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.
No Feelings in My Heart
Jeffrey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they say, you get a feeling in your heart
and it makes them so happy, that's good for them
but as for me
I can't have no feelings in my heart
my heart's just that thing next to my lungs
no more feeling than my leg or my tongue
my heart pumps in, my heart pumps out
so I can't have no feelings in my heart
I don't think I'm heartless, cuz my blood still gets around
that's the only job it has so far and no other function can be found
once, for a minute, I thought that I was falling in love,
and I just came I fell asleep
I wonder if there's something wrong with me
cuz as my life goes on,
I see my friends all fall in love
they say, you get a feeling in your heart
it makes them so happy, that's good for them
but as for me
I can't have no feelings in my heart
my heart is just that thing under my rib
got no more feeling than my hand and eyelid
my heart pumps in, my heart pumps out
that's all at my heart's about
so i can't have no feelings in my heart
kind of think ,I've just spent too much time alone making art
so I can't have no feelings in my heart
but if I can, I wish they'd hurry up and start
The song "No Feelings In My Heart" by Jeffrey Lewis is a poignant meditation on the internal struggle of someone who cannot seem to feel love like the people around them do. The song begins with Lewis acknowledging that throughout his life, he has seen many people around him fall in love and experience intense emotions, something he cannot relate to. He insists that he cannot have any feelings in his heart since it is just an organ that pumps blood and has no more significance than his tongue or leg.
Lewis then reminisces about a moment when he thought that he too was falling in love but ended up falling asleep, highlighting the disconnect between his mind and body. He ponders whether there is something wrong with him since he cannot seem to experience these powerful emotions that other people do, and this lack of connection with others causes him to question his own heart.
Lewis cleverly describes his heart as simply being "something under my rib" with no more feeling than his hand or eyelid. He wonders if his prolonged time spent in isolation creating art has trained his mind to shut out any emotional response, including love. The song ends with Lewis wishing that if he could feel anything, he wants them to start. The emotional appeal of this line is heightened by the fact that Lewis sings it with such sincerity and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
All my life, around me, folks have been falling in love
Throughout my life, I have witnessed many people falling in love.
they say, you get a feeling in your heart
People say that falling in love gives you a specific feeling in your heart.
and it makes them so happy, that's good for them
Falling in love makes people happy, and I am happy for them.
but as for me
However, when it comes to me,
I can't have no feelings in my heart
I cannot experience any romantic feelings in my heart.
my heart's just that thing next to my lungs
My heart is just an organ in my body located next to my lungs.
no more feeling than my leg or my tongue
It has no more feelings than any other part of my body, such as my leg or tongue.
my heart pumps in, my heart pumps out
The only function of my heart is to pump blood in and out of my body.
that's all at my heart's about
My heart only serves this single purpose.
I don't think I'm heartless, cuz my blood still gets around
I do not believe that I am insensitive, as my blood still circulates throughout my body.
that's the only job it has so far and no other function can be found
That is the only job my heart has, and it cannot perform any other function.
once, for a minute, I thought that I was falling in love,
There was a time when I briefly thought that I was experiencing romantic feelings.
and I just came I fell asleep
However, that feeling quickly evaporated, and I went to sleep instead of pursuing it.
I wonder if there's something wrong with me
I sometimes question if there is something abnormal about my inability to feel romantic love.
cuz as my life goes on, I see my friends all fall in love
As I continue through life, I see my friends falling in love.
it makes them so happy, that's good for them
I am happy for them that they have found someone who makes them so happy.
my heart is just that thing under my rib
My heart is just another organ located beneath my ribcage.
got no more feeling than my hand and eyelid
It possesses no more feeling than any other part of my body, such as my hand or eyelid.
kind of think ,I've just spent too much time alone making art
I believe that my passion for creating art and spending most of my time alone has contributed to my inability to experience romantic love.
so I can't have no feelings in my heart
Therefore, I cannot feel any romantic emotions in my heart.
but if I can, I wish they'd hurry up and start
However, if I could feel these emotions, I wish they would manifest soon.
Contributed by Evan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alex Tapia
@LiesITellYou don't really know,found it on a random MP3 site and I thought it was great.