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.
The Void
José González Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Calmly sinks to the ground
You thought we were sane
With scepter, cape and crown
Harbored from the void
The lore lives on
Impeding the dissonance to resolve
Prayer upon prayer
Delusive causal chains
Withdraw us from what's real
Alleviate our pains
Harbored from the void
The lore lives on
Evading
Denying
Impeding us all to move on
In the first verse, the lyrics "Layer upon layer, calmly sinks to the ground" suggest a gradual decay or unraveling of something once considered stable or solid. It could be referring to a relationship, society, or even one's own sense of self. The following line, "You thought we were sane, with scepter, cape, and crown," speaks to the illusion of control and stability that we often present to the world, hiding our vulnerabilities and insecurities behind a facade of power and authority.
The chorus, "Harbored from the void, the lore lives on," hints at the existence of a mysterious and inexplicable void - a place of emptiness or uncertainty. This realm serves as the source of the stories and legends that guide our understanding of the world. It suggests that even when faced with dissonance or discord, we cling to these tales, finding solace and meaning in ancient narratives rather than confronting the reality before us.
The second verse, "Prayer upon prayer, delusive causal chains, withdraw us from what's real, alleviate our pains," highlights the human tendency to seek refuge in prayer and mystical explanations rather than addressing the harshness of reality. We often grasp for comforting explanations that create a sense of order and purpose, even if they might be illusions. This withdrawal shields us from facing the truth and offers temporary relief from our emotional burdens.
The repeated line, "Evading, denying, impeding us all to move on," emphasizes the struggle to break free from the illusions we create. It suggests that our avoidance and denial of reality hinder our personal growth and collective progress. By clinging to established beliefs and narratives, we prevent ourselves from facing the unknown, preventing any meaningful change. The lyrics ultimately speak to the human tendency to resist confronting difficult truths and opting for the comfort of familiar stories, even when they may no longer serve us.
Line by Line Meaning
Layer upon layer
Building upon various levels of meaning and complexity
Calmly sinks to the ground
Gradually descending and settling into the depths
You thought we were sane
You believed we were rational and mentally stable
With scepter, cape and crown
Assuming positions of power and authority
Harbored from the void
Protected and nurtured from emptiness and insignificance
The lore lives on
The tales and legends continue to endure
Impeding the dissonance to resolve
Obstructing the harmonious resolution of conflicting elements
Prayer upon prayer
Endless supplications and pleas
Delusive causal chains
Illusory connections and sequences of cause and effect
Withdraw us from what's real
Removing us from what truly exists
Alleviate our pains
Easing our sufferings and burdens
Evading
Avoiding and eluding
Denying
Refusing to accept or acknowledge
Impeding us all to move on
Hindering our progress and ability to let go
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jose Gonzalez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gastonrincon9274
José González, me encanta tu música, también me gustan mucho las animaciones que aparecen; son geniales.
@thomasalden3524
The best poet guitarist of our time.
@zu438
i would agree with you but lots of people would likely argue Joni Mitchell or Bob Dylan would be right up there too.
@ThomasBrophy
Agreed, but with one small change… add ‘one of’ to the beginning. Love Jose’s music and words
@Nadion111
Glad to have you as an artist in this world, greetings from Brazil!
@evasecchi88
Excelente! La escucho muy seguido, me gusta muchisimo! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@hannahbrazao8863
Que música lindaaaa
@adhiantos
"You thought we were sane, with scepter, cape and crown" - This lyric is so deep.
@ligeialovelace
What does it mean though?
@adhiantos
@Ligeia L I think the scepter, cape and crown signify that we humans thought we were some sort of kings who know it all (and thus the word "sane"). But in reality, there's so much things that we don't know in this universe and life itself.