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.
Had It All
Jeffrey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
no safety netting
so why am I betting
these kind of stakes?
It's so confusing
winning or losing
I've made so many mistakes
My work is cut out
it needs my best now
I just can't guess how
it will unfold
Got to work through it
If I can just do that
I'll say I always knew that
I had it all
There's ground to cover
I've barely scratched it
and once you catch it,
that fever grows
So many loners
So many late-bloomers
So many rumors nobody knows
My work is cut out
it needs my best now
I just can't guess how
it will unfold
Got to work through it
If I can just do that
I'll say I always knew that
I had it all
But am I me yet?
Sometimes I see it,
Sometimes feel like a genius and still so far to go.
Why am I not free yet
of all this doubting?
My mind keeps shouting and it never gets a sore throat.
My work is cut out
it needs my best now
I just can't guess how
it will unfold
Got to work through it
If I can just do that
I'll say I always knew that
I had it all.
In "Had It All", Jeffrey Lewis sings about the struggles of being a musician and artist, trying to make it in a tough industry without any safety net. He expresses his confusion, doubts, and insecurities, wondering if he is good enough and if he will ever make it. He acknowledges his past mistakes and the challenges ahead, but also the importance of working hard and pushing through. The lyrics are introspective and honest, revealing the internal struggles of an artist and their pursuit of success.
Lewis's use of metaphors, such as "ground to cover" and "fever" adds depth to the lyrics and conveys the intensity of the passion and drive required to succeed. The repetition of "my work is cut out" emphasizes the effort and determination needed to achieve success. The line "Sometimes feel like a genius and still so far to go" captures the contradicting emotions of confidence and self-doubt that artists often face.
Overall, "Had It All" showcases the raw emotions and experiences of an artist navigating the ups and downs of the music industry, reminding listeners of the hard work and resilience required to pursue their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got no backup,
I don't have any safety net and support system to fall back to in case I fail.
no safety netting
I don't have any assurance or security for my actions that I am about to take.
so why am I betting
So, it begs the question, why am I risking something when I know I have nothing to hold on to?
these kind of stakes?
Why am I playing with high stakes?
It's so confusing
It's all just so perplexing that it's hard to make head or tails of it.
winning or losing
It's either you win or lose, and it's not always apparent which one it will be.
I've made so many mistakes
I committed blunders in the past, and I fear that I might make more in the future.
My work is cut out
The task is challenging and requires me to do my best.
it needs my best now
This responsibility demands excellence from me since I don't have anything to back it up.
I just can't guess how
I don't know what to anticipate or expect; I am clueless.
it will unfold
The outcome of my actions is unknown and uncertain; it will show how everything plays out eventually.
Got to work through it
I have to endure and remain committed, regardless of what happens.
If I can just do that
If I can do that, and only that, persevering through my struggles and challenges, I will become more confident.
I'll say I always knew that
It will prove that I was always aware, from the very beginning, of what it takes to succeed.
I had it all.
I am capable of achieving my aspirations; I have what it takes to thrive and succeed.
There's ground to cover
There is still a lot that I need to accomplish.
I've barely scratched it
What I've achieved so far is not even close to what I'm aiming for.
and once you catch it,
And if I can achieve my goals,
that fever grows
The desire to succeed will become more potent and will drive me closer to my aspirations.
So many loners
There are many people who have gone through the same situation as mine, alone without any support.
So many late-bloomers
There are many people who may succeed in later stages of life.
So many rumors nobody knows
There is always buzz and gossip, but no one knows what will happen.
But am I me yet?
Am I my true self?
Sometimes I see it,
Sometimes I feel that I've found myself in a situation that resonates with me
Sometimes feel like a genius and still so far to go.
Although I feel like an expert, there is still so much that I need to learn about life, and there is so far to go.
Why am I not free yet
Why haven't I achieved true liberation yet?
of all this doubting?
I'm sick of second-guessing and worrying.
My mind keeps shouting
I can't stop stressing about the things I can't control.
and it never gets a sore throat.
It's incessantly shouting with no sign of letting up.
Contributed by Elizabeth N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.