Dee won the 2010 Boston Phoenix Music Poll Award for Best R&B Act, both for the strength of his live show and the aftershocks of his 2008 debut CD, Bittersweet Batch (7Not Records/Munich Records). With his new album, On My Mind / In My Heart, his first for Alligator Records, Dee is now poised to break into the minds and hearts of music lovers across the country and around the world. The album, eleven original songs produced by Dee and Jack Younger, is a sweet soul masterpiece full of good vibes and funky, joyful music. Like Sam Cooke, Dee writes about real life with true emotional poetry. His lyrics are set to toe-tapping melodies with horn charts channeling The Memphis Horns and 1970s-era Van Morrison.
Much like an artist painting on canvas (another of his talents), Dee crafts his songs in layers, oftentimes starting with a melody and lyrics, then carefully adding guitar riffs, horn blasts, vocal inflections, or any number of other colors from his musical palette. He fills his songs with a wide variety of textures, allowing listeners to visualize the images he paints with his words. “I’m a music fan first,” Dee says, “so it’s important to me to seek out and create with original ideas. That’s why songwriting is so important, and why I mean every word I write and sing.”
Born in 1980 in Boston, MA, Dee grew up in nearby Arlington. He got his first taste of soul music from local oldies radio station WODS when he was eight years old. As a child, he was drawn to the sounds of The Drifters, The Shirelles, Smokey Robinson, Sam Cooke and other doo wop, Motown and R&B greats. He always loved singing, and would often record made-up tunes into his tape recorder. He sang in school theatre productions and church choir, and was writing songs by his mid-teens. Dee began fronting a band soon after, but didn’t pick up his first guitar until he was 18. With help from his musically inclined father and The Bob Dylan Six-Chord Songbook, he taught himself the instrument well enough to start performing as a solo artist a year later. During this period, Jesse immersed himself in the music of Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, Solomon Burke, Etta James, James Brown and all the deep soul masters, listening, learning, writing and continuing to hone his craft by playing live every chance he could get.
Dee attended Massachusetts College Of Art And Design, studying illustration, performance, production, mixed-media and composition. He sang with the ten-piece soul ensemble Decifunk, and toured up and down the East Coast. In the early 2000’s he even lent his voice to rock ‘n’ roll band The Dirty Whites before starting his own group. He released his first album, Bittersweet Batch, in 2008, and heads immediately began turning. The New York Daily News awarded the CD a rare four-star review, saying, “I am blown away by what’s coming out of my speakers…remarkable…there isn’t a bad song to be found…upbeat and soulful.”
The success of the CD allowed Dee and his band to travel beyond Boston, making new converts in Washington, DC, New York, Philadelphia, Nashville, and Chicago. He first toured the Netherlands, the UK and Italy in 2009 before heading back again the following two years, this time adding Ireland, Belgium, Germany, France and Spain to his itinerary. Dee has opened for soul greats Al Green, Solomon Burke, Etta James, Bettye LaVette, and blues rockers Los Lobos and the J. Geils Band, and has shared stages many times with fellow soul singer James Hunter.
With his new relationship with Alligator Records, Dee is ready to set the world on fire. He will tour widely, bringing his modern, fun and timeless music to clubs, concert halls and festivals all over the world. Dee is proud of the songs on On My Mind / In My Heart, saying the music is a perfect representation of where he is as an artist. “Soul music is capable of touching the greatest and most diverse group of people,” Dee says. “All the best soul music is based on shared experience. Songs have the ability to affect people, shine a light, lift them up, and push them forward. There’s hope in these songs,” he continues, “and people need that now more than ever.”
