On an empty NYC subway train circa 1997, Colombian-born, Brooklyn-based sin… Read Full Bio ↴On an empty NYC subway train circa 1997, Colombian-born, Brooklyn-based singer and songster John Wolfington inexplicably decided to switch cars at the 14th Street station. Sitting in the next car, deep into a novel, was Thurston Moore. Coincidentally carrying a tape containing 'Coney Island Freak' — a song that talks about a trip to the freak show and references SY in its lyric — and feeling he had been somehow 'urged' to switch cars, he handed the tape to Thurston, who politely accepted it. Although this encounter ultimately had little to do with the recording of this album, in retrospect it somehow seems like a step along the way.

Cut to the summer of '99, when John blindly sent a 5 song demo to Two Dollar Guitar majordomo Tim Foljahn. Floored by the quality of the songs and the sparse, intimate production — most of the material had been recorded in Wolfington's bathroom, using simple drum machine patterns or brushes on a live drum — Tim passed the tape on to Steve Shelley, and the two of them agreed to work with John on recording his self-titled debut.

Sessions took place over the next six months, primarily at Brooklyn's Rare Book Room with engineer Nicolas Vernhes. Steve and Tim play on over half the songs, with the rest sporting simple drum loops and Wolfington's sweltering croon and lithe, ethereal, instrumental work on drums, piano, Moog, bass, and Dr. Rhythm. The album is rounded out by some of the original bathroom recordings.

Danger
John Wolfington Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Woke up
For the longer I wait
Feel now
There's no time to explain
See you and I call you a liar
Feel strong
For the last time
I fight

My love
These are dangerous times
My love
These are dangerous times
Time
Hold on
Its a hard place to be
You feel strong
But they think
That you're weak
My Love
These are dangerous times
My love
These are dangerous times
Time
Oh I see the sky no more
Woo ooh woo ooh
My love
These are dangerous times
My love
These are dangerous times
Time
Time

Time
Time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Wolfington's song "Danger" portray the idea of facing challenges in life. The song describes the feeling of being under pressure when time is running out and there is a sense of urgency to act. The phrase "woke up" might indicate that the singer is experiencing an awakening or realization about the situation they find themselves in. The lyrics express the feeling of conflict - on the one hand, the singer feels strong and determined to fight, while on the other hand, they feel vulnerable and exposed.

The lines "Hold on / it's a hard place to be / you feel strong / but they think / that you're weak" suggest that the singer might feel trapped or threatened by external forces. The second person addressed in the line "See you and I call you a liar" might suggest that the singer feels betrayed by someone close to them or that they are dealing with a deception. The repetition of the line "My love / These are dangerous times" emphasizes the gravity of the situation, and the urgency of the singer's actions.

Overall, "Danger" portrays the difficulties of navigating a challenging situation, where there might be external pressure and internal conflict. The repetition of the word "time" at the end of the song further emphasizes the idea that time is of the essence and that it is crucial to act quickly.

Line by Line Meaning

Woke up
I became aware

For the longer I wait
As more time passes

Feel now
I realize

There's no time to explain
There isn't enough time to provide clarity

See you and I call you a liar
I perceive you to be dishonest

Feel strong
I have confidence

For the last time
This is the final opportunity

I fight
I struggle

My love
My beloved

These are dangerous times
The current circumstances are perilous

Time
The passage of moments