The song Crosses, from Crosses EP and the later Veneer, appeared on the finale of the second season of the popular American television comedy-drama The O.C.. His cover of Heartbeats (also from Veneer) was used in a popular Sony BRAVIA TV commercial featuring coloured bouncing balls in San Francisco and an episode of Zach Braff's Scrubs
His song Far Away was also prominently featured in the Rockstar video game Red Dead Redemption.
His trademark sound is solo acoustic guitar with soft melody. His work, although mostly original, does include acoustic covers of great hits such as Love Will Tear Us Apart, Born in the U.S.A., and Teardrop.
González also appears in the Zero 7 album The Garden, in which he sings on three tracks and on a re-worked version of Crosses.
Leaf Off / The Cave
José González Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Why can't you take the leaf off your mouth?
Now that you have the facts on your side
Take a moment to reflect where you're from
Let reason guide you,
See old tracks take you out from the dark
See old tracks lead you up to the stars
Why can't you take the leaf off your mouth?
Now that you have the facts on your side
Take a moment to reflect where you're going
Let reason guide you,
See old tracks take you out from the dark
See old tracks lead you up to the stars
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Why can't you take the leaf off your mouth?
Now that you have the facts on your side
Take a moment to reflect who we are
Let reason guide you,
See old tracks lead you out from the dark
Have a life its life, work makes up you and I
What it takes this right, when we need to survive
Yeah we flourish and die, what it means to be alive
What it means to be alive
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
The lyrics of José González's song "Leaf Off / The Cave" seem to have a deep, introspective quality about them. The repeating phrase "Let the life lead you out" almost acts like a mantra, encouraging the listener to let go and allow life to take its course. The next line, "Why can't you take the leaf off your mouth?" seems to refer to a stubbornness or an unwillingness to let go, to move on and allow for growth and change. This is reinforced with the following line "Now that you have the facts on your side", suggesting that the person in question is aware of what needs to be done but is hesitating nonetheless.
The following lines "Take a moment to reflect where you're from / Let reason guide you" suggest that reflection and introspection are key to moving forward. Old tracks are mentioned, leading out from the darkness and up to the stars, perhaps indicating that there are ways out of difficult times and that growth and discovery come from facing challenges.
Later, González asks the listener to reflect on who "we" are, again emphasizing the importance of reflection and introspection. The line "Have a life it's life, work makes up you and I / What it takes this right, when we need to survive" suggests that life is both work and play, and that there are times when we must work hard to survive. The final lines of the song "Yeah we flourish and die, what it means to be alive / What it means to be alive" seem to encapsulate the theme of the song, that life is a journey, involving both light and dark times.
Line by Line Meaning
Let the life lead you out
Allow yourself to be guided by life's unpredictable journey
Why can't you take the leaf off your mouth?
Why can't you speak your truth?
Now that you have the facts on your side
Now that you have knowledge and understanding
Take a moment to reflect where you're from
Take a moment to examine your past and roots
Let reason guide you,
Use logic and rationality to make decisions and navigate life
See old tracks take you out from the dark
Learn from your past experiences to move forward
See old tracks lead you up to the stars
Use your previous successes and accomplishments to propel yourself to greater heights
Take a moment to reflect where you're going
Take a moment to examine your future path and goals
See old tracks lead you out from the dark
Allow your previous experiences to guide you out of difficult situations
Have a life its life, work makes up you and I
Living life is what defines us, and the work we do contributes to our identity
What it takes this right, when we need to survive
We must do what is necessary to survive
Yeah we flourish and die, what it means to be alive
Life is a cycle of growth and decay, and this is the essence of being alive
Let the life lead you out
Once again, allow yourself to be guided through the journey of life
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSE GONZALEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JuandelSur
"Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out x8
Why can't you take the leaf off your mouth?
Now that you have the facts on your side
Take a moment to reflect where you're from
Let reason guide you,
See old tracks take you out from the dark
See old tracks lead you up to the stars
Why can't you take the leaf off your mouth?
Now that you have the facts on your side
Take a moment to reflect where you're going
Let reason guide you,
See old tracks take you out from the dark
See old tracks lead you up to the stars
Let the life lead you out
Let the life lead you out
Let the…" (till forever)
@JoseGonzalezOfficial
New album “Local Valley”, out Sept. 17. ► Stream / Pre-order album: http://josegonzalez.lnk.to/localvalley
@karlroseman6119
I owe you my life Sir. this song, your vibe. I hope to get tix to see you in Kansas City in September. I am very excited and humbled. thank you José and the Sunday Assembly! Thank you.
@CecilMuffin
I dunno what it is about his music. Just carries my soul off somewhere
@frankcooke1692
It's fairly obvious to me that he's a really smart guy (PHD in biochemistry) who's struggled a lot with existential crises. But he's found a way to turn that sense of despair on its head and really embrace the wonder of existence. It can be done - and when it's achieved you have a gift that very few people have. You can be in awe every day and never get bored. You can carry it with you everywhere you go and never need anything else.
@mikebtko
You're like a highly gifted 1970's singer-songwriter José González... From my generation, you're a very special talent in these times.. Thank you!
@greciacolis
José González, you are such a gift to this world!
@JB-pk4ck
HIs songs often make me cry, but its not hopeless. These are the songs of someone who has suffered and learned.
@allourvice
Mr. Gonzáles has always struck me as such a kind, gracious, generous, utterly brilliant human being, and this video was yet another testament to his beautiful genius.
His capacity for compassion truly knows no bounds, you can see, as he shines here, like a beacon of light—of hope—in a relative sea of darkness.
Thank you for sharing your gift with the world, sir.
Many, including me, would be lost without you.
@zackeriah87
Wonderful..
Absolutely brilliant!
So organic..so José González!
@infamousjovian
Jose, the fact that there are people like you in this world, so talented, so humble, all while being so deservedly successful, is just a wonderful thing. I feel like the world today is saturated with so much bullshit, so much nonsense coming from media and the fast-paced, profit-driven culture we live in, that too many talented people like yourself never achieve the success they deserve. That you have somehow managed to be so gifted, so positive, and so driven to create beautiful things, and at the same time be so successful in pursuing what you love, is a sort of modern miracle. A real-Earth miracle, the kind achieved by people, by human beings of flesh and blood. As I think of the countless talented, passionate and deserving individuals, people who are artists, writers, scientists, musicians, leaders, and other creators and contributors who will never achieve success, I am grateful that you and others like you exist to remind us of the full extent of human potential. I'm looking forward to the new album. See you in New York in April!