Hoop has lived all over the map, and her rich life experience is reflected in her distinctive voice and natural gift for inventive song craft. She learned to sing at an early age, harmonising with her musical Mormon family in northern California. She began writing highly idiosyncratic songs at the age of 14 to keep her company on her long walks to school. At 16, Hoop broke away from her strict upbringing and began what she calls her 'life as a racoon', off the grid & close to nature. Rambling through the high mountain deserts of the Southwest and along the coastlines of the Northwest, she worked as a wilderness survival guide and chalked up skills in farming, surveying, and carpentry. Her songwriting continued throughout, shared on porches, in deep river canyons and around campfires.
In 2004 the desire to share these songs on a broader scale set in. She settled in Los Angeles, where she honed her songwriting craft and developed a reputation as a unique and beguiling live performer of real substance. Though she now resides in Manchester, England, Hoop returned to Los Angeles to record her third album, The House That Jack Built.
Jesca has quite the collection of fans in high places: Tom Waits described her music as being "like a four sided coin. She is an old soul, like a black pearl, a good witch or red moon. Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night". Peter Gabriel took her to South America to sing with him, and in recent years she has been hand picked to play as support on tour for Eels, Andrew Bird, Punch Brothers, Shearwater and Elbow: Elbow's Guy Garvey has even had her do stints as guest presenter on his BBC radio show, to great reception.
The follow up to 2009's critically acclaimed Hunting My Dress, "The House That Jack Built" displays a striking duality: light and dark, head and heart, it juxtaposes the macabre and visceral with a disarmingly candid intimacy. The resulting combination is powerfully evocative, with overarching themes of biology, nature and humanity - Hoop's stone-turning observations are mired in the equal beauty and violence of a nature that, for her, is clearly red in tooth and claw.
Born To
Jesca Hoop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pair of dice and domino
Seven fingers and thirteen toes
Wind her up and watch her go
Spin her out of dust into rock and fire
Oh Holy water
Throw her to the earth
Through the burning air
Chorus- and now you gotta get it with what you’ve got
With what you’ve been given or not
And now you gotts get it with what you’ve got
With what you’ve been given or not
I was born to...
Held all within these flesh walls
Envelopes and time capsules
Mark her fingers and mark her throat
Spin her round and let her go
Send her like a cup to her mothers table
Swallow
Drink the water
Watch her play her part in a long fixed fable
Oh as her father’s daughter
The lyrics of Jesca Hoop's song "Born To" can be interpreted in different ways. The first stanza suggests that our physical bodies are like fragile containers that hold our consciousness, our identity, and our destiny. The reference to a pair of dice and domino may imply that we have a certain amount of randomness and unpredictability in our lives, but we still have some control over our choices and actions. The unusual count of seven fingers and thirteen toes may suggest that we are unique individuals who are not bound by convention or norms, but who can adapt and thrive in different environments. The image of wind her up and watch her go may suggest that we have a certain momentum or energy that propels us forward, and that we can choose to direct or harness that energy in different ways.
The second stanza introduces new metaphors that suggest that we are part of a larger cycle or story. The idea of envelopes and time capsules may suggest that we hold memories and experiences that shape our identity and values, but that we also have the power to create new stories and meanings. The image of spin her round and let her go may suggest that we have a certain freedom and autonomy in our lives, but that we also have certain obligations and relationships that ground and connect us. The reference to a long fixed fable may suggest that we are part of a larger narrative that transcends our individual lives, but that we can still find meaning and purpose within that narrative.
The chorus, with its repeated phrase "and now you gotta get it with what you’ve got," reinforces the idea that we have to make the most of what we have, whether we perceive it as a gift or a burden. The phrase "with what you’ve been given or not" suggests that we may have certain advantages or disadvantages in life, but that we can still find ways to overcome or transform them. The repetition of the phrase "I was born to..." may suggest that we have a certain destiny or purpose in life, but that we also have to choose how to fulfill that destiny or purpose.
