Jeffrey Scott Buckley (November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997), raised as Scotty Moorhead,[1] was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician. Buckley gained popularity in the early 1990s by playing cover songs at venues in Manhattan's East Village, such as Sin-é, and he gradually focused more on his own material. After much interest from record labels he signed with Columbia and, after recruiting a band, recorded what would be his first and only studio album, Grace.
In 1991 Jeff Buckley flew to New York to make his public singing debut at a tribute concert for his father called "Greetings from Tim Buckley". Buckley rejected the idea of the concert as a springboard to his career, instead citing personal reasons regarding his decision to sing at the tribute. He performed "I Never Asked To Be Your Mountain", a song Tim Buckley wrote about an infant Jeff Buckley and his mother, accompanied by experimental rock guitarist Gary Lucas.
On subsequent trips to New York in mid-1991 Lucas co-wrote two of the songs, "Grace" and "Mojo Pin", from Jeff Buckley's popular and critically acclaimed album Grace. Early collaborations can also be heard on the recent Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas album Songs To No One, which charted internationally with worldwide sales approaching 100,000.
Towards the end 1991 Jeff Buckley began performing with Lucas' band Gods and Monsters around New York City. The day after Gods and Monsters officially debuted in March 1992, Buckley decided to leave the band.
Grace
Jeff Buckley & Gary Lucas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long enough for the clouds to fly me away
Well it's my time coming, I'm not afraid, afraid to die
My fading voice sings of love,
But she cries to the clicking of time, oh, time.
Wait in the fire, wait in the fire
Wait in the fire, wait in the fire
And she weeps on my arm
Walking to the bright lights in sorrow
Oh drink a bit of wine we both might go tomorrow
Oh my love
And the rain is falling and I believe my time has come
It reminds me of the pain I might leave, leave behind,
Wait in the fire, wait in the fire
Wait in the fire, wait in the fire
And I feel them drown my name
So easy to know and forget with this kiss
I'm not afraid to go but it goes so slow
Wait in the fire, wait in the fire, oh oh yea oh oh oh yeah unh
Wait, wait, wait in the fire, wait in the fire
Wait in the fire, wait ah uh unh ah
The lyrics to Jeff Buckley's song Grace are haunting and filled with raw emotion. The song starts off with the moon asking to stay, prolonging the moment before the clouds come and take him away. It's a metaphor for life, begging for more time before death takes us away. Although Buckley's voice fades, he sings of love and passion until the very end. The clicking of time in the background is a reminder that the clock is ticking, and there's limited time to savor and appreciate life.
The chorus rings with a sense of urgency, urging listeners to wait in the fire, wait for their time to come. The fire is symbolic of the trials and tribulations in life, denoting a sense of relentlessness and unyielding passion to keep going, even in the face of obstacles. The same passion is reflected in his lover's eyes as she weeps on his arm, walking to the bright lights in sorrow. Together, they drink wine, knowing that tomorrow might be their last.
Towards the end of the song, Buckley realizes that his time has come when he hears the rain falling. The rain is symbolic of the pain he might leave behind, prompting him to wait in the fire until his time is up. Buckley is not afraid to go, but the realization that death is imminent is a slow and painful process. The lyrics are laden with sorrow, reminding listeners of the fleeting nature of life, making Grace a truly powerful song.
Line by Line Meaning
There's the moon asking to stay
The moon is illuminating the singer, and they are asking it to stay for a little while longer.
Long enough for the clouds to fly me away
The singer wants to stay in the moonlight until they are carried away by the clouds.
Well it's my time coming, I'm not afraid, afraid to die
The singer knows that their time to die is approaching, but they are not afraid.
My fading voice sings of love,
The artist's voice is weakening, but they are singing about love.
But she cries to the clicking of time, oh, time.
Despite the artist's love, someone is weeping because time is running out.
Wait in the fire, wait in the fire
The singer is waiting to face death, even if it means being consumed by fire.
And she weeps on my arm
Someone is crying on the singer's arm, expressing their sadness.
Walking to the bright lights in sorrow
The artist and someone else are walking towards bright lights, despite their sorrow.
Oh drink a bit of wine we both might go tomorrow
The artist suggests drinking wine with someone, acknowledging that they might both die tomorrow.
Oh my love
The artist is addressing someone they love.
And the rain is falling and I believe my time has come
As the rain falls, the singer feels like their time to die is approaching.
It reminds me of the pain I might leave, leave behind,
The rain reminds the artist of the pain they might cause others when they die.
And I feel them drown my name
The singer is aware that their name and memory will eventually be forgotten.
So easy to know and forget with this kiss
The singer feels that their existence is fleeting, and can be easily forgotten with a single kiss.
I'm not afraid to go but it goes so slow
The singer is not afraid to die, but it feels like it's taking forever.
Wait in the fire, wait in the fire, oh oh yea oh oh oh yeah unh
The artist is repeating their desire to wait in the fire until they face death.
Wait, wait, wait in the fire, wait in the fire
The artist is urging themselves to wait in the fire until the end.
Wait in the fire, wait ah uh unh ah
The singer is once again expressing their desire to wait in the fire until the end comes.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JEFF BUCKLEY, GARY LUCAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MojoPin1983
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01:05 Dink's Song
07:48 Hymne à l'amour
16:01 Grace
20:54 Mojo Pin
26:30 How Long Will It Take
Jeff Buckley: Vocals, harmonica, tambourine
Gary Lucas: Guitar
Filmed by Andre Grossmann
Thirty years ago, today (as of publication), Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas performed at the legendary CBGB, in New York's Lower East Side, on Thursday, April 23, 1992.
