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.
New Old Friends
Jeffrey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She guesses that she didn’t see the point
Stay out and get drunk and wake up in a funk
She could meet someone if she tried
But new old friends take time
She knows you want to help her for sure
And she knows she’s not trying your cures
She could meet someone if she tried
But new old friends take time
It really hits her when the goodbyes happen
This life of loss, fights and funerals too
The new people we meet and the new babies
Just don’t affect us the way those things do
She says maybe it’s just that humans aren’t
Equipped to feel improvements
But maybe its just things happen fast and new old friends take time.
She’s sorry that she missed the feast
And didn’t hit your record release
She says they’re all beasts and the forest repeats
But she could meet someone if she tried
But new old friends take time
She says she’s not stingy with the water
She says she’s not stingy with the seeds
She says she watches ‘em grow and then she watches ‘em go
She could meet someone if she tried
But new old friends take time
It really hits her when the goodbyes happen
This life of loss, fights and funerals too
The new people we meet and the new babies
Just don’t affect us the way those things do
She says maybe it’s just that humans aren’t
Equipped to feel improvements
But maybe its just things happen fast and new old friends take time.
The lyrics of Jeffrey Lewis's song "New Old Friends" speak about the difficulty of forming new and meaningful friendships as we get older. The song describes a character who is hesitant to engage in social activities like parties and record releases, opting instead to stay home and avoid disappointment. She recognizes that she could meet someone if she tried, but acknowledges that new old friends take time.
The character's reluctance to put herself out there and form new friendships is rooted in the pain of loss that comes with growing older. The song touches on the idea that while meeting new people and welcoming new life should bring joy, it doesn't always happen that way. The character questions whether humans are equipped to feel improvements and whether the pace of life just moves too quickly to allow for deep connections to form.
Overall, "New Old Friends" is a poignant reflection on the challenges of forming connections in a world that often values speed over depth. It's a reminder to cherish the friends we do have and to take the time to nurture new relationships as they come along.
Line by Line Meaning
She’s sorry that she missed the party
She regrets not attending the party
She guesses that she didn’t see the point
She thinks there was no reason to go
Stay out and get drunk and wake up in a funk
Drinking leads to a bad mood in the morning
She could meet someone if she tried
She is aware that socializing could lead to new relationships
But new old friends take time
However, forming strong bonds with people takes patience and effort
She knows you want to help her for sure
She understands that someone wants to support her
And she knows she’s not trying your cures
But she feels that the offered solutions won't work for her
She could choke ’em on down but lets be serious now
She could pretend to follow advice, but that won't solve the problem
It really hits her when the goodbyes happen
Parting from people brings her sadness
This life of loss, fights and funerals too
Experiencing losses, conflicts, and funeral events is part of life
The new people we meet and the new babies
Meeting new acquaintances and babies does not have the same emotional impact
Just don’t affect us the way those things do
Those things have a deeper effect on us than new experiences
She says maybe it’s just that humans aren’t
She thinks humans may not be capable of feeling lasting improvement
Equipped to feel improvements
Improving our lives may be beyond our abilities
But maybe its just things happen fast and new old friends take time.
Or maybe things change rapidly, but building real friendships still requires patience
And didn’t hit your record release
She also apologizes for missing a record release event
She says they’re all beasts and the forest repeats
She feels disillusioned with people, believing they behave like animals and history repeats itself
She says she’s not stingy with the water
She explains she doesn't withhold resources from others
She says she’s not stingy with the seeds
She shares what she has with others
She says she watches ‘em grow and then she watches ‘em go
She observes things develop and then fade away
Contributed by Molly V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.