Overall, the lyrics of "Born To" suggest that we are complex and dynamic beings who are both shaped by our past and empowered by our present. We have certain limitations and uncertainties in our lives, but we also have certain strengths and opportunities. We are part of a larger narrative that connects us to other beings and to the universe itself, but we also have the power to create our own story and legacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Held all within these flesh walls
The entirety of the person is contained within their physical body
Pair of dice and domino
Chance and luck are inherent in the nature of the individual
Seven fingers and thirteen toes
The person is unique, possessing physical attributes that set them apart
Wind her up and watch her go
Once set in motion, the person will continue on their path regardless of outside influences
Spin her out of dust into rock and fire
The individual undergoes transformation and evolution over time, from simple beginnings to complex outcomes
Oh Holy water
The cleansing and restorative power of spirituality and faith
Throw her to the earth
Placing the person in the world, with all its joys and struggles
Through the burning air
Navigating the challenges and obstacles in life
Big bang survivor
The person is a product of the universe's creation and evolution, having survived and endured through multiple eras and cycles
Chorus- and now you gotta get it with what you’ve got
The person must make the most of what they have at their disposal
With what you’ve been given or not
Whether they have been given many or few resources, the person must work with what they have
I was born to...
The individual knows that their life has a purpose and a meaning
Envelopes and time capsules
Physical objects that contain memories and experiences, which become part of a person's identity
Mark her fingers and mark her throat
Signs of wear and tear that indicate a person's experiences and the impact they have had on them
Spin her round and let her go
Like a top, the person is set into motion and will continue moving forward until they run out of energy
Send her like a cup to her mothers table
Returning to the place of one's origin, where they first began
Swallow
Taking in nourishment and sustenance from the world around them
Drink the water
Accepting the challenges and rewards of life as they come
Watch her play her part in a long fixed fable
Recognizing that life has a predetermined narrative, but still being able to make choices and decisions along the way
Oh as her father’s daughter
Acknowledging one's place in a generational lineage, with all the responsibilities and privileges that come with it
Contributed by Elizabeth J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@javelinpix
WONDERFUL
Held all within these flesh walls
Pair of dice and domino
Seven fingers and thirteen toes
Wind her up and watch her go
Spin her out of dust into rock and fire
Oh Holy water
Throw her to the earth
Through the burning air
Big bang survivor
Chorus- and now you gotta get it with what you’ve got
With what you’ve been given or not
And now you gotts get it with what you’ve got
With what you’ve been given or not
I was born to…
Held all within these flesh walls
Envelopes and time capsules
Mark her fingers and mark her throat
Spin her round and let her go
Send her like a cup to her mothers table
Swallow
Drink the water
Watch her play her part in a long fixed fable
Oh as her father’s daughter
@kescy123
She is very talented, her voice is powerful and sensitive at the same time.
@Chuthuluku
It always takes me about three listens to realize how fantastic each of her songs is xD
@livi2499jujubean
I saw her a few days ago opening for an Iron and Wine concert. Her voice is exceptional and pitch perfect, even live.
@javelinpix
WONDERFUL
Held all within these flesh walls
Pair of dice and domino
Seven fingers and thirteen toes
Wind her up and watch her go
Spin her out of dust into rock and fire
Oh Holy water
Throw her to the earth
Through the burning air
Big bang survivor
Chorus- and now you gotta get it with what you’ve got
With what you’ve been given or not
And now you gotts get it with what you’ve got
With what you’ve been given or not
I was born to…
Held all within these flesh walls
Envelopes and time capsules
Mark her fingers and mark her throat
Spin her round and let her go
Send her like a cup to her mothers table
Swallow
Drink the water
Watch her play her part in a long fixed fable
Oh as her father’s daughter
@eldariontelkontar
Rediscovered her for myself, 10 years or so passed since listening for the last time... angelic
@Lewsir51
I find her voice in this song amazing - it's the energy and breathlessness with which she delivers each line, she almost can't wait to get the next line out. Very cool.
@Benji4lyf
she's just amazing. so underrated
@SecksyMan
she's amazing. So original and talented. Guess that explains why she isn't popular
@kennydnolan
She's also near impossible to classify.
@MahasteeMehdizadeh
I love this song, Jessica has such a beautiful and powerful voice! Very cool. :)