Note: The last show Gods and Monsters played with Buckley was a midnight slot at CBGB on April 23, 1992. From the bootleg (soundboard) recording of this concert, the cover track 'How Long Will It Take' was incorporated into Songs To No One 1991—1992, making it the last recorded song on the album. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_to_No_One_1991%E2%80%931992#CBGB
Gary's full set: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgwTDMFz4Ys&t
Jeff Buckley & Gary Lucas - How Long Will It Take (Official Audio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB1L61B3Gg4
Jeff Buckley | Gary Lucas - Songs to No One EPK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VSNtrNFByU
MajorSev
@MojoPin1983 Right, Freddie is honestly overrated XD not tryna undermine his talents but his singing is really overrated. A lot of rock singers just power through a song by belting everything either in a high chest voice aggressive yelling type of singing or very compressed head voice or mix. But Jeff glides between registers like every two sec or so XD
He was a master of dynamics.
It's not the same level of compression throughout a song, but constant pressure and release. He had absolute control on his airflow.
Also he doesn't use falsetto as some kind of relief when a note is hard to hit. He uses falsetto as an artistic decision. Perfect examples of this is his singing on "Last Goodbye", "Dream Brother", and "Grace".
Up, down, up, down all while doing crazy inflections and riffs. It's like a graceful dance. Its flowing like water. Even his note choices when doing riffs and runs is totally creative and unique. He was definitely one of the best in utilizing melismatic singing. Definitely due to his jazz and eastern influences.
Two of many things I picked up from his singing is doing a distorted yell and slowly releasing compression then seamlessly transitioning into a very soft falsetto without break (Mojo Pin). And the reverse of that, singing in falsetto then applying compression and turning it into a full sounding mix/head voice (End of Last Goodbye. "And the memories, offer signs that it's oveeeeeeeeeee...ahahheuuo" that part lol)
The way he sings certain parts or a note also serves the storytelling/context behind his lyrics. It's really crazy how much attention he put in every little detail.
I love how he just goes nuts in his live performances. He's a fearless performer.
Maybe he was trying to best Tim?
Tim was equally brilliant as well.
I especially f*ckin love Goodbye and Hello, Happy Sad and Starsailor. Starsailor holy hell. I found myself giggling like a kid when I first heard that album. What an album. I love how Tim didn't give a shit if it was commercial viable or not and followed his artistic vision.
MojoPin1983
Please like, share, and subscribe, if you feel inclined, as it helps the channel to grow.
01:05 Dink's Song
07:48 Hymne à l'amour
16:01 Grace
20:54 Mojo Pin
26:30 How Long Will It Take
Jeff Buckley: Vocals, harmonica, tambourine
Gary Lucas: Guitar
Filmed by Andre Grossmann
Thirty years ago, today (as of publication), Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas performed at the legendary CBGB, in New York's Lower East Side, on Thursday, April 23, 1992.
Note: The last show Gods and Monsters played with Buckley was a midnight slot at CBGB on April 23, 1992. From the bootleg (soundboard) recording of this concert, the cover track 'How Long Will It Take' was incorporated into Songs To No One 1991—1992, making it the last recorded song on the album. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_to_No_One_1991%E2%80%931992#CBGB
Gary's full set: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgwTDMFz4Ys&t
Jeff Buckley & Gary Lucas - How Long Will It Take (Official Audio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB1L61B3Gg4
Jeff Buckley | Gary Lucas - Songs to No One EPK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VSNtrNFByU
studentloandebtor
You’re the best Jeff Buckley archivist. Thank you for this.
MojoPin1983
@studentloandebter Thanks and you’re welcome.
Aslı Özsoy
i'm so used to Jeff playing and singing at the same time, it's kinda strange to see him just singing.
Cybergypsy
The tambourine is actually an instrument 🙄
adonai yah
@Cybergypsy not really though
JaBig *
Gary Lucas is crazy good at his craft.
Sam
Just magic that unseen stuff is still surfacing. Thank you for sharing and keeping Jeff alive. All the more special to me as he was my age in this video and he’s such a guiding light for me.
MojoPin1983
@Sam A It’s crazy to think that Jeff was only twenty five, here. I was two months shy of turning nine, at the time. Speaking of which, I broke my baby toe on my birthday, that year, by running into a doorframe, in the dark, in my basement. My older brother shut off the lights and said, “I think I heard a ghost.” as he ran upstairs, and I bolted toward the door, accidentally catching said toe on the frame, causing it to dislocate to nearly a 90 degree angle.
For most of that summer, I had to hop around on one foot, like Mr. Bean, in that episode where he took off his shoe, placed it on the roof of an adjacent car, which then drove off with said shoe still on it, as he hopped around town, worried to put his one foot down, as he tried to retrieve his shoe.
Gregory French
A sad fact that I know this, but as just short of two weeks ago, I have now outlived Jeff. Puts it into stark reality just how young he really was and how much more he could've done, because I feel this for myself at this age.
Love the video - I might be projecting because we know what happened shortly after but it does feel the two of them are quite distant here. Mainly from Jeff's side. Having said that, I don't feel that's necessarily the case musically, as this is one of the best videos of their collaboration in my view.