Early life
Wilson was born on December 30, 1974 in Forest City, North Carolina and raised in nearby Spindale, North Carolina. His father was a bandleader and his grandfather a Baptist pastor whose services Wilson was often invited to play at. Wilson has cited his upbringing in North Carolina and the state's rich musical heritage as an early influence.
Career
Muscadine
Wilson founded the band Muscadine with Benji Hughes in 1995. The band released their debut album, The Ballad of Hope Nicholls, on Sire Records in 1998.
Solo career
Wilson released his album Gentle Spirit on Bella Union on August 8, 2011 in the UK and Europe and on September 13, 2011 in the US. The album debuted at number 15 on the UK Indie Chart and was awarded the #4 spot on Mojo's 2011 Best Albums of the Year list. Gentle Spirit features many special guests including Barry Goldberg, Chris Robinson, Gary Louris, Andy Cabic, Otto Hauser, Josh Grange, Gary Mallaber, Z Berg, Adam McDougall, Johnathan Rice, among others. Jonathan was named Uncut Magazine's 2011 "New Artist of the Year".
In April 2012, Wilson released "Pity Trials and Tomorrow's Child", a limited edition vinyl EP on Bella Union for Record Store Day 2012. American Songwriter named it, "Five Things To Look For On Record Store Day". One of the album's three tracks, a cover of George Harrison's "Isn't It A Pity", includes guest vocals by Graham Nash.
In October 2013, Wilson released his second album, Fanfare, on Downtown Records and Bella Union. The album debuted at #8 on the UK Indie Chart, #50 on the UK Overall Chart, #18 in the Norway Overall Chart and #49 in the Netherlands in its first week. Uncut Magazine and Rolling Stone Germany named Fanfare its Album of the Month the month of its release. The album features contributions from David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Father John Misty, Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) and Patrick Sansone (Wilco). The album also features Wilson's band, including Jason Borger, Omar Velasco, Richard Gowen and Dan Horne. Roy Harper wrote the lyrics to the song "New Mexico".
In February 2018, he released his third solo album Rare Birds. On March 6 2020, he released his new solo album called Dixie Blur. Wilson also completed a solo album titled Frankie Ray in 2007. The record was never officially released.
Record producer and other projects
Record production
Wilson currently maintains his recording studio, Fivestar Studios, in Echo Park, Los Angeles, which he relocated from its original location in Laurel Canyon in 2009.
Over several months in 2013 and 2014, Wilson produced and played on Conor Oberst's new album Upside Down Mountain released on Nonesuch Records in May 2014. The album was recorded at Wilson's Fivestar Studios in Los Angeles and Blackbird Studios in Nashville.
In 2013 Wilson produced "Jubilee", the fifth album from Canadian band, The Deep Dark Woods in Alberta, Canada.
In 2012, Wilson co-produced and played on Roy Harper's latest album, Man and Myth (Bella Union, 2013) at Fivestar Studios. In the same year, Wilson produced a Glen Campbell session at Fivestar Studios for Daytrotter.
In 2011, Wilson co-produced and played on the debut Father John Misty record, Fear Fun released on Sub Pop, at Fivestar Studios.
In 2010, Wilson produced and collaborated with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy on a series of songs for release on Spiritual Pajamas Records, a boutique 7" label associated with Folk Yeah Presents. Wilson recorded and produced Dawes' debut album, North Hills, at his Laurel Canyon studio. That same year, Wilson recorded and produced Dawes' second album, Nothing Is Wrong, at Five Star Studio.
As part of Wilson's project, What You Need Is What You Have, The Songs of Roy Harper, Wilson has produced songs performed by Will Oldham, Andy Cabic, Chris Robinson, Benji Hughes, Dawes, Jenny O., Johnathan Rice, Josh Tillman, and others. Wilson also produced Jason Boesel's album, Hustler's Son, Mia Doi Todd's album Cosmic Ocean Ship and mixed Goodnight Lenin's debut album, In The Fullness Of Time, due for release in late 2014. Wilson has also recorded and/or produced many other artists in his studio, including Gerald Johnson, James Gadson, and Josh Tillman.
Other music projects
In 2010 and 2011, Wilson collaborated with Erykah Badu in the studio on several songs, only one of which was officially released. Wilson also appeared as a special guest with Erykah Badu at her 2011 Coachella performance.
In April 2011, Wilson performed with Robbie Robertson and Dawes on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman, ABC's The View and Later... with Jools Holland in support of Robertson's album How to Become Clairvoyant.
In the fall of 2011, Wilson was invited by Roy Harper as a special guest at Royal Festival Hall as part of Harper's sold out 70th birthday celebration. Wilson also toured with Wilco in the fall of 2011 for 15 shows across the UK & Europe. In July 2011 Wilson performed and collaborated with Jackson Browne and Dawes on a mini tour throughout Spain. Wilson performed at the 2011 benefit concert for Musicians United for Safe Energy at Shoreline Amphitheater joining Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, John Hall, The Doobie Brothers, Jason Mraz, Tom Morello, Kitaro, Sweet Honey In The Rock and others. Wilson was joined onstage by Jackson Browne and Graham Nash to perform his song "Gentle Spirit". Wilson also joined Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and others for the concert's finale, "Teach Your Children".
In August 2012, Jonathan was featured as a guest of Move Me Brightly, a tribute to Jerry Garcia in honor of his 70th birthday. The event was held at Bob Weir's TRI Studios in Marin County, California and featured other guests and musicians including Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Donna Jean Godchaux, Jeff Chimenti, and many others. In June 2012, Jonathan and his band were invited by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers to support them on their 2012 European tour, which included 2 sold out nights at Royal Albert Hall.
