Not that such anxiety is evident on the highly accomplished disc, the follow-up to Ruben’s self-released 2008 debut, Aiming for Honesty. Adding full-band accompaniment to his lush, soulful pop-rock, Ruben also stretches impressively as a writer on The Ones That Matter, achieving a near-novelistic sense of character and setting on finely hewn tracks like “A Lack of Armor,” “Bleeker and Sixth,” and “Unbreakable.” His relentless attention to detail pays off handsomely.
He makes no apology for meticulously fine-tuning all aspects of his work and presentation. “Every time you create something you have an opportunity to say something new – or at least something honest,” he says. “I take that opportunity seriously.”
Ruben’s expansive and deeply compassionate point of view has resonated strongly with an ever-growing audience, whom the performer has cultivated with virtually nonstop touring and persistent online networking; as a result, he’s sold some 5,000 copies of Honesty on his own.
He often receives emotional messages from fans declaring that his songs have crystallized their feelings, commemorated milestones in their lives and even helped repair broken bonds. “One woman wrote to me and said she and her daughter didn’t get along, but when she drives the girl to school every day they listen to my music – and it’s the only time they don’t fight,” he marvels. “The songs I wrote in my basement helped her relationship with her daughter. How could I ask for more than that?” Indeed, his compositions have connected so powerfully with listeners that several cover versions have been posted on YouTube.
Such moments of connection helped inspire the title of The Ones That Matter. Ruben had compiled a list of some 80 candidates, but it was in the aftermath of the recording process that he realized what the disc should be called.
“I was on an epic road trip,” he remembers of this epiphany. “I realized that as much as this album is about music, it’s ultimately a representation of who I am – and all that amounts to is all the incredible people I’ve surrounded myself with, and the places I’ve spent time, and the stories and jokes that came out of those experiences with those people. That’s when I understood that the only logical name for the album was The Ones That Matter.”
Recorded during a record-breaking snowstorm in Charlottesville, Virginia – where producer Chris Keup (Jason Mraz, OAR, Parachute) and partner Stewart Myers (Mraz, Lifehouse, Rachel Yamagata, Mandy Moore) have their studio – the disc afforded Ruben a chance to fully appreciate the devotion of his pals. “I had some of my best friends in the world come down to help me finish the record,” he relates. Other players on the disc include drummer Brian Jones (Mraz, Yamagata, Moore); and keyboardist Daniel Clark (Ryan Adams, kd lang, Moore). Meyers handled bass on several tracks.
The profound gratitude Ruben felt upon finishing the album snowballed in the coming days. “I wanted the title of this record to express my thanks to everyone who mattered – not just my friends who worked on the record, but their friends. The people who gave me a couch to crash on, made me dinner, drove me to the train station. Everyone who came to my shows, and walked up to tell me what the songs meant to them. I’m thanking them all with this record.”
Safe
Jesse Ruben Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But these are my eyes and you are standing there
And here is a wish that I forgot to make
And here is a kiss to take the pain away
She said keep your arms around me
Just keep your arms around me
Cause I know it's late
This is where I'm safe
Here is a heart that beats a little fast
This is the part where we start making moments last
And here is the hope I know we'll never break
And here is a kiss to take the pain away
She said keep arms around me and it'll be okay
It'll be okay
Cause I'm coming to California, I'm going to L.A.
Don't say I didn't warn ya, cause I'm going there to stay
And feeling lost in Boston
And Philly needs a rest
It's never simple in New York City
So I'm better off out west
So I'm coming to California
Yes, I'm coming to California
And here is a plan that I will follow through
I don't understand what has been keeping me from you
And here is the love that I forgot to take
And here is a kiss to take the pain away
She said keep your arms around me
Just keep your arms around me
Cause I know it's late
This is where I'm safe
This is where I'm safe
This is where I'm safe
This is where I'm safe
Jesse Ruben's song "Safe" is a heartfelt ode to finding a place of contentment and safety in the world. The song starts abruptly with the singer expressing his surprise at seeing someone he cares for standing in front of him, and goes on to describe how this person helps him feel at ease. The lyrics also touch on the insecurities that often plague us in life, such as the fear of being lost or feeling like we don't belong. However, the singer finds comfort in the arms of his loved one, which helps dissolve his fears and worries.
The chorus of the song talks about how being with this person is where the singer feels safe. This emotion of safety is further emphasized in the repetition of the line "keep your arms around me," which suggests a need for physical comfort and support. Together, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of the kind of relationship that provides the kind of comfort and security that we all long for in life.
Overall, "Safe" is a beautiful song that speaks to the universal need for love, acceptance, and belonging. It's an emotional tribute to the people we turn to when we need a safe space in a world that can often be harsh and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a surprise and I was not prepared
I didn't expect you to appear unexpectedly before me.
But these are my eyes and you are standing there
I can't believe it's really you I'm seeing with my own eyes.
And here is a wish that I forgot to make
I realize now that what I've always wanted was you, even though I never dreamed it.
And here is a kiss to take the pain away
Let me give you a kiss to make you feel better.
She said keep your arms around me
She wants me to hold her tightly and keep her safe.
Just keep your arms around me
She wants me to hold her all night long.
Cause I know it's late
She's tired and wants to sleep, but feels better when I'm holding her.
This is where I'm safe
She feels protected and secure in my arms.
Here is a heart that beats a little fast
My heart is racing because I'm excited to be with her.
This is the part where we start making moments last
Now is the time to create memories that will last a lifetime.
And here is the hope I know we'll never break
My hope is that we'll always be together and nothing will ever come between us.
It'll be okay
She reassured me that everything will be fine.
Cause I'm coming to California, I'm going to L.A.
I'm moving to California and I'm going to make a new life for myself in Los Angeles.
Don't say I didn't warn ya, cause I'm going there to stay
I'm not leaving anytime soon, so don't act surprised when you don't see me around anymore.
And feeling lost in Boston
I feel like I don't belong in Boston anymore.
And Philly needs a rest
I need a break from Philadelphia and want to explore other parts of the country.
It's never simple in New York City
Life in New York City is always complicated and unpredictable.
So I'm better off out west
I think I'll be happier living in the western United States.
And here is a plan that I will follow through
I have a solid plan to move to California and start a new life.
I don't understand what has been keeping me from you
I don't know why it took me so long to realize that you're the one I want to be with.
This is where I'm safe
Being with you is where I feel protected and secure.
This is where I'm safe
I feel safe when I'm with you.
This is where I'm safe
This is the place where I finally feel at home.
Writer(s): Jesse Ruben Copyright: Washtae Music
Contributed by Colin N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.