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
How Long
Jeff Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Selfless in his soul
Spent his young days running
Down by the river
Where the holy water flows
Catfish jumping
Up to his knees in
Cool colors turning
Time came through the garden there
With a lily in her hand
The world was changing
It was the first day he could mark down there
Where the boy becomes a man
Lord his heart was pounding
Up to their knees in
Cool colors turning
And into this world a child was born
How long
How long
Will the mystery remain
We will never be the same
And now what will we become
The song "How Long" by Jeff Black tells the story of a humble and selfless boy named Joseph who spends his youthful days running down by the river where the holy water flows. He finds peace and solace there, surrounded by the natural beauty of the riverside with catfish jumping and cool colors turning. Joseph prays for his time to come and the time does come, but the pathway to adulthood is not necessarily an easy one. He meets a woman named Time, who comes through the garden with a lily in her hand, marking the first day where the boy becomes a man. The world is changing, and Joseph's heart pounds as he faces new challenges, but he perseveres and grows into adulthood, maturing and becoming a new person with new responsibilities. From this, a child is born, and life begins anew.
The chorus of the song deals with the mystery of life and how it changes who we are. The singer questions how long this mystery will remain and how it will shape the individuals who experience it. The song deals with the themes of growth, change, and the beauty of nature. Jeff Black portrays Joseph as a young man who is sensitive to the world around him and who seeks a deeper meaning in life. The song speaks to the human desire to find value and significance in our existence and to connect with the natural world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Joseph was a humble child
Joseph was a modest and unpretentious child
Selfless in his soul
He had no selfish desire, his mind and intentions were noble
Spent his young days running
In his youth, he was often found running, in full vigor of life
Down by the river
He would often be seen by the river
Where the holy water flows
He liked to spend time by the river where crystal-clear water flows
Catfish jumping
Catfishes could be seen jumping in the river during that time
Up to his knees in
He'd often be wading in the river water, up to his knees
Cool colors turning
The lively movement in the river and its changing hues enchanted the young Joseph
And praying for his time to come
He yearned for the right time to arrive and was hopeful of his future
Time came through the garden there
Time passed by just like a beautiful display in the garden
With a lily in her hand
Time passed gracefully, holding the symbol of purity and rebirth
The world was changing
The world and its environment were evolving
It was the first day he could mark down there
It was the first day of his transformation from a boy to a man
Where the boy becomes a man
This was the moment of transition, it was a day that would forever remain in his memory
Lord his heart was pounding
His heart was beating fast in his chest, full of uncertainty and anticipation
Up to their knees in
The people around him were also wading in the river water up to their knees
Cool colors turning
Everything happening around him seemed refreshingly new and mesmerizing
And into this world a child was born
A child was born to this world, bringing hope and joy to those around
How long
For how much longer
How long
For what duration
Will the mystery remain
The mystery that surrounds our existence will stay unresolved
We will never be the same
Our encounter with the mysteries of life will change us, forever
And now what will we become
What will our transformation be after experiencing the mysteries of life?
Contributed by Kayla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.