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/)
London
Jeff Lang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With your dark hair falling around
Holding up my pretenses
I feel defenses fall down
E Everyone can see
The crumbling in me
Last time I walked these streets
The air was all cold
And an obligation to a role
To color in London
Let it take it's toll.
You give joy with the dances
And your knowing glances are mine
You give a hold on attention
And a full-blown suspension of time
Everyone could know
I just stumbled into this show
Now my ears are ringin'
As you're hanging up the phone
And all the lines have been singin'
With the way you make 'em your own
I'm flying into London
You made it feel like home.
Now we're done with working
And there's no-one lurking around
In our world I don't mind
Just how slowly time is unwound
Everyone else is outside
And I couldn't care less for the reasons why
Now there's kaleidoscopes
In the leaves falling in an empty lot
I'm flying on my feet
And the target don't judge the shot
Girl you gave me London
I'll give you all I've got
You gave me London
Jeff Lang's song London is a poignant tribute to the titular city, a love letter of sorts to his beloved. Lang's usage of the imagery of London provides an almost cinematic effect that transports listeners instantly into his world. He describes his muse as having dark hair, a woman who helps Lang lower his defenses with little effort. Lang remembers his past visit to London, where he had to color in London and let it "take its toll." He talks about how the woman gives him joy with her performances and her gaze on him, and her hold on him is complete, as time is suspended when they're together. The kaleidoscope imagery of falling leaves in the empty lot is a symbol of the newness of the beauty, which is almost like seeing something from a different perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you standing there
I notice you standing over there
With your dark hair falling around
Your dark hair is falling around you
Holding up my pretenses
You are supporting the facade I put up
I feel defenses fall down
My defenses are coming down
Everyone can see
All people can perceive
The crumbling in me
The deterioration within me
Last time I walked these streets
The previous instance I walked on these streets
The air was all cold
The air was chilly
I had holes in my shoes
My shoes had holes in them
And an obligation to a role
And a duty to a character
To color in London
To depict London
Let it take it's toll.
Let the consequences come.
You give joy with the dances
Your dancing causes me joy
And your knowing glances are mine
I have your full attention
You give a hold on attention
You captivate my focus
And a full-blown suspension of time
Time seems to stand still
Everyone could know
Everyone can perceive
I just stumbled into this show
I unintentionally became part of the performance
Now my ears are ringin'
My ears are ringing now
As you're hanging up the phone
You just hung up the phone
And all the lines have been singin'
All of the words have been saying
With the way you make 'em your own
The way you personalize them
I'm flying into London
I am soaring into London
You made it feel like home.
You made London feel like home
Now we're done with working
Now we are finished with work
And there's no-one lurking around
No one is lurking in our surroundings
In our world I don't mind
In our realm, I do not object
Just how slowly time is unwound
How time gradually passes
Everyone else is outside
All other people are outdoors
And I couldn't care less for the reasons why
I am indifferent about the reasons
Now there's kaleidoscopes
Now there are many colors
In the leaves falling in an empty lot
As leaves fall in a deserted area
I'm flying on my feet
I feel like I'm flying by foot alone
And the target don't judge the shot
The mark doesn't determine the outcome
Girl you gave me London
You gave me everything about London
I'll give you all I've got
I will give you everything I have
You gave me London
You gave me everything about London
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROGER HODGSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JonnoIOM
One of the most stunning tracks in Jeff's armoury, brilliant lyricality, amazing fingerwork, a driving beat ... totally brilliant!
@2good4name
Seen this guy live. Amazing, I've seen tons of bands live, but nothing was as damned impressive as this guy live. Simply fantastic.
@TheGrazieroma
I've seen Jeff twice in Canada and he is as talented an artist as I have seen. He's a testimony to why the music industry rots. Fellows like him work away, producing truly amazing music, while American Idol contestants spin off into lucrative music careers. Then again, if Jeff ever got too big, I would have a harder time getting tickets.... :-)
@6stringsGT
I've heard this song soo long ago but still resonates and nothing sounds like it since then, so unique and inspiring.
@SteveArvey
His Chicago show last night was incredible. Jeff Lang is the best. Nobody plays like him.
@Yazidmanou
Oh damned I loved that song ! Great voice too. I met Jeff last may when he played two shows in Paris in la boule noire (Pigalle area). He's a killer onstage and a very cool and nice fellow. I'm glad to know he's back for several dates in France soon. I do wait his concert at the Paris Olympia theater next december 13. The public will be absolutely amazed by this quite talented australian guitar player.
@TheKitKatattack
This is simply fantastic!
@screamingpict
I'm ashamed to say I've never heard of this guy. Criminal, but I get to discover some great damn music. The Chris Whitley channel on Pandora paid off in spades.
@poetrynova
greets from austria! u are one of my favourite musicians- like u because of the nature u bring back to music, and like u because ur music kicks asses too. Ur voice fills our hearts with something we havent felt since years, but we drink now because we drink for u
@nicodoc
I saw JEFF LANG in Brussel April 2007 ... really good music ! a guitar's master !