www.jessedee.com
Slow Down
Jesse Dee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to go as far as we can as fast as we can
but we still don't understand
the reason why it just isn't working
one day, we wake up to find
we're stacked up on the starting line
racked up, all in a row
on your mark, get set, gun shot, go
At some point where we feel that we need
to increase our velocity
quickly, we build up the speed
and then never look back again
We get going so fast and it seems
lose sight of the important things
happiness, whatever that may mean
friends and family, hopes and dreams
Slow Down, there isn't any hurry now
Sit back, take a look around
Relax, ain't nothing to worry 'bout
Everything will even out
Once you go and slow it down
People try to stay with the pace
but the fact is that life is not a race
one day it's all gonna end
so smell those roses and pass by them
some folks well they tend to forget well
some guys just living it out yeah
what you give is what you will get
so people do the match now
Slow Down, there isn't any hurry now
Sit back, take a look around
Relax, ain't nothing to worry 'bout
Everything will even out
Once you go and slow it down
We get lost in a hussle and a bussle
and we make a big fuss over nothing at all
we get caught in a neverending struggle
never knowing where we're going
or why we're even going on
Where do we think we are?
Where do you think you are?
Somehow it got in our heads
to go as far as we can as fast as we can
but we still don't understand
the reasons why it just isn't working
time keeps ticking along
your heartbeat is beating strong
but one day it will be gone
so listen to the reef now
Slow Down, there isn't any hurry now
Sit back, take a look around
Relax, ain't nothing to worry 'bout
Everything will even out
As long as you go and slow it down.
The song "Slow Down" by Jesse Dee is a poignant reminder that life is not a race and that we should take the time to appreciate the important things. The song highlights the human tendency to rush through life, always seeking to go as far as possible as fast as possible, but often not taking the time to understand what truly makes us happy or fulfilled. The lyrics suggest that when we slow down and take a closer look at our lives, we are more likely to find happiness, meaning, and purpose.
The song is structured in a way that reflects the rush of life, with a fast-paced, energetic rhythm and a repeated refrain inviting listeners to "Slow Down." The lyrics suggest that we should not be in a hurry and should take the time to reflect on our lives, enjoy the little moments, and appreciate what we have. The song encourages listeners to look at their lives with a fresh perspective and to prioritize the important things, such as friends, family, and personal fulfillment.
Overall, "Slow Down" serves as a reminder that the race towards success is not everything, and that we should take the time to appreciate the journey towards our goals. It is an insightful and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to slow down, take a deep breath, and enjoy the beauty of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Somehow it got in our heads
At some point we all decided
to go as far as we can as fast as we can
that we should go as hard and as fast as possible
but we still don't understand
despite everything that has happened
the reason why it just isn't working
we still haven't figured out why this approach hasn't worked
one day, we wake up to find
suddenly we realize
we're stacked up on the starting line
we haven't progressed very far
racked up, all in a row
we are all in the same position
on your mark, get set, gun shot, go
ready to begin the race
Slow Down, there isn't any hurry now
relax and take your time
Sit back, take a look around
pause and observe your surroundings
Relax, ain't nothing to worry 'bout
don't stress over the small things
Everything will even out
everything will balance out over time
Once you go and slow it down
you'll realize the benefits of moving slower
People try to stay with the pace
we all try to keep up with the fast pace of life
but the fact is that life is not a race
life is not a competition
one day it's all gonna end
we will all eventually die
so smell those roses and pass by them
take the time to enjoy life's small pleasures
some folks well they tend to forget well
some people forget
some guys just living it out yeah
some people just live their lives without a plan
what you give is what you will get
you get out what you put in
so people do the match now
it's time to calculate what you have invested in your life
We get lost in a hussle and a bussle
we get caught up in the noise and confusion of life
and we make a big fuss over nothing at all
we get worked up over insignificant things
we get caught in a neverending struggle
we find ourselves in a never-ending battle
never knowing where we're going
we are unsure of our destination
or why we're even going on
we lose sight of our purpose in life
Where do we think we are?
where do we believe we are going in life?
Where do you think you are?
where do you believe you are going in life?
time keeps ticking along
time never stops
your heartbeat is beating strong
your heart is still pumping
but one day it will be gone
someday your heart will stop beating
so listen to the reef now
so take a moment to listen to the ocean
As long as you go and slow it down.
if you slow down, everything will be alright.
Contributed by Declan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.