When a teenage Reeves encountered the works of Bob Dylan and James Taylor, it set off a chain of events. First he began working on his own songwriting, combining the classic singer/songwriter style with more modern influences like Radiohead and Sufjan Stevens. He then dropped out of college and moved from Iowa, where he then lived, eventually landing in California. The second person he met upon arrival was future pop star Colbie Caillat. The two hit it off immediately and it didn't take long for their friendship to turn into a songwriting partnership, one that would create the foundation for Caillat's hit album Coco. The songs that weren't reserved for Coco ended up on Reeves' EP Hearts Are Magnets, which appeared in 2006 on the Dancing Squirrel label. The full-length The Magnificent Adventures of Heartache followed in 2007.
Reeves signed to Warner Bros Records in 2008 with the help of Kara DioGuardi and released an album and an EP with the label. He again self-released an album in 2011 with The Lovesick.
Old Fashioned Letters
Jason Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put your perfume on the pages
With crossed out words that you took back
Like "do you really miss me?"
but in my own way I take you everywhere I go
And it feels like home
Cause I can hear you say "it's gonna be ok"
but it's not right with me to have to hear your voice
Reaching through the wire
And it's not fair to be 3000 miles away
From California
days like this I feel the distance
I wanna run but I resist it
With cold reminders all around me
Of what I left behind
but it's not right with me to have to hear your voice
Reaching through the wire
And it's not fair to be 3000 miles away
From California..
oh it doesn't feel the same
Nothing feels the same..
Without you.
[CHORUS]
but in my own way I take you everywhere I go
And it feels like home..
In Jason Reeves's song "Old Fashioned Letters," the singer reflects on a long-distance relationship with his loved one. His partner writes him old-fashioned letters and puts her perfume on the pages, creating a tangible connection despite the distance between them. But even though he carries her words with him, he still struggles with the physical separation. The singer notes that on days when he feels particularly isolated and alone, he wishes he could be closer to his partner, but ultimately, he finds comfort in the knowledge that he carries their love with him wherever he goes.
The lyrics of this song are particularly poignant because they touch on the universal feeling of longing for connection and the difficulties of maintaining a relationship over distance. The use of "old-fashioned letters" as a means of communication creates a sense of nostalgia and reminds listeners of a time before instant gratification and digital communication. The crossed-out words that are taken back emphasizes the complexity of emotions that can be difficult to put into words, and the perfume on the pages adds a sensory element that further reinforces the power of memory and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
You still write me old fashioned letters
Even in this era of fast-paced communication, you make the effort to write me letters the traditional way.
Put your perfume on the pages
You add a personal touch to every letter by spraying your perfume on the pages, which makes me feel closer to you.
With crossed out words that you took back
Like "do you really miss me?"
Sometimes you second-guess what you write and cross out words, but it only adds to the authenticity of the letters. Questions like "Do you really miss me?" stay with me, making me long for you more.
But in my own way I take you everywhere I go
And it feels like home
Cause I can hear you say "it's gonna be ok"
This waking life's a dream
Although we are apart, I keep you close to me through memories and the things we shared. Whenever I feel lonely or uncertain, I can hear your voice reassuring me that everything will be alright, making me feel like everything is a dream.
But it's not right with me to have to hear your voice
Reaching through the wire
And it's not fair to be 3000 miles away
From California
As much as I cherish phone calls, it's not the same as having you here with me. It's not fair that we are separated by such a great distance.
Days like this I feel the distance
I wanna run but I resist it
With cold reminders all around me
Of what I left behind
Some days, the distance between us feels unbearable, and I feel like running away to you. But I resist the urge and try to cope with the cold reminders of what I left behind and how far we are apart.
Oh it doesn't feel the same
Nothing feels the same..
Without you.
No matter what I do or where I go, nothing feels the same without you. You are an integral part of my life that I cannot be without.
[CHORUS]
But in my own way I take you everywhere I go
And it feels like home..
Despite the distance and the pain of missing you, I keep you close to me wherever I go. You are always with me, and it feels like being at home.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JASON REEVES, STUART BRAWLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind