Jeffrey Lewis is an American singer/songwriter and comic-book artist, part of the Anti-folk movement. Several of his musical influences have been acknowledged in his songs such as The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song, concerning the song by Leonard Cohen, and The History of The Fall. Like Cohen, Lewis' lyrics are complex and literate, often combining a depressing world-view with a hopeful message and sharp wit. Born in New York City and growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan Island his songs are also highly informed by his home surroundings, with songs namechecking places such as Williamsburg, the FDR Drive and the East River.
Jeffrey Lewis was born in New York in November 1975. He attended State University of New York at Purchase College and graduated in 1997; his final thesis was on the Alan Moore graphic novel "Watchmen".
After being signed by the British record label Rough Trade in 2001, Lewis released his first official album The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane, and in 2003 he released the album It's the Ones Who've Cracked That the Light Shines Through. Lewis later released the album City & Eastern Songs, in the U.K. in November 2005. All three albums also include his brother, Jack Lewis, who wrote and sang a number of the songs. He has also performed and collaborated with fellow New York Anti-folk singers Kimya Dawson and Diane Cluck.
His latest album, 12 Crass Songs was released on Rough Trade in Europe in September of 2007. As the title suggests, it is 12 covers of the British anarchist punk band Crass. It features vocals, keyboard and recorder from Helen Shriner, bass by both John Kessel and brother Jack Lewis, drums by David Beachamp (live drummer/The Bloodugars) and Raphi Gottesman (who often plays with Jack Lewis). Shwervon's Nan Turner also contributes vocals to various tracks.
Jeffrey Lewis is a Welsh composer. After graduating from University College, Cardiff, he studied composition with Stockhausen, Ligeti, and Boguslaw Schaffer, and electronic composition with Don Banks. His early career was spent as a pianist with the Paris Chamber Ensemble; after his return to the U.K, in 1973 he joined the Department of Music at the University College of North Wales, Bangor.
Gravity Sue
Jeffrey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's become of you
Gravity sue
Do I have to tell you again
Two old men were walking
Walking down the road
Their boots were made of raw hide
One of them was a robber
The other was a cop
One said to the other
I think I'm gonna drop
That's okay the first one said but I aint gonna stop
I met a girl on Bleecker street
Underneath a lamp
She said she had a speaker
I said I had an amp
We took em to Mcdougal and we opened up a socket
I took off on a bicycle
She took off on a rocket
I took off my sneakers
And she put em in her pocket
Sue was such a downer that they called her gravity
The only man who loved her was a thief from Tennessee
They bought a little farm house
And they burned it to the ground
The thief went crazy screaming
But Sue never made a sound
Everyone knows gravity can only get you down
I heard my phone a ringing
I asked who's on the line
He said it was a friend
But it was no friend of mine
So I'll tell you how it's going
If you tell me how it went
He said I have fifty dollars
If you've got fifty cents
And both of them looked quite the same
After they'd been spent
Old Freight 63 train
Rolling down the track
Rolling straight to Memphis
And then it comes right back
The engineer's a bad man
Don't you mess with him
He carries around a cannon
And he votes republican
The hobos back in Yonkers they all call him Devil Jim
A prong with forty fingers
Made a rat with twenty legs
They walked into a restaurant
And ate a dozen eggs
The cook took out a spatula
And waved it in the air
By the time the sherrif came around
Only bloody bones were there
The paper said this sort of thing
Just happens everywhere
Everywhere
When I heard that you were gone
You know I hung my head and cried
I walked out on the highway
And I flagged myself a ride
I got into the backseat
And the door shut with a bang
The old cowboy behind the wheel
Said he came from Birmingham
And all the way to New Orleans
This was the song he sang
Gravity Sue
What's become of you
Gravity Sue
Do I have to tell you again
Tell you again
Gravity Sue
What's become of you
Gravity Sue
Do I have to tell you again
Tell you again
Ooooooo
Gravity Sue!
What's wrong with you
Gravity Sue
Do I have to tell you again
Tell you again
The song "Gravity Sue" by Jeffrey Lewis is a narrative that jumps between different stories without necessarily linking them thematically. The title character of the song is a woman called Sue, who has a pessimistic outlook on life that is so pervasive that she is nicknamed "Gravity," which becomes her defining characteristic. The verse that talks about Sue and her lover, a thief from Tennessee who burns down their little farmhouse, highlights Sue's passive nature and the idea that she is helpless and stuck in a situation where she has no control. The chorus appears twice and gives the impression that the singer is trying to snap Sue out of her lethargy, asking her the rhetorical question, "Gravity Sue, what's become of you? Do I have to tell you again?"
The other verses in "Gravity Sue" are made up of disconnected stories like the one about the two old men, one a robber and the other a cop, who carry a heavy load and walk down a road made of rawhide. There is also the story of the singer and the amp on Bleecker Street, the hobos in Yonkers who all call the engineer of a train "Devil Jim," and the incident at the restaurant where a prong with forty fingers made a rat with twenty legs that ate a dozen eggs. While it is not immediately clear what connects these stories, they paint a vivid picture of a world that is at times surreal, at times darkly humorous, and always full of unexpected twists and turns.
Line by Line Meaning
Gravity Sue
The singer is addressing someone named Sue who is struggling with something and feels weighed down by gravity. The gravity could refer to the sadness or negativity in Sue's life.
What's become of you
The singer is asking Sue what has happened to her and why she feels so burdened. The singer is concerned about Sue's well-being.
Do I have to tell you again
The singer is frustrated that Sue is not responding to their previous attempts to help. They are asking if they need to explain things again to get Sue to listen.
Two old men were walking
The artist shifts the focus away from Sue and tells a story about two old men walking down the road. This could represent the passage of time or the various challenges people face as they journey through life.
Their boots were made of raw hide
The artist provides a detail about the old men's boots. This line could represent the strength and resilience required to keep moving forward.
They carried a heavy load
The singer emphasizes the challenges that the old men are facing. This could represent the emotional baggage that people carry with them or the burdens of everyday life.
One of them was a robber
The singer reveals that one of the old men is a criminal. This could represent the negative aspects of human nature or the sins of the past.
The other was a cop
The artist reveals that the other old man is a police officer. This could represent the good in humanity or the efforts to maintain law and order.
One said to the other
The artist continues the story of the two old men. This could represent how people rely on one another for support and companionship.
I think I'm gonna drop
One of the old men expresses weakness and a desire to give up. This could represent the various obstacles that people face and the temptation to quit.
That's okay the first one said but I aint gonna stop
The other old man encourages his friend to keep going. This could represent the importance of perseverance and how even small acts of kindness can make a difference.
I met a girl on Bleecker street
The artist shifts to a new story about meeting a girl on Bleecker Street. This could represent the various people that one meets on life's journey and the impact that they have.
Underneath a lamp
The singer provides a detail about where they met the girl. This could represent the importance of being in the right place at the right time.
She said she had a speaker
The girl reveals that she has a speaker, which could represent something valuable or unique about her.
I said I had an amp
The singer reveals that they have an amp, which could represent something valuable or unique about them.
We took em to Mcdougal and we opened up a socket
The artist and the girl test out their equipment by finding a place to play music. This could represent the importance of creative expression or bonding over shared passions.
I took off on a bicycle
The artist rides away on a bicycle. This could represent leaving behind old ways of living or modes of transportation.
She took off on a rocket
The girl takes off on a rocket, which could represent her going places in life or achieving success.
I took off my sneakers
The singer removes their sneakers. This could represent letting go of the things that weigh you down or making yourself more comfortable.
And she put em in her pocket
The girl puts the artist's sneakers in her pocket, which could represent her holding onto something of his.
Sue was such a downer that they called her gravity
The artist returns to the subject of Sue and explains that she has a reputation for being negative or depressing. People call her 'gravity' because of this.
The only man who loved her was a thief from Tennessee
The artist reveals that Sue was only loved by a criminal. This could represent how people who feel weighed down by life might be drawn to those who are similarly troubled.
They bought a little farm house
The singer continues with Sue's story and explains that she and the thief bought a little farm house. This could represent the solace that people find in nature or being away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
And they burned it to the ground
The artist reveals that the farm house was burned down. This could represent a setback or tragedy that befalls people in life.
The thief went crazy screaming
The singer reveals that the thief was traumatized by the destruction of the farm house. This could represent the emotional scars that people carry with them and how events in the past can affect the present.
But Sue never made a sound
The singer emphasizes Sue's stoicism in the face of tragedy. This could represent the strength and resilience that people possess.
Everyone knows gravity can only get you down
The singer makes a comment on the metaphor of gravity and how it can only pull people down. This could represent the challenge of overcoming negativity or depression.
I heard my phone a ringing
The artist shifts to a new story about their phone ringing. This could represent the interruptions of modern life and the distractions that people face.
I asked who's on the line
The artist responds to the phone call. This could represent the importance of communication and connection.
He said it was a friend
The singer's caller says that they are a friend. This could represent the difficulty of trusting others or the challenges of cultivating meaningful relationships.
But it was no friend of mine
The singer reveals that the caller was not really a friend. This could represent the feelings of betrayal or alienation.
So I'll tell you how it's going
The artist offers to update their caller on their life. This could represent the importance of honesty and transparency in relationships.
If you tell me how it went
The artist asks their caller to reciprocate by sharing about themselves. This could represent the give and take of friendships and relationships.
He said I have fifty dollars
The artist's caller offers them money. This could represent the power dynamics in relationships or the challenges of accepting help from others.
If you've got fifty cents
The singer emphasizes their lack of resources in comparison to their caller. This could represent the feelings of inadequacy or insecurity that people might experience in social situations.
And both of them looked quite the same
The artist describes how they and their caller are actually not that different from one another. This could represent the commonalities that people share despite their differences.
After they'd been spent
The story about the phone call ends. This could represent the transitory nature of relationships and how things can change quickly.
Old Freight 63 train
The singer shifts to a new story about an old freight train. This could represent the passage of time or the movement of people and goods across the country.
Rolling down the track
The singer describes the train rolling along the track. This could represent how people or things are propelled forward through life.
Rolling straight to Memphis
The artist reveals the destination of the train. This could represent the importance of having goals or pursuing a specific path in life.
And then it comes right back
The artist describes the train's return journey. This could represent the cyclical nature of life and how things often come full circle.
The engineer's a bad man
The singer describes the train's engineer as a 'bad man.' This could represent the moral ambiguity of people in life, or the fact that even those who are perceived as doing good might have their darker side.
Don't you mess with him
The singer warns that others should not 'mess with' the train's engineer. This could represent the consequences of one's actions or the dangers of crossing certain lines.
He carries around a cannon
The artist reveals that the train's engineer carries a weapon. This could represent the power dynamics in society or the violence that can erupt unexpectedly.
And he votes republican
The artist describes the political views of the train's engineer. This could represent the complexities of politics or the ways in which people might surprise us with their opinions or beliefs.
The hobos back in Yonkers they all call him Devil Jim
The artist introduces a group of homeless people who refer to the train's engineer as 'Devil Jim.' This could represent the different perspectives that people have and the importance of empathy for those who might be struggling.
A prong with forty fingers
The singer shifts to a nonsensical story about a creature with 'forty fingers.' This could represent the absurdity of life or the power of the imagination.
Made a rat with twenty legs
The creature makes a rat with twenty legs. This could represent the strangeness of the world or the creative ways in which people make sense of things.
They walked into a restaurant
The story continues with the creature and the rat walking into a restaurant. This could represent the intrusion of the unexpected or the ways in which people react to unusual situations.
And ate a dozen eggs
The creature and rat eat eggs. This could represent the absurdity of the situation or the ways in which people find nourishment in unexpected places.
The cook took out a spatula
The singer describes the cook taking out a spatula. This could represent the power dynamics in society or the fact that people are often defined by their jobs or roles.
And waved it in the air
The cook waves the spatula in the air. This could represent the importance of taking action or the use of force to solve disputes.
By the time the sherrif came around
The story comes to a violent end with the arrival of the sheriff. This could represent the consequences of one's actions or the difficulty of escaping the law.
Only bloody bones were there
The singer concludes the story with a gruesome image. This could represent the ends that people might come to if they do not heed warnings or take care of themselves.
The paper said this sort of thing
The singer shifts to a commentary about the media and their sensationalism. This could represent the ways in which people are influenced by the news or the biases present within the reporting.
Just happens everywhere
The artist shares the media's conclusion that 'this sort of thing just happens everywhere.' This could represent the cynicism of society or the acceptance of violence and tragedy as commonplace.
When I heard that you were gone
The artist returns to Sue and shares that they have heard of her departure. This could represent the transient nature of relationships or the impact of loss on people.
You know I hung my head and cried
The artist expresses their sadness at the news of Sue's departure. This could represent the importance of expressing emotions or the ways in which loss affects people.
I walked out on the highway
The singer shifts to a new story about walking along a highway. This could represent the journey that people go on in life or the openness to new experiences.
And I flagged myself a ride
The artist hitches a ride with a stranger. This could represent the need for assistance or the risk of putting oneself in unfamiliar situations.
I got into the backseat
The singer takes a seat in the back of the stranger's vehicle. This could represent the potential dangers of opening up to others or blindly trusting strangers.
And the door shut with a bang
The singer emphasizes the suddenness of getting into the car and how they have closed the door behind them. This could represent the impact of decisions or the feeling of being trapped.
The old cowboy behind the wheel
The singer describes the driver as an 'old cowboy.' This could represent the archetypal figure of the western hero or the idea of adventure and exploration.
Said he came from Birmingham
The cowboy reveals where he is from. This could represent the significance of place or the impact of geography on people's lives.
And all the way to New Orleans
The cowboy and speaker travel all the way to New Orleans. This could represent the importance of new experiences or the idea of a journey with no particular destination.
This was the song he sang
The cowboy sings a song. This could represent the importance of music or storytelling on human culture.
Ooooooo!
The singer concludes the song with a vocalization. This could represent the sense of closure or finality that comes with the end of a journey.
Contributed by Penelope V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.