In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.
Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.
Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.
Black Lexus
Joseph Arthur Lyrics
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Two hundred thousand miles
Underneath the missing roads
You don't know where you're going
Almost anytime
Things lost just lighten up your load
To LA
See if they'll put you in a show
First you'll check with the stars
Read both your sign and mine
In the back of the New York Post
You can't find her
You can't find her
In the mirror everything's reversed
And you can't find her
You can't find her
Everyday you feel a little curse
Now your car's been towed
You misread the sign
Something left to do
Must have slipped your mind
Got no money left
Guess you'll stick around
And anyway the stars
Said not to go right now
But you can't find her
You can't find her
In the mirror everything's reversed
And you can't find her
You can't find her
Everyday you look a little worse
You can't find her
You can't find her
In the mirror everything's reversed
You can't find her
You can't find her
Everyday you feel a little curse
You can't find her
You can't find her
In the mirror everything's reversed
You can't find her
You can't find her
Everyday you feel a little curse
In Joseph Arthur's song "Black Lexus," the lyrics describe someone who is lost both physically and emotionally. The black Lexus serves as a metaphor for the character's sense of directionless wandering. The car has been driven for an astounding two hundred thousand miles, and the person behind the wheel seems to be driving aimlessly without direction. The roads they are missing are indicative of their lack of purpose and direction in life. The person is searching for something, but they are not quite sure what it is. They are constantly on the move, but they are not necessarily getting anywhere.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of someone trying to find their place in the world. The idea of heading to LA to be in a show is a common trope for those who are trying to break into the entertainment industry. Checking the stars and reading horoscopes in the New York Post is also a common practice for those who are searching for meaning and purpose. The line "In the mirror everything's reversed" is possibly alluding to an individual's struggle with self-identity and a distorted sense of self.
Throughout the song, the repeated refrain of "you can't find her" suggests a feeling of displacement and disconnection. The person behind the wheel can't find themselves, they can't find a sense of belonging, and they can't find meaning in their existence. Overall, the song speaks to the universal human experience of feeling lost and searching for purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Your black Lexus has
The vehicle you drive is a black Lexus
Two hundred thousand miles
The car has traveled over two hundred thousand miles
Underneath the missing roads
The car has explored many roads that are not frequently traveled
You don't know where you're going
You lack direction in life
Almost anytime
You could take off and leave at any moment
Things lost just lighten up your load
Material possessions lost can free you from some burdens
Maybe you're headin' out
You might be departing soon
To LA
You might go to Los Angeles
See if they'll put you in a show
You are hoping to be cast in some kind of entertainment production
First you'll check with the stars
You will try to interpret your horoscope before making any major decisions
Read both your sign and mine
You will try to compare your horoscope with someone else's
In the back of the New York Post
You will look for your horoscope in the daily newspaper
You can't find her
You cannot locate someone important to you
In the mirror everything's reversed
You feel like you are looking at a distorted reflection of yourself
Everyday you feel a little curse
You feel like you are under some kind of negative influence or bad luck
Now your car's been towed
Your car has been impounded by authorities
You misread the sign
You did not properly understand the posted sign that led to your car being towed
Something left to do
There is some unfinished business or task that you need to take care of
Must have slipped your mind
You forgot about something important
Got no money left
You have no more financial resources
Guess you'll stick around
You will remain where you are for the time being
And anyway the stars
You still believe that your horoscope might hold some insight
Said not to go right now
Your horoscope discouraged taking action at the present time
Everyday you look a little worse
You feel like you are physically or emotionally deteriorating over time
Contributed by Caden M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.