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
Island
Jeff Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your remedies are failing
And you'd like to say for sure
But your confidence is fading
You're about to give it up
And you know it won't get better
And you need a little love
When your burden's heavy
I will be your strength
When your well is running dry
I will be your rain
And when you need a shoulder
I will be your friend
When your spirit's drowning
I will be your island
For every sea of tears
You know they say there is a reason
But it's hard to see the good
When you're in the water freezing
The ocean rises up
And the waves crash all around you
Just remember there's a place
You can leave the storm behind you
The song “Island” by Jeff Black is a powerful ballad about finding love and support in difficult times. The opening lines address a situation where all remedies and confidence have failed and desperation sets in. The song promises to be a source of strength and lasting love. With lines like “When your burden's heavy, I will be your strength,” “When your well is running dry, I will be your rain,” and “When your spirit's drowning, I will be your island,” the song promotes the feeling of being loved and accepted unconditionally.
The imagery in the song is mostly nautical, with mentions of seas, storms, and waves. The sea of tears is used to show the depth of the emotional pain that one may go through. The song then promises that despite all that, there is a place where one can escape the storm and find peace. The lyrics showcase the bond between two people where one promises to be the rock for the other, even when everything else is crumbling. The song is a metaphorical reminder that there are people in our lives who can help us weather the storms of life.
Line by Line Meaning
When you need to find a cure
When you are searching for a solution
And your remedies are failing
And nothing you try seems to be working
And you'd like to say for sure
And you wish you had the answer
But your confidence is fading
But you're starting to lose hope
You're about to give it up
You're almost ready to quit
And you know it won't get better
And you're convinced that things won't improve
And you need a little love
And you need someone to care for you
I will promise you forever
I will make a long-term commitment to you
When your burden's heavy
When you're weighed down by life's challenges
I will be your strength
I will provide you with support and strength
When your well is running dry
When you feel depleted and drained
I will be your rain
I will nourish and replenish you like rainwater
And when you need a shoulder
And when you need someone to lean on
I will be your friend
I will be there for you as a close companion
When your spirit's drowning
When you feel like you're sinking and overwhelmed
I will be your island
I will be your refuge and place of shelter
For every sea of tears
For every moment of sadness and despair
You know they say there is a reason
You know people say that everything happens for a reason
But it's hard to see the good
But it can be difficult to find the positive side
When you're in the water freezing
When you're in a difficult or uncomfortable situation
The ocean rises up
The challenges in life seem to grow and intensify
And the waves crash all around you
You feel surrounded and overwhelmed by problems
Just remember there's a place
Remember that there is a solution or a place of comfort
You can leave the storm behind you
You can find a way to overcome the difficulties and move on
Contributed by Sophia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.