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.
Dead End Job
Jeremy Messersmith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over time without a break.
I'll catch the night bus home
You won't have to sleep alone.
I wear this crisp white shirt for you.
I work this dead end job for you.
My guitar's out in the shed
Time will break these hands
Two kids, one minivan.
I bought that diamond ring for you.
I'd buy anything for you.
From the dark side of the street
I hung around to watch him leave.
I watched him kiss your neck
so soft and violent
but I won't say a word to you.
I would lose my pride for you.
I'd lose everything for you
The song "Dead End Job" by Jeremy Messersmith represents the feelings of sacrifice and devotion towards the person you love. Messersmith sets the scene of someone working tirelessly at a dead-end job, dreaming for the moment when the shift will end, and they can head back home to spend some time with their loved one. Even though the singer is exhausted, they are still willing to go the extra mile to please their partner, wearing a crisp white shirt, buying a diamond ring, and even sacrificing their pride for them. This emphasizes the lengths that someone will go to express their love, even if it means enduring unideal circumstances.
The second verse continues with the theme of the struggles presented by their current circumstances. The singer has a passion for music, represented by their guitar in the shed, but their responsibilities, including two kids and one minivan, take priority, and their dreams take a backseat. While the situation is not ideal, the singer is willing to do it all for their partner, willing to endure the stress, give up their passions, and risk their pride.
Line by Line Meaning
Trying hard to stay awake
I am struggling to keep my eyes open and stay alert
Over time without a break.
I have been working for extra hours without any rest
I'll catch the night bus home
I will take the bus late at night to go back home
You won't have to sleep alone.
I am doing this to be with you so that you don't have to sleep alone
I wear this crisp white shirt for you.
I am wearing this shirt to look good for you
I work this dead end job for you.
I am working at this unfulfilling job just to provide for you
My guitar's out in the shed
My guitar is kept outside in the shed
but I will stumble into bed.
I will blindly walk into the bed
Time will break these hands
As time passes, my hands will no longer be as skilled as they are now
Two kids, one minivan.
We have two children and a mini-van
I bought that diamond ring for you.
I purchased the diamond ring as a gift for you
I'd buy anything for you.
I will buy anything that you wish for
From the dark side of the street
I was standing at the opposite, shadowy side of the street
I hung around to watch him leave.
I stayed long enough just to see him go away
I watched him kiss your neck
I saw him kiss your neck
so soft and violent
The kiss was gentle yet intense at the same time
but I won't say a word to you.
I won't tell you or confront you about what I saw
I would lose my pride for you.
I am willing to abandon my self-respect for you
I'd lose everything for you
I would give up everything for you
Contributed by Sydney G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
yazfaz
"So soft and violent." One of the most beautiful, heart-breaking lines I've ever heard in a song.
Is a person Corinne
Lyrics:
(Da da das)
Trying hard to stay awake
Overtime without a break
I'll catch the night bus home
You won't have to sleep alone
I wear this crisp white shirt for you
I work this dead end job for you
My guitars out in the shed
But I will stumble into bed
Time will break these hands
Two kids one mini van
I bought that diamond ring for you
I'd buy anything for you
From the dark side of the street
I hung around to watch him leave
And I watched him kiss your neck
So soft and violent
But I won't say a word to you
I would lose my pride for you
I'd lose everything for you
This is one of my favorite songs of yours (: thank you
Marcus Tavares
this music is the thing that i needed
Scott Goulet
Great morning music. #IndieRaps
Kimberly Bytheway
This is the Jim Halpert song.
goldfishcrayon
(She's not worth it)
Heart Cartridge
Yo