Jesse Marchant (JBM) is a Swiss-Canadian multi-instrumentalist, singer-song… Read Full Bio ↴Jesse Marchant (JBM) is a Swiss-Canadian multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer based in New York. His melancholic folk songs have been featured on several Emmy-winning TV shows, including Grey's Anatomy, Parenthood and Shameless. He has toured with artists such as alt-J, Local Natives, A.A. Bondy and Damien Jurado.

All Your Promise
Jesse Marchant Lyrics

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You leaned too far back
Ended on your ass, alone
Counting days to the fair
You can go with
A friend that you lost
Then you'd feel the heat
Sitting near the fire
Now when you're flying over water

Tell me do you ever feel
That you were denied
Of your reason, all your promise

Hold me, for just once
Without any address
Of failed form
Life's thorn in my chest
Even if it's real
Even when I'm lost
I am on your side
I belong to you
You belong to your faults
To your reasons and to the times

Drowning in your ocean of love
Tied to you, a stake in your flood
Still all your brightness of form
Shone under light it gets pale

I would have stayed in your arms
If you could ever get there

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jesse Marchant's song "All Your Promise" convey a sense of loneliness, regret, and loss. The opening lines "You leaned too far back, Ended on your ass, alone" give a picture of a person who made mistakes and ended up suffering the consequences of their actions. The line "Counting days to the fair, You can go with a friend that you lost" suggests a longing for a time when the person had a friend close by and a companion to share moments of joy with.

The lines "Now when you're flying over water, Tell me do you ever feel, That you were denied, Of your reason, all your promise" create a feeling of longing for something that is unattainable. The phrase "all your promise" suggests that the person had great potential that was never realized or that they failed to live up to their own expectations.

The chorus, "Hold me, for just once, Without any address, Of failed form, Life's thorn in my chest" is a plea for comfort and support in a world full of disappointment and failure. The lines "I belong to you, You belong to your faults, To your reasons and to the times" suggest that despite the mistakes and regrets, there is still a connection between the two people, and they are bound together by their past, present, and future.

Overall, the song combines beautiful melodies with evocative lyrics to explore complex human emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

You leaned too far back
You took a risk that went wrong

Ended on your ass, alone
You failed and suffered the consequences by yourself

Counting days to the fair
You're eagerly anticipating an upcoming event

You can go with A friend that you lost
You have the option to attend the event with someone you were once close to

Then you'd feel the heat Sitting near the fire
You would feel comfort and warmth in the presence of others

Now when you're flying over water Tell me do you ever feel That you were denied Of your reason, all your promise
When you're alone, do you ever regret not fulfilling your potential?

Hold me, for just once Without any address Of failed form
Embrace me without judgment or criticism

Life's thorn in my chest
I'm dealing with pain and hardship

Even if it's real Even when I'm lost I am on your side
No matter what, I support you

I belong to you You belong to your faults To your reasons and to the times
I am devoted to you, flaws and all; we are shaped by our experiences and circumstances

Drowning in your ocean of love Tied to you, a stake in your flood
I am overwhelmed by your love and committed to you through thick and thin

Still all your brightness of form Shone under light it gets pale
Your beauty is dimmed by scrutiny or exposure

I would have stayed in your arms If you could ever get there
I would have remained close to you if it were possible

Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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