In 2009, Morgan was adopted by the thriving music scene in Bergen, Norway, where Morgan recorded her first full-length album and embarked on a three week tour with her Co-producer: HP Gundersen playing Pedal Steel.
With the support of Norfolk County Council, Morgan put together a three week tour America's North Shore covering 11 venues, in 7 states in 22 days: including gigs in The Space, Conneticut and Greenwich Village's The Bitter End.
She released her second album Aye Me in 2012.
The Bournemouth EP (2015) was conceived as a limited-run release.
Morgan is also a featured vocalist and co-writer of a number of dance music and trance songs featuring on albums from Armin Van Buuren, Beat Service and records which have featured in Beatport top 10 and the UK albums chart.
Reviews:
"I think ‘All Swell’ is a terrific first album. Full of interesting songs with great fresh sounding vocals from Jess. An artist to look out for – I’m a fan"
Nicky Chinn
"The best acoustic album I've heard this year, by a country mile."
Trevor Heaton, EDP Music
"This is a great first album from a great new talent and it deserves to do well"
Bright Young Folk
"She is a great talent and one I hope we will see a lot more of on the live folk circuit in 2012".
Folk Radio UK
Onyx
Jess Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One on either side
Saying they brought him all kinds of powers
Like in mythical times
Onyx dressed in Sicilian leather
I liked him for his style
And he'd step out in the wind and the rain
To meet me with a smile
A friend of mine, she did warn me about him
Said he had her up against a wall
But I didn't listen, I already knew
He had a terrible side and a terrible mind
People, they told me the things that he'd done
And I would never believe
'cause he was never like that with me
Fathers, be warned, lock up your daughters
We get drunk to the cruelest kind
Rider of the storm, unlock your door
And keep me warm with your gentlest side
See, Onyx and I was as black as each other
And needed no other, it began to smother him
And it began to smother me
Are you still thinking of me?
Yes, I'm still thinking about your love
It wasn't so easy to lie to Onyx
But it was whole-heartedly done
Said, Fathers, be warned, lock up your daughters
We get drunk to the cruelest kind
Rider of the storm, unlock your door
And keep me warm with your gentlest side
He said, drag your bones, go down to the river,
We get washed and wash the tears away
He said, drag your bones, go down to the river,
We get washed and wash the tears away
He said, drag your bones, go down to the river,
We get washed and wash the tears away
For a long time, I heard nothing from him
For almost a week and a half
He didn't have friends of the closest kind
To inquire for his whereabouts
Fathers, be warned, lock up your daughters
We get drunk to the cruelest kind
Rider of the storm, unlock your door
And keep me warm with your gentlest side
When the river calmed, they saw a body, his brown boots, in the thick black dirt.
Jess Morgan's song "Onyx" tells a story of the singer's relationship with a man named Onyx, who is described as wearing a ring on two fingers that granted him mythical powers. The singer is drawn to Onyx for his style and charisma, but others warn her of his violent tendencies. Despite this warning, the singer remains enamored with him and describes their relationship as suffocating to both of them. The song ends with a bleak discovery of Onyx's body by a river.
The ring worn by Onyx symbolizes the mythological power it gives him. Rings have always had symbolic meanings such as loyalty, commitment, and power across cultures. The song suggests that the power of the ring becomes too much to handle and ultimately leads to Onyx's demise.
The line "Rider of the storm, unlock your door" appears to be a reference to Jim Morrison's lyrics in "Riders on the Storm" and suggests that Onyx is a free spirit who cannot be tamed. This line also builds a sense of foreboding, as if Onyx is doomed to meet a tragic end.
The singer's relationship with Onyx is intense and emotional, but not without its dark side. The line "We get drunk to the cruelest kind" suggests they use alcohol to cope with the toxicity of their love. The song's final lines about the discovery of Onyx's body imply that their story ended in tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
Onyx wore a ring on two fingers
Onyx had a ring on both his fingers
One on either side
A ring was worn on each finger on either side of his hand
Saying they brought him all kinds of powers
Onyx believed that the rings had special powers
Like in mythical times
He believed that they had mythical powers
Onyx dressed in Sicilian leather
Onyx would wear Sicilian leather
I liked him for his style
The singer was attracted to Onyx's fashion sense
And he'd step out in the wind and the rain
Onyx would go out in harsh weather
To meet me with a smile
Despite the weather, Onyx would still meet the artist with a smile
Saying, "Hi" "Hello, Onyx"
He would greet the artist with a simple hello
A friend of mine, she did warn me about him
The artist was warned about Onyx by a friend
Said he had her up against a wall
The friend stated that Onyx was violent towards her
But I didn't listen, I already knew
The artist ignored the warning because she thought she knew better
He had a terrible side and a terrible mind
Onyx had a dark side and thoughts
People, they told me the things that he'd done
Others had stories of Onyx's bad behavior
And I would never believe
Despite what others had said, the singer didn't believe them
'cause he was never like that with me
Onyx had never acted poorly towards the artist
Fathers, be warned, lock up your daughters
Onyx was a womanizer and fathers should be cautious
We get drunk to the cruelest kind
Onyx would become cruel when drunk
Rider of the storm, unlock your door
The storm is a metaphor and implies Onyx should be more open and less guarded
And keep me warm with your gentlest side
The artist requests that Onyx be more gentle and caring
See, Onyx and I was as black as each other
The artist and Onyx had a similar darkness in their personality
And needed no other, it began to smother him
The relationship was intense and was suffocating Onyx
And it began to smother me
The relationship was also suffocating the singer
Are you still thinking of me?
The artist wonders if Onyx still thinks of her
Yes, I'm still thinking about your love
The singer still thinks about the love she shared with Onyx
It wasn't so easy to lie to Onyx
Onyx was perceptive and couldn't be easily deceived
But it was whole-heartedly done
The singer still lied to Onyx despite it being difficult
When the river calmed, they saw a body, his brown boots, in the thick black dirt.
Onyx has met his demise and his remains are discovered in the river
Contributed by Aubrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Laurita Snow
so beautiful!