In 2013, Wilson is curated a collection of songs as part of What You Need Is What You Have, The Songs of Roy Harper, a Roy Harper tribute album that includes songs performed by Will Oldham, Andy Cabic, Chris Robinson, Benji Hughes, Dawes, Jenny O., Johnathan Rice, Josh Tillman, and others. Wilson was a member of The Emerald Triangle, a touring collaboration with Andy Cabic, Johnathan Rice, Neal Casal, and Husky. In addition, Wilson has recorded projects and/or performed with Johnathan Rice for Reprise Records, Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes and Phil Lesh from the Grateful Dead, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and Bert Jansch.
In 2017, Wilson appeared on Roger Waters' "Is This The Life You Really Want?" release and played with Waters on the 2017–18 Us + Them tour.
Laurel Canyon
Wilson is credited with revitalizing the Laurel Canyon music scene with the help of his many friends and is featured in the 2009 book Canyon of Dreams by rock historian Harvey Kubernik. Wilson had hosted private jam sessions at his compound in Laurel Canyon that involved Andy Cabic, Pat Sansone and John Stirratt of Wilco, Gerald Johnson, Johnathan Rice, Gary Louris and Mark Olson of The Jayhawks, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, David Rawlings, Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jakob Dylan, and other notable artists who have played professionally with and/or in The Electric Flag, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Van Morrison, The Cars, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Miller Band, and Pearl Jam. The jam was founded by Wilson and Chris Robinson.
All The Way Down
Jonathan Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet theres something I can feel
With the drugs and the fleecing dancer
With the cats and the card board manners
Yea I like it down here
No one judges my sad eyes
nThere's no one small talking
I'd never heard the song still it made me cry
man oh man sits and watches nameless traffic
and maybe thats the reason i can't let you go
i'll never know
aahh
Yea I remember being close to you
Ya I promise i can almost imagine
Now finally in a ring of hotel rooms
That do not contain the family
I need to speak with a mystic
Need to hear him glide right across the ocean
Yea I need to speak with a mystic
Need to hear him sing she's about to move her
I'd never heard the song still it made me cry
Man oh man sits and watches nameless traffic
Maybe thats the reason i can't let you go
I'll never know
Take it all the way down
Take it all the way down
Take it all the way down
Take it all the way down
Jonathan Wilson’s song “All the Way Down” is a melancholic ode to loneliness and sadness. The lyrics evoke a sense of being lost in a world where everything is fleeting and nothing seems to offer lasting solace. The song starts with “Take it all the way down”, which could be interpreted as an invitation to embrace the tenuous nature of life and it’s fleeting pleasures. There is something palpable amidst the dancers, drugs and cardboard manners, but the singer can’t grasp it. The imagery in the song suggests that the singer is in a dingy environment where everything is temporary and nothing is sacred.
However, the song isn’t entirely hopeless. The singer suggests that they like it down there because no one judges them, which may be interpreted as a moment of clarity where the singer acknowledges that there is something pure in being alone without judgment. The singer goes on to indicate that they’d never heard the song before but it made them cry. Perhaps this is an admission of dealing with emotions that they don't fully comprehend or a resonance of the shared empathetic experience the song has provoked.
Jonathan Wilson uses the repetition of the line ‘Take it all the way down’ almost like a mantra, which emphasises the cyclical nature of life, and it also hints that there might be a chance for renewal or a different perspective. The last stanza where the singer states ‘I need to speak with a mystic / Need to hear him glide right across the ocean’ suggests a deep desire to connect with something greater. They want to hear the mystic’s voice, which could signify a need for spiritual guidance, insight or comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Take it all the way down
Give in to the depths of sadness and loneliness
Yet theres something I can feel
Despite feeling lost, there's still a glimmer of hope
With the drugs and the fleecing dancer
Escaping reality with addiction and fantasy
With the cats and the card board manners
Living a life of poverty and desperation
Yea I like it down here
Finding comfort in the darkness
No one judges my sad eyes
Feeling free from judgement and criticism
There's no one small talking
Avoiding shallow conversations that lack substance
At this point... why would you bother?
Questioning the point of communication when feeling so disconnected
I'd never heard the song still it made me cry
Feeling overwhelmed with emotion despite not understanding the cause
Man oh man sits and watches nameless traffic
Observing the chaos of the world without a sense of purpose
Maybe thats the reason i can't let you go
Possibly feeling bound to a person or situation because of a lack of direction or understanding
I'll never know
Feeling lost and unsure of what the future holds
Yea I remember being close to you
Reflecting on a past relationship that once brought happiness
Ya I promise i can almost imagine
Holding onto a memory that feels almost tangible
Now finally in a ring of hotel rooms
Finding solace in a temporary, impersonal environment
That do not contain the family
Feeling alone and disconnected from loved ones
I need to speak with a mystic
Seeking guidance and clarity from a spiritual advisor
Need to hear him glide right across the ocean
Longing for a sense of peace and calmness that seems out of reach
Yea I need to speak with a mystic
Desiring a deeper understanding of oneself and the world
Need to hear him sing she's about to move her
Yearning for a connection to something greater, a sign of positive change
Take it all the way down
Continuing to embrace sadness and despair
Take it all the way down
Fully succumbing to negative thoughts and emotions
Take it all the way down
Letting go of hope and possibility
Take it all the way down
Resigning oneself to a life of darkness and pain
Writer(s): Jonathan Spencer Wilson Copyright: Iafdsfbd Songs, Music Of Big Deal
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Guilherme Pessoa
Incrível
Andres Ortega
just great