Graham featured in the True Believers with Alejandro Escovedo before going solo and releasing a number of highly-acclaimed albums in the late 1990s and 2000s. His more recent studio albums include Full and The Great Battle and they highlight Graham's personal and heartfelt writing style, distinctive and gruff (well lived in) vocals and punch guitar style.
To date, Graham has released eight solo albums: Escape from Monster Island (1997, Freedom Records); Summerland (1999, New West Records); Hooray for the Moon (2002, New West Records); The Great Battle (2004, New West Records); Full (2006, Freedom Records); Swept Away (Film Soundtrack) (2008, Freedom Records) It's Not As Bad As It Looks (2010, Freedom Records), and Garage Sale (2012, Freedom Records).
Big Sweet Life
Jon Dee Graham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get a look at that sky
It's like a dream I had one time
Oh, the sky was on fire
Yeah, but that was just a dream
And this is real life
And it's a big sweet life
I had the fear in my legs
And it would not walk
I had the fear in my mouth
It did not want to talk
Yeah, but fear is just a dream
And this is real life
And it's a big sweet life
It's a big sweet life
It's a big sweet life
It's a big sweet life
Come here, you beautiful thing
Come here, you beautiful everything
I had some big ideas
Made some fancy plans
Oh, but I got it all wrong
Man, oh man, oh man
Those were only plans
And this is real life
And it's a big sweet life
It's a big sweet life
And it's a big sweet life
It's a big sweet life
The lyrics of Jon Dee Graham's "Big Sweet Life" touch on the idea of living in the moment and cherishing what one has. The singer addresses a person who is likely indoors and encourages them to come outside and look at the sky. He mentions that it is "like a dream I had one time" but goes on to clarify that this is indeed real life. He emphasizes the idea that life is big and sweet, which can be interpreted to mean that there is so much out there to enjoy, and that things are not always as they seem.
The second verse of the song speaks to the idea of fear and how it can paralyze us. The singer notes that he had fear in his legs and mouth, which prevented him from being able to talk or walk. However, he emphasizes that fear is just a dream and not real life. In this way, he is encouraging others to face their fears and not let them hold them back from enjoying the big, sweet life that is out there.
Finally, the last verse of the song speaks to the idea of plans and how they may not always work out. The singer notes that he had big ideas and made fancy plans, but ultimately got it all wrong. He reminds us that these were just plans and that real life is what we are living right now. In this way, he is emphasizing that we should focus on the present rather than what could have been or what we thought would happen.
Overall, "Big Sweet Life" is a song about embracing the present moment and not letting fear or past experiences hold us back. It encourages us to look at the world around us and appreciate it for what it is, rather than what we think it should be.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you come outside?
Asking someone to step outside to see the beautiful sky
Get a look at that sky
Encouraging the person to observe the beauty of the sky
It's like a dream I had one time
The beauty of the sky is reminiscent of a dream the singer once had
Oh, the sky was on fire
Describing how beautiful and vibrant the sky looks
Yeah, but that was just a dream
Acknowledging that the sky looks beautiful, but it's not just a figment of imagination
And this is real life
Highlighting the fact that the sky is really beautiful in reality
And it's a big sweet life
Emphasizing that life is big and sweet despite the struggles
I had the fear in my legs
Describing how afraid the artist was to take action (paralyzed with fear)
And it would not walk
Elaborating on the fear physically affecting the artist from moving forward
I had the fear in my mouth
Describing how afraid the artist was to speak up
It did not want to talk
Elaborating on fear affecting the singer from expressing themselves
Yeah, but fear is just a dream
Recognizing that fear is not real, it is just a feeling that can be overcome
And this is real life
Affirming that life is happening now and it's important to move forward
Come here, you beautiful thing
Addressing someone, calling them beautiful
Come here, you beautiful everything
Expanding the statement, calling everything around them beautiful too
I had some big ideas
Talking about grand ideas the artist had
Made some fancy plans
Explaining how the artist began to plan out their ideas
Oh, but I got it all wrong
Admitting that the plans didn't work out as expected
Man, oh man, oh man
Expressing the singer's frustration over the failed plans
Those were only plans
Reminding the listener that the plans were just plans and not the reality
And it's a big sweet life
Emphasizing that life is still big and sweet despite the setbacks
And it's a big sweet life
Reiterating the point that life is beautiful, inspiring the listener to enjoy it
It's a big sweet life
Continuing to emphasize the beauty of life despite its struggles
It's a big sweet life
Finalizing the message that life is worth enjoying and cherishing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JON DEE GRAHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind