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.
Novocain
Jeremy Messersmith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now I'm oh so beaten down
My friends are nowhere to be found
I find myself alone
I could have been someone
But now my name is a just a ghost
My reputation is a joke
So could you pass me the needle?
I want a brand new scar
I need a shot of Novocain
To numb my heart
Could you pass me the bottle?
Make it something hard
Cause there ain't enough
Novocain to numb my broken heart
I tried to get ahead
But life has always been unjust
It's grinding dreams into the dust and
I've had my fill
Please could you spare a dime
I need to wet my aching throat
So I can say goodbye to hope
It's sure been swell
These lyrics speak to a sense of disillusionment and defeat that the singer feels after striving to become someone and failing. The repetition of the phrase "could you pass me" mirrors a sense of passivity and allowing others to take control, as if the singer has given up on making things happen for himself. The references to scars and needles suggest a desire to feel something, even if it's pain, as a way of proving that he's still alive.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to be so young
I was once youthful and full of potential
But now I'm oh so beaten down
But now life has taken a toll on me and I feel defeated
My friends are nowhere to be found
My companions have abandoned me in this situation
I find myself alone
I am left to face my struggles on my own
I could have been someone
I had the potential to make something of myself
But now my name is a just a ghost
But now I have been forgotten and my existence is like a mere apparition
My reputation is a joke
My image among people has become light-hearted and ridiculous
My eyes won't cry
I am impervious to showing any feelings of sadness
So could you pass me the needle?
Can you provide me with a means of self-harm?
I want a brand new scar
I desire a new physical wound as a way of coping
I need a shot of Novocain
I need to numb myself emotionally
To numb my heart
To ease the pain that I feel constantly
Could you pass me the bottle?
Could you provide me with alcohol?
Make it something hard
I want something strong to drink
Cause there ain't enough
Because even if I drink more, it will not be enough
Novocain to numb my broken heart
To ease the emotional distress that I am going through
I tried to get ahead
I attempted to make progress in my life
But life has always been unjust
But life has never been fair to me
It's grinding dreams into the dust and
My aspirations are being shattered into nonexistence
I've had my fill
I have had enough pain and suffering
Please could you spare a dime
Can you offer me some financial help?
I need to wet my aching throat
I am in need of alcoholic beverages to reduce my emotional pain
So I can say goodbye to hope
So I can abandon all forms of optimism I have left
It's sure been swell
Thank you for the good times, but now I must depart
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TwilightFan21297
i love Jeremy !! hes such a good singer/songwriter
@Neonleaf7
Reminds of the Beatles a little bit. Really lovely music. Thanks for uploading!
@JeremyJenner
Such a meaningful song- thanks so much for the upload, I've been looking for this everywhere on youtube :)
@3isallwesee
i do too.... first song im listening too this morning... woke up with it in my head... saw ur page i also am a musician looks like u got good taste in music ;)
@mokoitoma2524
Jeremy messersmith is awesome X3
@Larik150
It's funny you mention it cause it's immediately after a Comet Appears by the Shins in my playlist. Reminds me a lot of the band. Both of them are awesome.
@Souperandom843
cool song!
@marthawake781
This reminds me a lot of Adam Cullen's stuff Check him out on iTunes.
@TheDanielson123
Why did brainoil take me here...? I mean I like it, very talented singer/songwriter. But I was listening to sludgy metal and found this in related. Lolwat?
@Appleblade
Who mixed this .. the mix is garbage! Great song, great artist ... lousy sound board work. : /