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.
Knots
Jeremy Messersmith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She weaves a beat through the Kinks and Deep Purple covers
Can't shake her off
She keeps me tied in knots
I'm tangled from the inside out
Strung out and tired, a funeral-crier; I'm heartsick
Can't shake her off
She keeps me tied in knots
I'm tangled from the inside out
All those uptown boys making noise; she just yawns
With a wicked back beat, she flips them off and then she's gone
Can't shake her off
She keeps me tied in knots
I'm tangled from the inside out
"Knots" is a song by Jeremy Messersmith that talks about being entangled and tied up inside out by the thoughts of someone you can't let go of. The lyrics speak of the singer's inability to shake off the drummer, who is depicted as being able to keep him tied in knots with her drumming skills. The sweatband and sticks blur in her hands, and her wicked backbeat make her stand out from the crowd.
The song's tone is melancholic, with Messersmith singing about his heartache and feelings of being strung out and tired. He twists and turns until the ropes start to burn, depicting his struggle to let go of the person who has caused him so much pain. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is struggling to cope with the emotional turmoil of being in love with someone they can't have.
The singer laments the fact that he can't get the drummer out of his head and that she keeps him tied in knots. All the while, he recognizes that he is tangled from the inside out and that he needs to let go but can't. The song is a powerful representation of the emotional struggles people face when they are heartbroken and can't let go of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Black sweatband, sticks blur in her hands; she's the drummer
A woman is playing the drums with such rapid and skillful movements that her sweatband becomes a blur.
She weaves a beat through the Kinks and Deep Purple covers
The woman creates an intricate rhythm while playing songs by Kinks and Deep Purple.
Can't shake her off
The singer is unable to get the woman out of his mind.
She keeps me tied in knots
The artist is emotionally tangled up due to his feelings for the woman.
I'm tangled from the inside out
The artist is emotionally confused and overwhelmed.
Strung out and tired, a funeral-crier; I'm heartsick
The singer is exhausted from his emotions and feels like he's grieving at a funeral.
So I twist and turn till the ropes start to burn and I'm frantic
The singer is figuratively tied up and struggles until he feels pain and panic.
All those uptown boys making noise; she just yawns
The woman is unimpressed by the loud and flashy behavior of other men.
With a wicked back beat, she flips them off and then she's gone
The woman plays a powerful and unique rhythm, then confidently leaves the scene.
Contributed by Caleb K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.