Jason Webley is a Seattle-born singer-songwriter known for playing a mix of… Read Full Bio ↴Jason Webley is a Seattle-born singer-songwriter known for playing a mix of gypsy, folk, and punk. He has released five albums on his own label, Eleven Records. These feature Webley on the piano, guitar, accordion, and a number of other instruments, though when touring he only brings his guitar, accordion, and a vodka bottle containing coins from around the world, which he uses for percussion. In addition, he has released five collaborative albums, one with Seattle poet Jay Thompson, another with Michigan singer-songwriter Andru Bemis, the third with Reverend Peyton of The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, and the fourth with Sxip Shirey. He is also half of the band Evelyn Evelyn, with Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls fame, and has released an album in the same fashion as his other collaborations.

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.

Music That Tears Itself Apart
Jason Webley Lyrics

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I want music that tears itself apart
And takes the lot of you with it.
I need a catchy tune like a bullet in the heart.
So come on old and young,
Sing while your teeth grind through your tongues,
We're making music that tears itself apart.

I want sobs that shake my spine like an earthquake.

I want to laugh like cities crashing down.
While a thousand slender dames
Keep chanting out my name,
So loud the gods will never forget my sound.

I'll practice breathing fire in missile silos.
All the ambassadors admire me for my tact.
I've sailed all seven seas
And every port's made of ricotta cheese,
And it's time we start acknowledging the fact.

I'll roll the earth into a cigar and smoke it,
Just after I've made love with the sky.
I'll have a little chat with time before I choke it,
And teach all the art worms how to fly.

I've got an army of lunatics armed with CB radios patrolling the subways,
And a warehouse full of underpaid workers transcribing everything they say.

So if you're lucky and I feel the itch, maybe I'll go through those manuscripts,
And publish the Great American Novel someday.

Overall Meaning

The song "Music That Tears Itself Apart" by Jason Webley is a rhythmic and energetic piece that delves into the desire for music that is explosive, wild and unruly. The lyrics depict a yearning for a sound that is not polished or refined, but one that is raw and unapologetic. The opening line sets the tone of the song with the artist stating, "I want music that tears itself apart and takes the lot of you with it." This line suggests the desire for music that is uncontainable and that will take the listener on a wild ride.

The song also touches on the themes of mortality and immortality. This is evident in the lines, "I'll have a little chat with time before I choke it, and teach all the art worms how to fly." These lines suggest an aspiration to leave an eternal mark on the world, to create music that will withstand the test of time, and to have a legacy that will be remembered long after death.

Further, the song is filled with strong imagery that is both surreal and playful. For instance, the line "I'll roll the earth into a cigar and smoke it, just after I've made love with the sky," is a bizarre yet striking image that captures the playful and whimsical nature of the song.

Overall, "Music That Tears Itself Apart" is a song that is filled with passion, energy and a desire to create something that is powerful and memorable.

Line by Line Meaning

I want music that tears itself apart
I desire music that symbolizes the destruction of the community

And takes the lot of you with it.
And causes all of you to participate in the process of its self-destruction

I need a catchy tune like a bullet in the heart.
I require a captivating melody that would be emotionally impactful

So come on old and young,
Therefore, let us all participate regardless of our age

Sing while your teeth grind through your tongues,
Sing even if it causes discomfort and pain

We're making music that tears itself apart.
We are creating a musical piece that destructs itself in the process

I want sobs that shake my spine like an earthquake.
I require emotionally intense expressions in the form of crying

I want to laugh like cities crashing down.
I want laughter with an enormous level of intensity

While a thousand slender dames
Amidst thousands of thin ladies

Keep chanting out my name,
Continue calling out my name in chorus

So loud the gods will never forget my sound.
At a level so high, even the gods will remember my sound

I'll practice breathing fire in missile silos.
I will learn to breathe fire in underground weapon storage facilities

All the ambassadors admire me for my tact.
The diplomats regard me highly for my diplomacy

I've sailed all seven seas
I have traveled to all seven oceans

And every port's made of ricotta cheese,
All the ports I visited were composed of soft, creamy ricotta cheese

And it's time we start acknowledging the fact.
It is about time we start admitting this reality

I'll roll the earth into a cigar and smoke it,
I will figuratively roll the planet into a tobacco roll and smoke it

Just after I've made love with the sky.
Once I am done having sexual intercourse with the sky

I'll have a little chat with time before I choke it,
I will converse briefly with time before I silence it

And teach all the art worms how to fly.
And educate all the artistically inclined individuals how to levitate

I've got an army of lunatics armed with CB radios patrolling the subways,
I have a squad of insane people with equipped CB radios overseeing subterranean transportation systems

And a warehouse full of underpaid workers transcribing everything they say.
Furthermore, I possess an entire storage space loaded with under-compensated laborers transcribing all communications from the aforementioned squad

So if you're lucky and I feel the itch, maybe I'll go through those manuscripts,
Thus, given the right opportunities and my motivation, I may scrutinize those written records

And publish the Great American Novel someday.
And eventually finalize and issue the much-awaited masterpiece of American literature

Lyrics © Roba Music, TUNECORE INC
Written by: JASON WEBLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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