Jay Brannan is a Texas born singer, actor, and songwriter. After finding ho… Read Full Bio ↴Jay Brannan is a Texas born singer, actor, and songwriter. After finding homes all over the country to live in, and briefly attending University of Cincinnati's acting school, he decided to plant his feet down in New York City.

Brannan was cast in 2003 for the movie Shortbus, directed by John Cameron Mitchell. He contributed the song Soda Shop to the film's soundtrack, which he stated was his "first professionally recorded track".

Relatively new to the music world, he has released several songs on iTunes and on his myspace page, has become extremely popular thanks to his YouTube profile, and has been keen on maintaining a self-produced, low-key website.

His songs hold many of the same universal themes other artists acclaim to, but with a more fresh, realistic, sometimes vulgar, understanding. This has made him a hero to other gay men and general audiences alike.

Official Website:
www.jaybrannan.com

Both Hands
Jay Brannan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Music and Lyrics by Ani DiFranco

I am walking
out in the rain
and I am listening to the low moan
of the dial tone again
and I am getting
nowhere with you

and I can't let it go
and I can't get through...

And the old woman behind the pink curtains
and the closed door
on the first floor
she's listening through the air shaft
to see how long our swan song can last

And both hands
please use both hands
no don't close your eyes
I am writing
graffiti on your body

I am drawing the story of
how hard we tried

Overall Meaning

"Both Hands" by Jay Brannan is a beautiful cover of Ani DiFranco's original song. The song talks about how two people in a relationship try hard to make it work, but they just can't seem to get through to each other. The phrase "both hands" is used as a plea to use one's full effort and embrace the moment rather than closing one’s eyes. The song also mentions an old woman behind a pink curtain, who is listening to the couple's argument through an airshaft, possibly symbolizing how society is always listening to and scrutinizing personal relationships.

The repetition of the dial tone in the song highlights the feeling of despair and hopelessness. The lyrics "I am getting nowhere with you, and I can't let it go, and I can't get through" convey the emotional turmoil of a relationship falling apart despite their best efforts. The desperation of the situation is further highlighted with the lyrics "graffiti on your body, drawing the story of how hard we tried," indicating the desire to etch their love story onto each other's skin.

Overall, "Both Hands" is a poignant song about the complexities of relationships and how even when both parties try their hardest, sometimes, it's just not enough.

Line by Line Meaning

I am walking
I am strolling outside

out in the rain
While it's raining

and I am listening to the low moan
I hear the pitiful sound

of the dial tone again
coming from the phone hanging up again

and I am getting
I feel like I'm comprehending

nowhere with you
how little we're connecting with each other

and I can't let it go
And I can't abandon this

and I can't get through...
I can't penetrate through to you ...

And the old woman behind the pink curtains
And the aged lady behind the curtains that are rosy pink

and the closed door
And the shuttered entry

on the first floor
On the initial level