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/)
Release
Jeff Lang Lyrics
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The darkest moment right there for you to seize
Both hands reach every minute hopin'
For release
Phrase in, phrase out, they only serve to tease
The water cool can only cleanse so far
Toward release
Jackie sits looking for a rewind
Remembering how she found you lying in the street
Knowing that you only hoped to find
Your release
Release
You checked out on time you had it planned so well
When they found you there they say you looked like me
I'll see you 'round the time's not mine to tell
For release
Release
For release
The song Release by Jeff Lang is a powerful and emotional reflection on the idea of release. The lyrics focus on several themes that touch on the idea of releasing oneself from the struggles of life. The song is a tribute to a friend who has passed away, but it is also a reflection on the struggles of the person who passed away. The song begins with the line "Old friend the door was always open," which could mean that the singer was always willing to listen to his friend's struggles. The second line, "the darkest moment right there for you to seize," speaks to the idea that sometimes the most difficult moments in life can be the most transformative.
The second verse introduces a new character, a boy who is playing blue on a white guitar. The boy's playing only serves to tease, and the water cool can only cleanse so far. The water symbolizes the idea of release, but it is limited in its ability to cleanse the person's soul. The chorus repeats the phrase "for release," emphasizing the central theme of the song. The third verse tells the story of Jackie, who found the person who passed away lying in the street. Jackie understands that the person was only hoping to find release from their pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Old friend the door was always open
The singer had always been available for his friend, no questions asked.
The darkest moment right there for you to seize
The singer was there for his friend during their lowest moments, allowing them to take control and seek help.
Both hands reach every minute hopin'
The singer's friend was constantly searching for solutions to their problems, hopeful for a way out.
For release
The ultimate goal was to achieve freedom from their struggles and find peace in their life.
Boy up on stage plays blue on a white guitar
The musician onstage used his music to express his own struggles, echoing those of the artist and his friend.
Phrase in, phrase out, they only serve to tease
The musician's lyrics hinted at a solution but never offered a clear answer, leaving the listener unsatisfied.
The water cool can only cleanse so far
The singer acknowledges that some solutions may help in the short term, but they ultimately cannot fully solve the underlying issues.
Toward release
The path to freedom and peace was a long and difficult one, but it was worth pursuing.
Jackie sits looking for a rewind
The artist's friend wished they could go back in time and change past events that contributed to their struggles.
Remembering how she found you lying in the street
The artist's friend had witnessed him at his lowest point and felt responsible for helping him overcome his struggles.
Knowing that you only hoped to find
The singer's friend recognized that his underlying goal was to find peace and freedom from his struggles.
Your release
The ultimate goal for the artist's friend was to achieve freedom from his struggles and find peace of mind.
You checked out on time you had it planned so well
The singer's friend had been trying to find a way out for a long time and had unfortunately decided to end their life.
When they found you there they say you looked like me
The singer's friend resembled him physically and emotionally, showing how similar their struggles were.
I'll see you 'round the time's not mine to tell
The singer is acknowledging that he will see his friend again someday, but he cannot predict when that will happen.
For release
The song ultimately focuses on the quest for freedom and peace, depicting the journey towards this goal as a difficult but worthwhile pursuit.
Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.