Born: 1960s
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri
Genres: a… Read Full Bio ↴Jeff Black
Born: 1960s
Origin: Kansas City, Missouri
Genres: alternative, folk, singer-songwriter
Instruments: vocals, guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica
Years active 1990s - present
Label: Lotos Nile Music
Website: jeffblack.com
Jeff Black is an American singer-songwriter. After critically acclaimed commercial releases on label homes, fan favorite independent releases on his own Lotos Nile Music imprint, song placement on numerous independent films, thirty plus years of celebrated live performing and songs covered by artists as diverse as Alison Krauss, Waylon Jennings, Sam Bush, Blackhawk, Jerry Douglas, John Oates and Dierks Bentley, Jeff Black is recognized as a pioneer in the modern music industry. As an influential independent artist, Boston’s WUMB listeners voted Jeff Black as one of the top 100 most important Folk artists of the last 25 years. Continuing to evolve as a master songwriter and performer in the tradition of the great storytellers, his passionate, soul driven live performances of songs from his vast catalog are not to be missed.
Biography
Jeff Black was born circa 1960 and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. Black received his first guitar as a present for his tenth birthday. In his twenties Black began performing at Blayney's, a Kansas City blues club where he also worked as a bouncer. Soon Black began touring and eventually relocated to Nashville, Tennessee after receiving a letter from Iris DeMent (Black lends some backing vocals on DeMent's 1992 debut album, Infamous Angel).
Black's own first album, Birmingham Road, was recorded with the members of the band Wilco, minus lead singer, Jeff Tweedy. The songs have been described as "fine portraits of American life without the sappiness or self-consciousness often attributed to the singer/songwriter genre. In 2007 Boston's WUMB listeners voted Jeff Black as one of the top 100 most important Folk artists of the last 25 years.
Discography
* Birmingham Road | Arista 1998
* Honey And Salt | Lotos Nile Music Released 2003
* B-Sides And Confessions Vol. I | Lotos Nile Music Released 2003
* Tin Lily | Lotos Nile Music Released 2003
* Mining | Lotos Nile Music Released 2007
* Sleepy Town | Lotos Nile Music Released 2008
* Christmas Sunshine | Lotos Nile Music Released 2009
* Plow Through The Mystic | Lotos Nile Music Released 2011
* B-Sides and Confessions Vol. 2 | Lotos Nile Music Released 2013
* Folklore | Lotos Nile Music Released 2014
1. Ronnie Lankford, Jr. "Review: Tin Lily", Allmusic 3.5/5 stars
2. Melissa Block, "Singer as DJ: Jeff Black's Podcasts", All Things Considered,
National Public Radio, August 9, 2005
3. Arthur Wood, "From Missouri to Nashville", FolkWax (link requires free subscription)
4. Charlotte Dillon, "Jeff Black: Biography", Allmusic
5. James Chrispell, "Review: Birmingham Road", Allmusic 4/5 stars
6. Arthur Wood, "Review: Honey and Salt, FolkWax, June 11, 2003 (8 out of 10)
7. Arthur Wood, "Review: B Sides and Confessions" , FolkWax, March 26, 2003 (9 out of 10)
8. Arthur Wood, "Another Winner from Jeff Black" (Review of Tin Lily), FolkWax, July 28, 2005
Cure
Jeff Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talk about a ball and chain
The angel's wings were torn beyond repair
See they pounded it in that she was born with sin
So she almost went insane
And that's a very very very heavy cross to bear
When they spoil something inside your soul
Something takes the place of something pure
Then you find you stand beside yourself
Burning from the inside out
Won't you lay me on the rock and let me take the cure
She points at god with a lightning rod
Oh pass that bottle around
Roll the dice and joke in jesus' name
Never made much sense but in her own defense
She said that god had gunned her down
Oh but I know now that religion was to blame
When they spoil something inside your soul
And you just can't get it back
Something takes the place of something pure
Then you find yourself beside yourself
Learning from the inside out
Won't you lay me on the rock and let me take the cure
The fire hails no warning
And at the crossing there she flies
She's tossing and she 's turning
I will be there when she rises
The day came in like a silent friend
And took my tears away
I felt the light shining in my room
I was paralyzed so I closed my eyes
It took me to another place
And if I ever come back here it'll be too soon
The song "Cure" by Jeff Black tells the story of a woman named Polly, whose life was influenced by her strict religious upbringing under her father, who was a hard-shell preacher. Polly was made to believe that she was born with inherent sin, causing her to become almost insane. This belief was instilled in her so strongly that she suffered from a spiritual crisis and sought the cure that religion promised. However, over time, Polly found that the faith that was meant to heal her ended up spoiling something inside her soul. She turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism and began to question her belief in God, who she claimed had "gunned her down." The song talks about how religion can be detrimental to one's well-being if it is forced on them, which is why Polly's journey is an essential one to understand.
Jeff Black touches on several themes in this song, such as the negative effects of religion when it is imposed, the internal struggle of someone caught between faith and reality, the importance of finding one's way back to the light, and the role of companionship in healing. The lyrics also use strong imagery to show the conflict within Polly's mind, such as her pointing to God with a lightning rod or the fire that hails suddenly and without warning. The overall message of the song is that everyone has a cross to bear, and it's up to them to find the cure to heal themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Polly's daddy was a hard shell preacher
Polly's father was a strict preacher.
Talk about a ball and chain
The burden of religion made Polly's life difficult.
The angel's wings were torn beyond repair
Polly lost hope and her spirit was broken.
See they pounded it in that she was born with sin
Polly was taught that she was always sinful and unworthy.
So she almost went insane
The burden of her faith was too much for her to bear.
And that's a very very very heavy cross to bear
The weight of guilt and shame was too much to handle.
When they spoil something inside your soul
Religious indoctrination can damage one's spirit.
And you just can't get it back
It can be difficult to recover from religious trauma.
Something takes the place of something pure
Religious shame can replace one's sense of purity and self-worth.
Then you find you stand beside yourself
Religious shame can make one feel disconnected and isolated.
Burning from the inside out
The burden of religion can cause intense emotional pain.
Won't you lay me on the rock and let me take the cure
Polly is seeking relief and healing from her religious trauma.
She points at god with a lightning rod
Polly used to blame God for her struggles.
Oh pass that bottle around
Polly turns to alcohol to ease her pain.
Roll the dice and joke in jesus' name
Polly engages in reckless behavior to numb her pain.
Never made much sense but in her own defense
Polly justifies her actions to herself, even if they don't make sense.
She said that god had gunned her down
Polly blamed God for her suffering.
Oh but I know now that religion was to blame
Polly realizes that her religious upbringing caused her trauma.
The fire hails no warning
Polly faces unexpected challenges.
And at the crossing there she flies
Polly is at a turning point in her life.
She's tossing and she 's turning
Polly is struggling to find peace and stability.
I will be there when she rises
The artist promises to support Polly through her struggles.
The day came in like a silent friend
Polly experiences a moment of clarity and peace.
And took my tears away
Polly feels relieved and comforted.
I felt the light shining in my room
Polly experiences a spiritual awakening.
I was paralyzed so I closed my eyes
Polly is overwhelmed by her emotions.
It took me to another place
Polly feels a sense of transcendence and wholeness.
And if I ever come back here it'll be too soon
Polly doesn't want to return to her previous state of suffering.
Contributed by Leah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.