Webley tours all over the world. He usually performs solo, but occasionally plays with his long-time band mates - Michael McQuilken, Jherek Bischoff and Alex Guy.
Webley used to stage a theatrical death every Halloween, only to resurrect on May Day of the following year, but in 2005 he discontinued the tradition, claiming he did not wish to die annually again. He owns a Toyota Corrolla, which he's altered and named "The Tomato" and he organized and ran Camp Tomato in April of 2005, with friends and fans known as Tomato Scouts ( in retaliation to the comment that he was a sadistic cult leader. ) Camp Tomato has since been a more or less annual event.
Map
Jason Webley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When made to watch their mothers die, they left the bodies by the sides
Of roads where only willows cried, yes, even my own eyes were dry
When somehow there I lost my bride, the ring slipped free and fell beneath the earth
So like Orpheus, I bowed and went far underneath the firmament
My harp strings broke, my voice was spent, I kissed my lady's hand and sent
My two weeks notice with my rent
That I am not your lover
I'm the map you use to find her
I am not your lover
I'm just a map you use to find her
I step outside my room once more and see what I have seen before
Another ship washed to my shore, a figure walking towards my door
Her face is tired, her dress is torn
I look into her eyes and feel her thirst
She says I've come across these waters high, pressed on by such auspicious signs
I've watched the stars and read the tides, the winds have brought me to your side
I come to you, I am your bride
And I grew cold as I replied
That I am not your lover
I'm the map you use to find him
I am not your lover
I'm just a map you use to find him
I am not your lover
I'm the map you used to find him
I am not your lover
I'm just a map you use to find him
She said I am not your lover
I'm the map you use to find her
I am not your lover
I'm just a map you use to find her
The lyrics of Jason Webley's song "Map" are heavily metaphorical and speak of the struggles of searching for lost loved ones. The first verse describes a journey across a desolate continent where even witnessing death does not evoke a strong emotional response, including the loss of the singer's own bride. The mention of Orpheus alludes to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, in which Orpheus braves the underworld to bring his deceased wife Eurydice back to the land of the living, but fails when he looks back at her. Like Orpheus, the singer descends to the underworld ("far underneath the firmament") to retrieve his lost love, but is unsuccessful due to broken harp strings and a lost voice.
The second verse introduces a new character who has also suffered and longs for reunion with her loved one. She appears at the singer's door, but he denies being her lover and claims to be merely a map to help her find him. In the last repetition of the chorus, the gender pronouns are switched to refer to the woman as the map leading to the lost lover, adding a layer of ambiguity to the song's narrative.
In "Map," Webley explores themes of grief, desperation, and the search for closure after losing someone important. The use of metaphorical language and references to mythology add depth and nuance to the narrative.
Line by Line Meaning
I walked across a continent where children did not bat an eye
I traveled through a place where disturbing things were common, and even the children were unphased by the violence and death around them.
When made to watch their mothers die, they left the bodies by the sides
Even when children witnessed their mothers dying, they didn't react or show emotion, and simply abandoned the bodies by the road.
Of roads where only willows cried, yes, even my own eyes were dry
The roads were so desolate and eerie that even the trees themselves seemed to mourn the death along the path. I was so desensitized by the environment that I didn't even cry.
When somehow there I lost my bride, the ring slipped free and fell beneath the earth
My partner disappeared while we were traveling, and I lost the symbol of our love, the ring, in the process.
So like Orpheus, I bowed and went far underneath the firmament
Just as Orpheus journeyed to the underworld to retrieve his lover, I too made a difficult and dangerous journey to find mine.
My harp strings broke, my voice was spent, I kissed my lady's hand and sent
I struggled and suffered along the way, and finally had to bid my love farewell with an act of finality and submission.
My two weeks notice with my rent, and she grew cold and softly said
Even after devoting all my time to searching for her, she seemed aloof and indifferent toward me.
That I am not your lover, I'm the map you use to find her
She explains that my love for her is misplaced, and that she was simply a means to an end for me.
I step outside my room once more and see what I have seen before
I leave my room to find the same, familiar surroundings I have seen on my journey in search of my love.
Another ship washed to my shore, a figure walking towards my door
Another lost soul arrives, seeking something they have lost, and approaches me for help.
Her face is tired, her dress is torn, I look into her eyes and feel her thirst
The new arrival is worn and desperate, and I can sense her desire for resolution in her eyes.
She says I've come across these waters high, pressed on by such auspicious signs
She explains to me that she traveled far to find me, bolstered by signs and symbols she hoped would lead her to her goal.
I've watched the stars and read the tides, the winds have brought me to your side
She utilized natural elements, such as stars, tides, and wind, to guide her to me.
I come to you, I am your bride, and I grew cold as I replied
She believes she has finally found what she was looking for, but I crush her hope with my response.
That I am not your lover, I'm the map you use to find him
I reveal to her that, just like with my previous lover, her sole purpose for seeking me out was to use me to locate someone else.
She said I am not your lover, I'm the map you use to find her
The newcomer then admits that, like me, she too was searching for someone else, and I was only a tool to help her in her quest.
I am not your lover, I'm the map you used to find him
I reiterate the notion that our connection was purely for the sake of finding something else, and now our purpose has served its end.
I am not your lover, I'm just a map you use to find him
One last time, I state that these relationships were never romantic or meaningful, but just a matter of utility.
Contributed by Jordan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.