According to Songfacts, Nettles made inroads on the independent circuit, gaining a small degree of national attention, then later becomes a pop-country superstar. With Jennifer Nettles Band, the future Sugarland artist released three independent albums and went on the Lilith Fair in 1999. The band drew praises from a number of music publications including Performing Songwriter magazine, and accumulated a substantial fan base along the East Coast.
Nettles formed Sugarland in 2003 and when they hit it big, her Jennifer Nettles Band pretty much vanished
With a presentation of engaging tunes, dynamic vocals, and poetic flair in a passionately charged live setting, Jennifer Nettles and her band were quite successful during the mid- to late '90s. Originally a native of Atlanta, GA, Nettles successful career began with the release of Story of Your Bones and quickly a following was created. Over the course of her touring, Nettles received rave reviews from many publications including Jezebel, Atlanta City Mag, the Album Network, Southeastern Performer, and the Performing Songwriter. Nettles was rewarded with gigs at such momentous occasions such as the 1999 Lilith Fair Tour, Big Day Out 2000, and Music Midtown 1999.
Though much of her crafty songwriting and poetic expression merited a listen on their own, Nettles joined the royal company of a gifted and charismatic backing band. Drummer Brad Sikes put forth the group's ever-changing and diverse rhythms. Scott Nicholson bought to life the magic of the piano's keys with stirring ebony-and-ivory passages. Wesley Lupold lays down the framework of the songs chord structures with bass. And Mike Cebulski presented an eclectic array of sounds and rhythms with his gift of percussion. Nettles received airplay in major cities such as New York, Cleveland, Memphis, Atlanta, and throughout the Carolinas. Because of her songwriting magic and growing fan base, and those behind the scenes who devote their time toward helping market her music, Jennifer Nettles received the distinguished honor of being presented the Independent Musician of the Year award for 2001.
Nettles was influenced and inspired by a splendid mix of rock, blues, folk, and soul, and those influences reflected clearly in her work. She began her singing career in 1996 while performing with Soul Miner's Daughter in the Atlanta and Decatur music scene. A singer since the age of seven, Nettles certainly was not shy of showing her witty charm, and was not afraid of challenging herself to continually write and sing powerful, honest, soul-charging songs with engaging lyrical content. At times her tunes were filled with amazing richness and personality, while others left the listener dazed and haunted.
Jennifer Nettles Band made routine trips to such notable venues as the Variety Playhouse (Atlanta), the 40 Watt (Athens), and the Mercury Lounge (New York City). Her songs are full of poetic meaning, and the band plays with a sense of attitude, winning over her audiences each and every time, and making a crop of fresh new listeners happy as well. Her release Gravity: Drag Me Down appeared in February 2002.
Good For You
Jennifer Nettles Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now I'm good for nothing, and no one
Don't know where's my know-how
About this strange love thing I do
I sit here in silence as I watch your thoughts dirge across your face
You say you feel sick, well I'm feeling sick now as I say
I'm not your messiah, still I'm too much of a saint to tell you
I'm tired of tip-toeing around, all around myself
See I've misplaced my God
And replaced it with something else
I don't want to say it.
Cause you know if you don't say it, it's not real
But I can't go in silence, cause I think and I breathe and I feel
I wish you'd realize that I'm never gonna be your beck and call girl
I know that I used to be good for you
But now I'm good for nothing and no one
Don't know where's my know-how
About this strange love thing you do.
In Jennifer Nettles Band's song Good For You, the singer expresses her frustration with her current relationship. She starts by admitting that she used to be good for her partner, but now she feels useless and irrelevant. She is bewildered and unsure of how to navigate the complexities of love. She watches as her partner struggles with their own thoughts and feelings, which only adds to her sense of unease. The singer is conflicted, torn between her desire to be honest and her fear of causing more pain. She reveals that she has lost her faith in God, and in its place, she has found something else that she cannot describe. She is tired of walking on eggshells around her partner and wishes that they would see her as more than just a convenient backup plan.
The song highlights the struggle and turmoil that can come with a failing relationship. It shows how one person can feel lost and unsure of themselves when things start to fall apart. The singer's honesty and vulnerability make the song relatable and empathetic.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to be good for you
I was once a valuable person, exclusively for you
But now I'm good for nothing, and no one
But now I have no worth, not for you, not for anyone else
Don't know where's my know-how
I'm clueless about how to handle this love situation
About this strange love thing I do
This love I have is inexplicable and perplexing to me
I sit here in silence as I watch your thoughts dirge across your face
I observe your emotions painfully, in silence
You say you feel sick, well I'm feeling sick now as I say
Your expression of discomfort makes me uncomfortable too
I'm not your messiah, still I'm too much of a saint to tell you
I'm not your savior, but I'm too kind to be straightforward with you
I'm tired of tip-toeing around, all around myself
I'm fatigued of walking delicately, concerning myself more
See I've misplaced my God
I've lost my faith and spiritual guidance
And replaced it with something else
And found something different to follow instead
I don't want to say it.
I'm hesitant to express it outright
Cause you know if you don't say it, it's not real
But the idea is, if you don't speak it, it didn't happen
But I can't go in silence, cause I think and I breathe and I feel
But I can't keep quiet, because I'm a sentient human with thoughts and feelings
I wish you'd realize that I'm never gonna be your beck and call girl
I hope you understand that I won't always be available right away
I know that I used to be good for you
I'm aware that I was once valuable to you
But now I'm good for nothing and no one
But that time is gone, and I don't have any value now
Don't know where's my know-how
And frankly, I don't understand how to fix it
About this strange love thing you do.
This bizarre brand of affection you offer.
Contributed by William S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gibsonstactical
Remember watching her at 40 Watt Club and Eddie's Attic 20+ years ago. Her voice still makes me smile no matter how many times I have heard the song
@toddrichards3751
Happy Birthday Jennifer my love ❤️
@davidhampton5494
An angel from heaven, what a voice !
@margaretboswell1723
Your the best love Your music 🎶
@jimcraig5208
One of the Country Singers that I know. Love Miss Jennifers. Voice and videos their like she's singing to me directly.
@jhoff1234
The BEST song Jennifer ever did outside of Sugarland, bar none.
@tombirney7276
The best song written is the one you will write next...Haydn, Vivaldi, etc. became self referential in later works. Did means sing or write or I am just really pleased she DID her dream and created a few in me!
@toddrichards3751
❤️❤️❤️
@camaroconv
that song ..iove ,,,but that face i wont forget hummmm