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 ↴
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!
Blade of grass in her aching fist
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 speaks of resilience in times of adversity. The lyrics describe a woman who is battered and bruised but refuses to give up. Despite the streaks of earth matted in her hair and her battered green and blue eyes, the woman will not be intimidated. She is determined to rise above her circumstances and fight for a better life. Ignorance may have left a bruise, but she will not let it define her. The chorus urges the woman - and all of us - to get up and keep going.
The second verse brings in the image of a blade of grass in the woman's aching fist. This signifies the strength and tenacity of a plant that can grow even in the harshest conditions. The woman sets her jaw and refuses to quit. She takes the fight to the streets and avenues, refusing to be a victim any longer. The final line of the song - "A little dirt can make a flower bloom" - is a metaphor for the resilience demonstrated by the woman. She has not given up, but instead is using her struggles to grow and blossom.
Line by Line Meaning
Streaks of earth matted in her hair
Her hair is tangled with dirt and mud particles.
Beaten down, but she won't scare
She may have been damaged, but she is not afraid of it.
Blinks her eyes, battered green and blue
Her eyes are bruised and swollen and yet she doesn't give up.
Ignorance can leave an awful bruise
Not knowing things can be painful in its own way.
So get up!
Encouraging her to rise again after falling down.
Get up!
Continuing to motivate her to get back up.
Come on and get up, Violet!
Referring to Violet as a symbol of strength and resilience.
Blade of grass in her aching fist
She is holding onto a small piece of nature, despite her pain.
Sets her jaw, no she won't quit
She is determined and unwavering in her pursuits.
She'll take the fight to streets and avenues
She is ready to take action and fight for what she believes in on a larger scale.
A little dirt can make a flower bloom
Adversity is necessary to grow and thrive, and she knows that well.
Contributed by Anna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.