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.
Day Job
Jeremy Messersmith Lyrics
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Seashells traced in snow
She wants more bugs on her windshield
She don't want to go alone
I'd love to go, but I left behind my raincoat
Will anybody miss me when I'm gone?
I'm wide awake, but I'm dreaming of the west coast
Cause I've still got my day job
She talks about her waterfall fountain
And her house out on the bay
She's in love with broken glass mountains
Fireplace cafes
The lyrics of Jeremy Messersmith's "Day Job" speak about yearning for adventure and new experiences while being tied down by the obligations of a stable job. The song tells the story of two individuals who desire to leave their mundane lives and explore the world outside. The first person is tired of living in a place that lacks excitement and wants to travel, but doesn't want to do it alone. The second person is willing to go but feels hesitant, as they don't want to leave the security of their day job.
The first verse mentions the first person's desire to leave their flat, uneventful hometown and venture out to experience new things. They want to see different landscapes, such as seashells in the snow and more bugs on their windshield. The second person wants to join them, but feels apprehensive about leaving behind their life and job. The chorus of the song is a reflection of their conflicting desires - the desire to leave and explore versus the desire to stay rooted in their day job.
In the second verse, Messersmith describes the first person's dream home, which is located by a waterfall fountain and a bay. They also speak of their love for "broken glass mountains," which refers to mountains made of glass bottles. The second person is also enamoured with this idea of a life that's full of adventure, but still stays back. The song ends with repeating the chorus, which showcases the internal conflict of wanting a life out in the adventure versus the safety of the day job.
Line by Line Meaning
She's tired of flat lands and cornfields
The monotony of living in a rural area is exhausting her.
Seashells traced in snow
She yearns for a change, even in places where it seems impossible to change.
She wants more bugs on her windshield
She wants to experience more of life, even the small or inconvenient parts.
She don't want to go alone
She doesn't want to take a big risk without anyone by her side.
I'd love to go, but I left behind my raincoat
The singer is hesitant to jump into adventure because he feels unprepared.
Will anybody miss me when I'm gone?
He's questioning his importance and worth to others.
I'm wide awake, but I'm dreaming of the west coast
Although he's physically present, he's not fully engaged in his current reality.
I could leave tomorrow but I won't
He has the power and means to make a change, but he's not ready yet.
Cause I've still got my day job
He's tied down to his current obligations and can't fully commit to his desires.
She talks about her waterfall fountain
She has a specific idea of what she wants out of life and it's not what she currently has.
And her house out on the bay
She desires a location and lifestyle that's more in touch with nature and the water.
She's in love with broken glass mountains
She's attracted to the beauty of the unknown and the risks it takes to get there.
Fireplace cafes
She wants to surround herself with warmth and comfort during her journey.
Contributed by Thomas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.