Jeff Lang is critically acclaimed as a truly great guitar player. The unusual thing is that the guitar playing never gets in the way of the music, nor overshadows his gift for hauntingly poetic songwriting. As a live performer Lang is only satisfied when something truly inspired takes place. This restless striving for the sublime pays great dividends for audiences that join him for the ride.
He has delivered show-stopping performances at festivals as diverse as Port Fairy, Woodford, Byron Bay, Mudslinger and Livid in his home land of Australia. On US radio he has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage and Acoustic Café, and he has performed at such festivals as the Dublin Blues Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Quebec City Music Festival, Falcon Ridge, Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival, Blissfest, and the Ottawa Blues Fest.
He has toured with Ani Di Franco, Chris Whitley, Albert Collins, Bob Dylan, Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Thompson, Greg Brown, Kelly Joe Phelps, Dr. John and Bob Geldolf, while his unique musical vision
easily finds a home in myriad venues, from a large festival stage to a small Irish club to the Sydney Opera House. In addition his 2002 collaboration with Bob Brozman won an ARIA award (Australia's equivalent of a Grammy) for Best Blues and Roots Music album. Jeff Lang has achieved what is a rarity in the cluttered world of contemporary sounds: his own voice.
(From http://www.jefflang.com.au/)
Killer
Jeff Lang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you smile at me as if you know me to be kind
When to see your pain could be all that I crave
I could've been a killer in my day
That he magically sets aside his bitterness and rage?
Well, to tell you the truth wouldn't be such a shame
I could've been a killer in my day
Should I haul you up by the collar of your coat
So close you can smell every last gin on my breath
And spit words of fury just to illustrate my rage?
I could've been a killer in my day
If I sat down with an evil man I'm sure I would find
The same cruel thoughts, they have all crossed my mind
And it's only my decisions let these impulses lay
I could've been a killer in my day
I took a desperate stranger in my house for a stay
And he stole my lady before he stole away
I'd've given anything to have made that man pay
I could've been a killer in my day
Well I've come this far down my own road
Every step is one that I've taken alone
And as you enter life that's how you leave - on your own
So it matters not what you say
I could've been a killer in my day
(Come this far, I will get there, come this far on my own)
In Jeff Lang's song Killer, he reflects on the potential darkness and violence within himself, despite his current life as a bartender who serves young girls with kindness. He acknowledges the societal expectation for men to suppress their anger and bitterness as they age, but he fears that he could have easily been a killer at some point in his life. He describes the moment when he could lash out at someone, using his fury to harm them. Lang recognizes that everyone has the capability for cruelty, and it is only our decisions that keep us from acting upon those impulses.
The lyrics suggest a deep introspection about the darker side of human nature. Lang admits that he harbors thoughts of violence and wishes revenge upon the man who stole his lady, revealing an unfiltered perspective on how anger can consume a person. He acknowledges that he has come far in his own journey, but that it ultimately does not matter in the end because everyone must face death alone.
In conclusion, the song Killer by Jeff Lang speaks to the deeply ingrained societal expectations on controlling "unacceptable" emotions in men and women, and also highlights the important fact that everyone could be a killer if they gave into their impulses.
Line by Line Meaning
All you young girls come in every Friday night
Girls come to me every Friday night.
And you smile at me as if you know me to be kind
You smile at me because you believe I am kind.
When to see your pain could be all that I crave
I could desire to see you in pain.
I could've been a killer in my day
I had the potential to become a killer in the past.
You think that when a man comes of age
Do you believe that when a man grows older?
That he magically sets aside his bitterness and rage?
He would magically get rid of his resentment and anger?
Well, to tell you the truth wouldn't be such a shame
It is not a disgrace to confess the truth.
Should I haul you up by the collar of your coat
Should I raise you by the collar of your jacket?
So close you can smell every last gin on my breath
So close that you can sense the gin on my breath.
And spit words of fury just to illustrate my rage?
And spit angry words to display my wrath?
If I sat down with an evil man I'm sure I would find
If I were to talk with a vile man, I'm positive I would discover
The same cruel thoughts, they have all crossed my mind
Similar brutish ideas have all come to my mind.
And it's only my decisions let these impulses lay
The only thing that prevents me from acting on these impulses is my choices.
I took a desperate stranger in my house for a stay
I allowed a desperate person to stay in my home.
And he stole my lady before he stole away
He took my woman before running away.
I'd've given anything to have made that man pay
I would have sacrificed anything to make him suffer.
Well I've come this far down my own road
I have journeyed this far on my path.
Every step is one that I've taken alone
I have taken every step by myself.
And as you enter life that's how you leave - on your own
You enter life alone and you leave it alone.
So it matters not what you say
It does not matter what you say.
I could've been a killer in my day
I was once capable of committing murder.
(Come this far, I will get there, come this far on my own)
(I have come this far, I will continue on my own)
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
sixstringedthing
Cedar Grove is a landmark Australian album.
Every aspiring Aussie guitarist should listen to it.
Monty Osewald
Thanks Al and Jeff great sound and informative.
Tom Treacy
Can someone PLZ tell me the name of the guitar that the very talented Jeff is using here? Fantastic playing Jeff, slainte from Ireland mo chara.
Susan Watkiss
Saw him at the town crier cafe NY opening for Steve Forbet, he blew the place up, Forbet was not happy lol. It was to promote the cedar grove album
Derek P.
Bravo Mr. Lang!! Please, would you, or anyone else who knows, share the name of the foot drum device being used here is?
Derek P.
@Alessandro Danzi by any off chance, the Roland SPD-ONE kick ?
Alessandro Danzi
it's a stompbox
MTBVelocirapt
Metronome hidden in his shoelaces
Graham Taylor
Beltone, British resonator guitar.
Matt Warwick
Was using the foot kick before anyone else. You use the bass kick too? Ok. The others loop and play over the top. You want to loop? Let's take it up a notch with some feedback. Jeff has always been a killer.