's view of a house on a cul-de-sac, where a family resides. He can barely see a little light emanating from one of the upstairs bedrooms, where it seems like a family affair is taking place. The focus then shifts to Yvette, whom the singer has watched in class. He describes her eyes as cut glass, and how she stays covered upstairs, hiding from the world. She tries to keep herself invisible so that nobody will know it was her.
The song takes a darker turn when the singer reveals that he's not yet a man, and how he's cleaning his Weatherby gun. The bastard he is referring to here is most likely Yvette's father, who he describes as someone who will never be a man. He hopes against hope that he doesn't have to use this gun to protect himself and Yvette. The next verse talks about Yvette's mother, who seems nice but doesn't say anything. The singer can't understand how she can't see who her husband really is.
Line by Line Meaning
I can barely make out a little light from the house on the cul-de-sac
There's a dim light coming from a far-off house, barely visible from where the singer is standing.
Bedroom upstairs, it's a family affair.
The subject's bedroom is upstairs, where family members are all gathered.
I've watched you in class, your eyes are cut glass and you stay covered upstairs
The singer has observed the subject in class, and they appear withdrawn and keep to themselves upstairs at home.
Head to your toe, so nobody will know it was you
The subject is likely trying to hide something, wearing clothing that conceals them from head to toe to avoid detection.
I might not be a man yet,
The artist is unsure of their own maturity and status as an adult.
But that bastard will never be,
The person the singer is referring to (presumably an abusive father figure) will never measure up to the singer's idea of what a 'man' truly is.
So I'm cleaning my Weatherby
The singer is preparing their hunting rifle for a specific purpose.
My sight and my scope
The artist is adjusting the sighting mechanism on their rifle for maximum accuracy.
And I hope against hope.
The artist is holding out hope that their actions will bring about a desired result, despite the odds being against them.
Your mother seems nice, I don't understand why she won't say anything.
The artist is puzzled by the mother's silence in the face of the abusive father's behavior.
As if she can't see who he turned out to be.
The mother may be in denial or unwilling to acknowledge the true nature of the father's behavior.
So I load up my Weatherby.
The artist is readying their weapon for use.
I let out my breath
The singer takes a deep breath to calm their nerves and prepare for action.
And I couple with death.
The singer is ready to take lethal action against the abusive father figure, knowing that they are putting themselves in harm's way.
Saw your father last night in the window the light made a silhouette.
The singer saw the father through a window, with the only illumination being from a distant light source, casting his outline in silhouette.
Saw him hold you that way, he won't hold you that way anymore, Yvette.
The father was holding Yvette in a way that made it clear to the artist that he was being abusive, but the artist intends to put a stop to it, making it so that he won't be able to hurt Yvette anymore in the same way.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jason Isbell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Preston
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.