From deep in inland Alabama comes a talent so effortless and sincere that it is a wonder why the big wigs didn't jump on him sooner. John Paul White, who has recently signed with mega-label Capitol Records, relies mostly on his acoustic guitar to build his songs - but has no problems dressing them up with melodic electric guitar lines. I know I'm always pulling the dramatics out of my hat, but these songs really are achingly beautiful. I hope you'll hear more from JPW in the future as he records his new disc for Capitol. He was excited about me wanting to share two tracks from the demo I had him send, and I hope you'll be just as excited to hear them. - Lizzy Mineapolis
John Paul White also comprised one-half of The Civil Wars along with Joy Williams.
September
John Paul White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you skip you're stuff,
hung up on the past.
As if it ever happened,
as if it ever came close to happening,
wish it happened.
What make you think you're special (special)?
September's dead and gone.
Right here, right now.
This place you've found,
Jumbled, backward,
can't remember what you never heard.
Wake up, dig in.
Oh it makes no difference,
what might have been.
Oh, call it what you want to,
you spent your time,
you ain't foolin' anyone.
You made it all about you,
the you, you could never quite become.
()
What make you think you're special (special)?
September's dead and gone.
Right here, right now.
This place you've found,
Jumbled, backward,
can't remember what you never heard.
Wake up, dig in.
Oh it makes no difference,
what might have been.
(Bridge)
It's useless, hopeless, reckless.
September's dead and gone.
Right here, right now
This place you've found.
Jumbled, backward.
You can't remember what you've never heard.
Wake up, dig in.
Oh it makes no difference what might have been. x2
You're such a broken record.
The song "September" by John Paul White is about someone who is stuck in the past and unable to move on from certain events or experiences. The singer refers to this person as a "broken record," someone who keeps repeating the same things over and over again, unable to let go of what has already happened. The person is caught up in their own thoughts and memories, thinking about what could have been and what they wish had happened, instead of accepting what actually occurred.
The chorus of the song asks the question, "What makes you think you're special?" implying that the person is not unique in their struggles to move on and that everyone experiences loss and disappointment in life. The reference to September being "dead and gone" suggests that a certain time period or event has passed and it's time to let go of it and move forward. The singer encourages the person to wake up and dig in, to face the present and recognize that dwelling on the past is useless, hopeless, and reckless.
Overall, the song is a powerful message about the importance of letting go and living in the present. It serves as a reminder to the listener that while it's normal to have regrets or disappointments, it's essential to face reality and move on from them. The repeated line "wake up, dig in" serves as a motivational reminder to take action and actively engage with one's life in the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
You're such a broken record,
Your behavior is repetitive and monotonous, like a broken record player.
you skip you're stuff,
You skip over important details because you're stuck on the same old narrative.
hung up on the past.
You're fixated on the past and unable to move forward.
As if it ever happened,
You're dwelling on something that never even materialized, as if it actually took place.
as if it ever came close to happening,
It's as if you're recalling something that was never even within reach, as if it almost happened.
wish it happened.
You regret that it didn't happen and you wish it had.
What make you think you're special (special)?
Why do you believe you're unique, different, or deserving of special treatment?
September's dead and gone.
The past is over and done with. There's nothing you can do to change it.
Right here, right now.
You need to focus on the present moment and not worry about the past or the future.
This place you've found,
Where you are in life right now is the situation you need to deal with.
Jumbled, backward,
Everything seems confusing and out of order, like you're experiencing things in reverse.
can't remember what you never heard.
You're struggling to recall information that you never even heard in the first place.
Wake up, dig in.
It's time to wake up and start putting in the effort to make things happen.
Oh it makes no difference,
It doesn't matter what could have been or what might have happened.
what might have been.
It's pointless to dwell on what could have been.
Oh, call it what you want to,
You can label things however you like or put whatever spin on them you want.
you spent your time,
You put a lot of effort and energy into something.
you ain't foolin' anyone.
Don't try to deceive anyone. No one is being fooled by your actions.
You made it all about you,
Your focus on yourself is obscuring the bigger picture and the needs of others.
the you, you could never quite become.
You're unable to achieve a certain version of yourself that you had hoped for.
It's useless, hopeless, reckless.
The situation is futile, desperate, and dangerous.
September's dead and gone.
The past is gone, and there's nothing you can do to change it.
Right here, right now
The present moment is what needs your attention.
This place you've found.
Where you are in life right now is what you need to deal with.
Jumbled, backward.
Everything seems confusing and out of order, like you're experiencing things in reverse.
You can't remember what you've never heard.
You're struggling to recall information that you never even heard in the first place.
Wake up, dig in.
It's time to wake up and start putting in the effort to make things happen.
Oh it makes no difference what might have been. x2
There's no point in worrying about what could have been. It's time to move on and focus on the present.
Writer(s): John Paul White Copyright: Chief Black Cloud Music, Emi April Music Inc.
Contributed by Luke E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.