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.
Violet
Jeremy Messersmith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Streaks of earth matted in her hair
Beaten down, but she won't scare
Blinks her eyes, battered green and blue
Ignorance can leave an awful bruise
So get up!
Get up!
Come on and get up, Violet!
Sets her jaw, no she won't quit
She'll take the fight to streets and avenues
A little dirt can make a flower bloom
The song "Violet" by Jeremy Messersmith is a beautiful anthem about resilience and fighting back against adversity. The opening lines describe Violet, a character with a tough exterior, with streaks of earth matted in her hair. She has been beaten down, but she refuses to be intimidated. Messersmith beautifully juxtaposes Violet's physical injuries to her beautiful eyes that are battered, yet still shine in green and blue.
The song's chorus, "So get up! Get up! Come on and get up, Violet!" is an inspiration for all those who have faced struggles and fights alone. The song offers guidance and encouragement for people who have been knocked down by life, who have experienced ignorance, and who have been hurt.
The final lines describe Violet's tenacity and strength of character. She holds a blade of grass in her aching hand while setting her jaw firmly, refusing to quit. She chooses to take the fight to the streets and avenues because she knows that with a bit of dirt, she can make the flower bloom. In this lyric, Messersmith sends a powerful message that resilience and strength are not only inherent qualities, but can also be cultivated through difficulty and struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Violet
Introduction to the singer of the song
Streaks of earth matted in her hair
Her appearance is disheveled; she has dirt and dust in her hair
Beaten down, but she won't scare
Despite facing hardships, she won't be intimidated
Blinks her eyes, battered green and blue
Her eyes are bruised, but she's still determined
Ignorance can leave an awful bruise
Being unaware of the dangers of the world can hurt you badly
So get up!
An urging call to action or motivation
Get up!
Repeated call to action, emphasizing the urgency of the situation
Come on and get up, Violet!
Specifically urging Violet to take action
Blade of grass in her aching fist
She has something small and fragile in her hand, but still holds on despite the pain
Sets her jaw, no she won't quit
Her determination and resolve are seen in the way she clenches her jaw and refuses to give up
She'll take the fight to streets and avenues
She is ready to take on the challenges of the world outside her immediate surroundings
A little dirt can make a flower bloom
Adversity can bring out the best in someone, just as dirt can make a flower grow
Contributed by Harper H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.