Jeff Hanson (1978 – June 5, 2009) was a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and m… Read Full Bio ↴Jeff Hanson (1978 – June 5, 2009) was a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist whose voice was described in a 2005 Paste review as an "angelic falsetto, a cross between Alison Krauss and Art Garfunkel that's often (understandably) mistaken for a female contralto."

Hanson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He started learning guitar at four years old and by the age of 13 formed the emo/indie rock band M.I.J. Seven years later the band released a 7", an EP and a full album on Caulfield Records.

He began a solo career in 2003 and was signed to Kill Rock Stars Records after sending in an unsolicited demo tape. He has since released three albums for the label, Son in 2003 and Jeff Hanson in 2005. His third album for Kill Rock Stars titled Madam Owl was released on August 19 2008. Hanson's solo albums were recorded at Presto! Recording Studios.

Since 1996 Hanson resided in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Hanson was found dead on June 7, 2009, in his St. Paul apartment, which he had moved into a few days earlier. The cause was mixed drug toxicity.

Losing a Year
Jeff Hanson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, what I could say to you again.
I've never really understood what you need from me.
So you can see all of this and know I was here.
I never meant a single word that I said.
Sometimes I just look around for something else.
Somehow, I just lost a year,
But we all make promises.
I'm not the same as how you might remember.

Now I see how this is turning out.
And I'm sure because everyone
Tells me what I want, and what I'm not,
To make it stop.
Oh,
When morning comes who will be the simple one?
I can see how all your plans are turning out.
Somehow, I just lost a year
But we all make our promises
I'm not the same as how you might remember.
Now I see how this is turning out.
And I'm sure because everyone

Still tells me what I've got,
To make it stop.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jeff Hanson's song "Losing a Year" are both introspective and cryptic, with the singer struggling to understand his place in the world and his relationship with another person. The repeated phrase "somehow, I just lost a year" suggests a feeling of lost time and missed opportunities, while the line "I'm not the same as how you might remember" hints at personal growth and change.

The opening line, "oh what I could say to you again," speaks to the idea of wanting to relive past experiences or have another chance to express oneself. The singer then admits that he has never truly understood what the other person needs from him, which adds to the sense of confusion and uncertainty.

The chorus, with its repeated line "but we all make promises," suggests that both the singer and the other person have made commitments that they may not be able to keep. The repeated references to being told what to do and how to feel also hint at outside pressures and influences that may be impacting the singer's sense of self.

Overall, "Losing a Year" is a complex and emotionally charged song that speaks to the universal experience of grappling with one's own identity and relationships with others.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, what I could say to you again.
Expressing a yearning to communicate with the listener again.

I've never really understood what you need from me.
The singer confesses that they do not fully comprehend the expectations of the listener.

So you can see all of this and know I was here.
The singer desires to have a tangible impact on the world, to prove their existence.

I never meant a single word that I said.
The artist acknowledges that their words lack conviction and honesty.

Sometimes I just look around for something else.
The artist confesses to seeking new experiences and opportunities at the expense of commitment.

Somehow, I just lost a year,
The singer laments the passage of time, and the missed opportunities that come with it.

But we all make promises.
Acknowledging that everyone makes commitments, but often struggles to keep them.

I'm not the same as how you might remember.
The artist implies a transformation, perhaps due to personal growth or external circumstances.

Now I see how this is turning out.
The artist has gained perspective and is beginning to understand the consequences of their actions.

And I'm sure because everyone tells me what I want, and what I'm not,
The artist is frustrated by the opinions and expectations of others, which they perceive as constraining.

To make it stop.
The singer desires to break free of these limitations.

When morning comes who will be the simple one?
A rhetorical question, suggesting that the artist believes simplicity is the key to happiness and fulfillment.

I can see how all your plans are turning out.
The singer has observed the consequences of the listener's decisions and is reflecting on them.

Still tells me what I've got,
The singer is frustrated that others still believe they know what's best for them, despite evidence to the contrary.

To make it stop.
The singer desires to reclaim control of their own destiny and silence external voices.

Contributed by Bailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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