1) an American … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists that use the name Jaymay:
1) an American folk singer-songwriter from New York
2) an American Christian rapper born and raised in Detroit, Michigan
1. Jamie Seerman is an American folk singer-songwriter from New York. She performs under the name Jaymay. She was raised on Long Island and in 2003, unable to find a job in book publishing, Jaymay began playing open mics. Her major musical influence is Bob Dylan. She has been described by the BBC as "darling of the New York 'Anti-Folk' scene", and by the New York Times as a "big name for the indie universe".
In 2007 Jaymay moved to London, after signing with Heavenly Records, which is distributed by the major EMI label. Jaymay's debut album Autumn Fallin' was released in Europe on November 12, 2007 and in the United States on March 11, 2008 by Blue Note Records. She has since released several songs and EPs on her own JaymayMusic label including “Long Walk To Never,” “Lvng RmEp” and “! & !."
2. There is also an American Christian rapper by the name of JayMay (born and raised in Detroit, Michigan); see www.jaymayonline.net
Big Ben
Jaymay Lyrics
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The lines you get
The holes in your sleeve
You told me to leave them alone
Does "House of Leaves"
Still lie on your bed?
You told me to read
Your mind
When I look at my city
Somethings not right
No doubt it's so pretty
But they turned out the light
And instead of good morning
They tell you goodnight
You hung yourself
On the wall up above
The bed you made love
The girls you don't love
To touch
And they never guessed
The girl you loved best
To draw, always drew
Pictures of you
Undressed
When I look at my city
Somethings not right
No doubt it's so pretty
But they turned out the light
And instead of good morning
They tell you goodnight
In "Big Ben," Jaymay uses vivid and poetic language to explore the themes of nostalgia, loss, and disconnection. The first verse speaks to the physical signs of wear and tear on an old garment, which the singer is prohibited from fixing or mending by the person they are addressing. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the emotional scars and damage that exist within the relationship, which the other person does not want to confront or address. The reference to "House of Leaves" book is a symbol of the complexity and mystery surrounding this individual's inner life, which the singer is eager to understand but is not able to fully access. In the second verse, the singer laments the state of their city, which has lost its vibrancy and energy. They contrast the empty, hollow "goodnight" greetings from the people around them, which indicate an absence of warmth and connection, with the hopeful "good morning" that they long for.
The bridge of the song shifts into a more disturbing and poignant register. The image of the person who has hung themselves on the wall above their bed, surrounded by the women they don't love, is a haunting image of despair and loneliness. The fact that nobody has noticed or guessed at the true cause of this person's pain only deepens the sense of isolation and disconnection. The final line of the song suggests that the artist is aware of these dark forces at work within individuals and communities, but still wishes to hold onto a sense of hope and possibility, even in the face of overwhelming darkness and negativity.
Line by Line Meaning
The stripes you wore
The clothing you had on
The lines you get
The marks or wrinkles on your face
The holes in your sleeve
The tears in your clothing
You told me to leave them alone
You advised me to avoid meddling with your clothes
Does "House of Leaves"
Are you still into reading the book "House of Leaves"?
Still lie on your bed?
Is the book still in your bedroom?
You told me to read
You instructed me to read the book
But I still never read
But I did not read it yet
Your mind
Your thoughts or mental state
When I look at my city
As I observe my hometown
Somethings not right
Something feels wrong
No doubt it's so pretty
Despite its beauty
But they turned out the light
They shut off the street lamps
And instead of good morning
Rather than a greeting of the morning
They tell you goodnight
They bid you goodnight
You hung yourself
You suspended yourself
On the wall up above
Above the wall
The bed you made love
Where you had intimate moments
The girls you don't love
The women you do not love
To touch
Physically touch or handle
And they never guessed
And they never assumed or suspected
The girl you loved best
The woman you loved most
To draw, always drew
Always depicted in her drawings
Pictures of you
Illustrations of yourself
Undressed
Naked
Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.