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.
Tourniquet
Jeremy Messersmith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If your tears run out
I will lasso you a thundercloud
When you're tired of trying
I won't stay away
I don't care what other people say
When there's nothing left to do
No, I won't let you slip
I'll be your tourniquet
No, I won't ever quit
I'll be your tourniquet
When you've been forgotten
Labeled left for lost
Given up, knocked down, and written off
When you feel like dying
Think you won't be missed
I will be there in an ambulance
When there's nothing left to do
I will pull you close, wrap my arms around you
No, I won't let you slip
I'll be your tourniquet
No, I won't ever quit
I'll be your tourniquet
No, I won't let you slip
I'll be your tourniquet
No, I won't ever quit
I'll be your tourniquet
No, I won't let you slip
I'll be your tourniquet
No, I won't ever quit
I'll be your tourniquet
The song Tourniquet by Jeremy Messersmith is a powerful declaration of loyalty and support to a loved one going through difficult times. The lyrics are brimming with imagery and metaphors conveying the singer's unwavering devotion to the person he addresses throughout the song. He promises to be their shelter during the storms of life, to provide strength and comfort when they need it. The opening lines set the tone with a vivid picture of the person crying, and the singer's immediate response of creating a thundercloud to lasso them, implying that he would do anything to alleviate their pain.
Throughout the song, the singer continues to reinforce his commitment to the person in distress, promising to be there regardless of what others may say or think. He even goes as far as to use the metaphor of a tourniquet, a medical bandage applied to stop bleeding, to emphasize his intention to prevent the person from slipping away and to be their source of healing. The repetitive chant of "No, I won't let you slip, I'll be your tourniquet, No, I won't ever quit, I'll be your tourniquet" is a powerful reminder of the singer's resolute support.
In summary, through the lyrics of Tourniquet, Jeremy Messersmith creates an emotional ode to love, loyalty and support, emphasizing the importance of being there for one another during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
When I see you crying
Whenever I notice you shedding tears
If your tears run out
In case you weep so much that you can no longer cry
I will lasso you a thundercloud
I'll do anything to uplift your mood
When you're tired of trying
When you get exhausted from making efforts
I won't stay away
I will stay by your side
I don't care what other people say
I am not bothered about what others talk about us
When there's nothing left to do
When all other options have been exhausted
I will pull you close, wrap my arms around you
I will give you a warm embrace, holding you tightly
No, I won't let you slip
I will not allow you to go back to a painful state
I'll be your tourniquet
I will act like a barrier to stop your suffering
When you've been forgotten
When people neglect you
Labeled left for lost
Categorized as someone beyond help or redemption
Given up, knocked down, and written off
Abandoned, defeated, and dismissed
When you feel like dying
When you become hopeless and depressed
Think you won't be missed
Believing that nobody cares about you
I will be there in an ambulance
I will be ready to come to your rescue
No, I won't let you slip
I will remain a constant support
I'll be your tourniquet
I will act as a lifeline to keep you from sinking deeper into despair
No, I won't ever quit
I will always be there to help, no matter what
I'll be your tourniquet
I will not cease to be your source of support
No, I won't let you slip
I will never let go of you
I'll be your tourniquet
I will continually provide aid and comfort
No, I won't ever quit
I will always stay committed to helping you
I'll be your tourniquet
I will be your safety net and support system
Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.