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
Nineteen
Jeff Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that won't last for long
I want to tear down this shrine
To everything that I've done wrong
Blackberry winter
Oh I wish you could have seen
My father's gold tooth shining
You would be nineteen
I worry about what I look like
And what I sound like when I talk
I cast a crooked shadow
Down this winding road I walk
A blanket of stars fell out
Oh I wish you could have seen
The world is turning over
You would be nineteen
I dream about the woman
And her wild raven mane
The little lights of autumn
What it's come to
And how I've changed
Everything we could have been
And everything I'll be
The world is turning over
You would be nineteen
They say if one remembers
Well that's all I have to give
Thirty five decembers and
I've but half my life to live
A blanket of stars fell out
Oh I wish you could have seen
The world is turning over
You would be nineteen
The song "Nineteen" from Jeff Black's album "Tin Lily" is a poignant and reflective piece that reflects on the passage of time and the loss of youth. The opening lines of the song establish a sense of bleakness, with the gray sky serving as a metaphor for the sadness and regret that the singer feels. However, the song quickly pivots to a more hopeful tone, as the singer declares his desire to move past his mistakes and start anew.
The song's title takes on a number of meanings throughout the lyrics. On one level, it refers to the age that the singer imagines his loved one would have been had she lived. However, it also serves as a symbol for the idea of youth and innocence that the singer feels he has lost over time. This idea is reinforced by the line "Everything we could have been, and everything I'll be", which suggests that the singer is wrestling with the passage of time and the idea of lost opportunities.
One of the most powerful elements of "Nineteen" is the way that it captures the complexity of human experience. The singer expresses deep sadness and regret over his past mistakes, but he also expresses hope for the future and a sense of determination to move forward. In this way, the song serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience and perseverance, even in the face of difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky might be gray today
Although things may appear bleak now, it won't stay that way forever
But that won't last for long
The outlook will brighten soon
I want to tear down this shrine
I feel the need to demolish the reminders of my past misdeeds
To everything that I've done wrong
To remove any trace of my blunders and move on
Blackberry winter
The harsh cold season, a metaphor for unpleasant times
Oh I wish you could have seen
Expressing desire to share the present with someone special
My father's gold tooth shining
The father is proud and happy to show his gold tooth
You would be nineteen
Addressing a young person who missed this moment of joy and growth
I worry about what I look like
I am concerned about my physical appearance
And what I sound like when I talk
I am self-conscious about my speaking voice
I cast a crooked shadow
I have flaws, and they are evident in my every move
Down this winding road I walk
My life journey is complicated, full of twists and turns
A blanket of stars fell out
The night was full of wonder and beauty
The world is turning over
The earth is in a constant state of motion and change
You would be nineteen
A nostalgic reference to a previous moment in time
I dream about the woman
I have fantasies about a certain lady
And her wild raven mane
Her dark hair is striking and untamed
The little lights of autumn
The delicate hues of leaves falling in autumn
What it's come to
Reflecting on personal circumstances and how they developed
And how I've changed
Examining the personal growth and evolution over time
Everything we could have been
The potential of a relationship or something unrealized between two people
And everything I'll be
Looking ahead to the future with anticipation and apprehension
They say if one remembers
Recalling what wise people say
Well that's all I have to give
To remember and cherish the past as a gift
Thirty five decembers and
I am 35 years old
I've but half my life to live
Feeling that my existence is halfway finished
A blanket of stars fell out
The night sky was once again stunning
Oh I wish you could have seen
Longing to share such beauty with someone special
The world is turning over
The world never stands still, and is always evolving
You would be nineteen
A memory of a lost, more innocent time
Contributed by Kaitlyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mike Dolan
heard this song for the first time today - beautiful.
Patrick Gavisk
Tears me up when I hear it.