Messersmith is not only a musician is half-truth, but also a storyteller. His first full-length release The Alcatraz Kid is a moving collection of acoustic-driven lullabies with titles like “Novocain” and “Beautiful Children” that innocently question the purpose of things to come. The integrity of these delicate songs immediately struck a chord with critics and fans alike, and captured the attention of Semisonic’s Dan Wilson, who offered to produce Messersmith’s follow-up album, The Silver City.
The Silver City was a natural progression in sound and reflection: the compositions grew fuller and more dynamic with a classic-pop feel inspired by the Beach Boys and Beatles: While the topics focused on midlife struggles with tracks like “Dead End Job” and “Miracles.” Local and national attention soon followed with NPR and college stations around the country, followed by U.S. tours and sold-out shows in New York, Chicago and Minneapolis.
The Reluctant Graveyard bookends this trilogy of lifelong (ahem, literary) observations with songs like “Lazy Bones” and “Organ Donor,” and sonically continues on the ’60s chamber pop path Messersmith set out with his sophomore release. He continues to share stages with notables such as Sondre Lechre and The Watson Twins, and has been featured on MTV and Ugly Betty.
Bridges
Jeremy Messersmith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lately we've been walking
Stomping on the bridges
Just outside of town
Suddenly you tell me
You never felt so wanted
And you wouldn't mind
But I'm gonna hurt you, make you cry
Only thing I need is time
I'm gonna hurt you, bleed you dry
Fog rolls on the river
Hands stuffed in our pockets
Barely making out
All the ships below
Even though I love you
I'll break you like a promise
Trust me when I say you're
Better off alone
I'm gonna hurt you, make you cry
Only thing I need is time
I'm gonna hurt you, bleed you dry
Your easy smile unfolded
When you took my hand
Somehow a perfect moment
Never felt so bad
I'm gonna hurt you, make you cry
Only thing I need is time
I'm gonna hurt you, bleed you dry
I'm gonna hurt you, make you cry
Only thing I need is time
I'm gonna hurt you, bleed you dry
I'm gonna hurt you, make you cry
Only thing I need is time
I'm gonna hurt you, bleed you dry
The lyrics in Jeremy Messersmith's song "Bridges" describe a bittersweet moment between two people who are walking on the bridges outside of town. The singer in the song tells the listener that they could take the Buick instead of walking and that they never felt so wanted. However, the singer confesses that they are going to hurt the listener, make them cry, and bleed them dry. The lyrics are atmospheric and match the setting of the song with fog rolling on the river and ships below.
The singer's conflicting emotions are apparent in the lyrics. They love the listener but know that they are going to hurt them. The lines "Even though I love you, I'll break you like a promise, trust me when I say you're better off alone" encapsulate this sentiment. It's a painful but realistic acknowledgment that sometimes love can cause heartache, and letting go is the best thing to do.
These lyrics are open to interpretation, but overall, the song seems to be about the complexities of love and relationships. The setting of the bridges on a foggy day only adds to the song's ambiance, emphasizing the unclear and sometimes confusing nature of love.
Line by Line Meaning
We could take the Buick
We have the option to take the car
Lately we've been walking
Recently, we've been choosing to walk instead of drive
Stomping on the bridges, just outside of town
We've been walking and crossing the bridges outside town with force
Suddenly you tell me, you never felt so wanted
You express feeling more desired than ever before
And you wouldn't mind, if I stuck around
You would like me to continue to be present
But I'm gonna hurt you, make you cry
I will cause you emotional pain
Only thing I need is time
I require time to hurt you
I'm gonna hurt you, bleed you dry
I will cause you so much harm that you will be depleted
Fog rolls on the river
There is fog covering the river
Hands stuffed in our pockets
Our hands are bunched up inside our pockets
Barely making out all the ships below
We can hardly discern the ships below due to the fog
Even though I love you
Despite my love for you
I'll break you like a promise
I will shatter you like a promise that's not kept
Trust me when I say you're better off alone
You will be better off without me, believe me
Your easy smile unfolded when you took my hand
Your smile became wider when you held my hand
Somehow a perfect moment, never felt so bad
Though it was a wonderful moment, it also felt terrible
I'm gonna hurt you, make you cry
I will cause you emotional pain
Only thing I need is time
I require time to hurt you
I'm gonna hurt you, bleed you dry
I will cause you so much harm that you will be depleted
I'm gonna hurt you, make you cry
I will cause you emotional pain
Only thing I need is time
I require time to hurt you
I'm gonna hurt you, bleed you dry
I will cause you so much harm that you will be depleted
I'm gonna hurt you, make you cry
I will cause you emotional pain
Only thing I need is time
I require time to hurt you
I'm gonna hurt you, bleed you dry
I will cause you so much harm that you will be depleted
Contributed by Dominic I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.