After exploring the flute (elementary school) and the tuba (junior high), Jenny finally stepped up to the guitar at the age of fourteen.
She graduated from State University of New York at Purchase with a degree in studio composition.
Her album Batten the Hatches was self-released in 2005. In 2006, a song from that album, Fuck Was I, appeared in the second season premiere of Showtime's Weeds, resulting in Batten the Hatches being re-released on April 10, 2007 with new artwork and an extra track, Drinking Song on the Canadian indie label Nettwerk. "Fuck Was I" was also released on the soundtrack album Weeds: Music from the Original Series, Vol. 2.
In addition to her solo career, she is in the band The Robot Explosion, a side project with fellow musicians and friends Bess Rogers, Andrew Futral, and Saul Simon-MacWilliams. She also takes part in an online podcast through MySpace with Bess Rogers and Andrew Futral, titled 'Once More With Feeling' (named after the musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer).
Youngs released her second album, Transmitter Failure, on May 26, 2009. Youngs' third album An Unwavering Band of Light, was released on February 7, 2012.
She recently toured with Regina Spektor (whose phone message also appears on Voice on Tape) and has opened a few shows for Amanda Palmer.
Youngs covered Have You Forgotten by Mark Kozelek for American Laundromat Records' upcoming charity CD Sing Me To Sleep - Indie Lullabies due out in Spring 2010. Tanya Donelly, Dean & Britta, Say Hi, Julie Peel, Stars, The Real Tuesday Weld, and others are contributing to the project which helps children with cancer and rare blood disorders.
Start + Stop
Jenny Owen Youngs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can give you what you want, oh yeah
I know you're looking for a start and stop and
I could give you what you want, oh yeah
Bring yourself to stay, a little closer baby
You know what I like, give me something that will roll me over baby
I don't want to feel like me tonight
I know you couldn't lay a finger on
But still you're sure that something's wrong, oh yeah
I know you couldn't lay a finger on
But still you're sure that something's wrong, oh yeah
Bring yourself just a little closer baby
You know what I like give me something that will make me crazy baby
I don't want to feel like me tonight
Make it real and make it right
Give me the smallest part of you
I need to know right now
If you're going, if you're going, if you're going
Well I wanna go there too, oh
I wanna leave with you
I wanna go there too
I wanna leave with you
I wanna go there too, oh
I wanna leave with you
I wanna go there too
I just wanna be with you
The song "Start + Stop" by Jenny Owen Youngs is a powerful, seductive track about the desire for intimacy and the struggle of navigating a relationship that seems to be stuck in limbo. The first two lines of the chorus, "I know you're looking for a start and stop and I can give you what you want," sets the tone for the lyrics to come. There is a sense of confidence in the singer's voice, as if they know exactly what their partner needs and are willing to provide it. The repetition of "oh yeah" emphasizes this confidence and adds a playful tone to the song.
The verses paint a picture of desire and longing. The line "bring yourself to stay, a little closer baby" hints at a physical connection, while the line "make it real and make it right" suggests a deeper emotional connection. The singer is asking for something that will "roll me over" and "make me crazy," indicating a desire for passion and intensity.
However, there is also a sense of frustration and confusion in the lyrics. The lines "I know you couldn't lay a finger on, but still you're sure that something's wrong" suggest that the singer's partner is holding back or keeping their distance, even though they can't pinpoint what's causing the distance. The repetition of "I wanna go there too, I wanna leave with you" at the end of the song emphasizes the desire for a deeper connection and a willingness to take a risk, even if it means leaving behind the safety of the status quo.
Overall, "Start + Stop" is a powerful exploration of desire, intimacy, and the struggle of finding a connection that feels meaningful and true.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you're looking for a start and stop and
I understand that you want a relationship that's not too serious and can be ended easily
I can give you what you want, oh yeah
I can provide you with the type of relationship that you're looking for
Bring yourself to stay, a little closer baby
Come closer to me and stay for a while
You know what I like, give me something that will roll me over baby
You know my preferences, so please satisfy me with something that will excite me
I don't want to feel like me tonight
Make it real and make it right
I want to escape from myself and feel something genuine and meaningful
I know you couldn't lay a finger on
But still you're sure that something's wrong, oh yeah
Although you haven't done anything to me, you have a feeling that there's something off or missing
Give me the smallest part of you
I need to know right now
If you're going, if you're going, if you're going
I want to know if you're ready to commit, even if it's just a small step toward something more serious
Well I wanna go there too, oh
I wanna leave with you
I wanna go there too
I wanna leave with you
I want to be with you and share the same experience and emotions that you have
I just wanna be with you
All I want is to be in a relationship with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JENNIFER OWEN YOUNGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind