After spending a week in a coma, Smith left the hospital to begin the arduous tasks of regaining her memory, rehabilitating her pianist hand, and rebuilding her life. A year later, Juniper Lane reconnected to explore the possibility of their own recovery and found that the drive and dynamic they once possessed was unchanged. It soon became apparent that instead of picking up where they left off, Juniper Lane was back as an even more inspired and motivated version of themselves.
Juniper Lane has mastered that which eludes so many musical acts: the ability to produce a diverse range of well-crafted songs while putting forth an unmistakably signature sound. With the recent national commercial success of bands that straddle the line between indie and mainstream rock (Death Cab for Cutie, Snow Patrol), it seems the music industry has finally caught up to Juniper Lane.
Upon returning to the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore music scenes, the band's impressive live show was met with sold-out crowds and fans soon started clamoring for a new album. The band's latest project is the record Wake From Yourself, throughout which Smith delves into the complications of rediscovering one's direction when faced with life-altering experiences: whether they be falling in love, breaking away from a painful past, or even coming out of a coma. Wake From Yourself is clearly the work of an enormously talented quartet.
The band added a fifth member (John Athayde) in June of 2008, and then opened for Coldplay at the Verizon Center in Washington DC on August 3, 2008. They are currently working on a new album with Ted Comerford and four of the songs have been mixed by Michael Brauer (Coldplay, John Mayer, Mute Math). Will Champion of Coldplay recommended the band to Michael (http://twitter.com/mhb850/status/1226881936).
Juniper Lane has toured extensively on the East Coast, including shows at colleges, clubs, and venues such as the 9:30 Club, Recher Theatre, and DC's 99.1 WHFStival, as well as performing in-studio for commercial radio and on live television. The band's incredible song-writing has afforded them the opportunity to work with such industry professionals as producer Ted Comerford (Zox, Army of Me), Joe Zook (Remy Zero, Liz Phair, Anna Nalick), Paul David Hager (American Hi-Fi, Hoobastank, Tracey Bonham), and Mitch Easter (R.E.M., Wilco, Suzanne Vega).
Summer
Juniper Lane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
dripping coyly off my mouth.
Summer spilling soft and slow, like honey,
barely creeping through the south.
All the houses with their windows open,
and the dog beneath the steps,
lying lazy, low, and panting softly,
Seeking shade we fled
to the darkness of the woods,
where we learned to dance--
we learned to dance, as we should.
Grandpa drank too much and told us
stories of the one and only war.
Singing sweet and soft, then growing silent,
and we asked to hear some more.
We went to bed with the spirits shifting,
moving slowly in the heat.
We felt them full, then flicker, fading shyly,
floating softly down the street.
Selling lemonade down on the corner,
sticky sweetness for a dime.
Days passed delicate in halting humor,
No one noticing the time.
Till one day I am my mother's daughter,
small and lean and brown and strong.
Lines of laughter leading from my eyes,
lines of truth within my song.
The lyrics of Juniper Lane's song "Summer" describe a nostalgic memory of summer days. The first stanza refers to the heat, as the sweat drips off of the singer's mouth, and to the slow pace of life during the season, which creeps by slowly, "like honey." The second stanza describes the idyllic scene of houses with open windows, a lazy dog, and porches swept clean. Seeking shade from the heat of summer, the singer and friends retreat into the woods, where they learn to dance. The third stanza introduces Grandpa, who drinks too much and tells stories of a war. The final stanza describes selling lemonade on the corner and the passing of time until the singer becomes her mother's daughter, strong and with lines of laughter leading from her eyes.
The lyrics paint a picture of a quiet, lazy summer where time seems to slow down. The image of the houses with open windows and the porch being swept clean evoke a feeling of peace and tranquility. The memory of the grandfather telling war stories and singing sweet and soft also adds an element of nostalgia to the song. The singer's growth from selling lemonade to becoming her mother's daughter is a natural progression of time.
Overall, the lyrics of "Summer" by Juniper Lane are a reflection on the beauty and simplicity of life during the summer months. The memories are precious and cherished by the singer, who recalls them with fondness and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember the sweat of summer
The artist reminisces about the hot summer days when she'd sweat and the perspiration would slide down her mouth.
dripping coyly off my mouth.
The sweat would trickle slowly from her skin in a somewhat shy manner before it trickled off her mouth.
Summer spilling soft and slow, like honey,
Summer moved at a languorous pace, relaxing and serene; its movements smooth and measured like honey.
barely creeping through the south.
The meandering and unhurried pace of summer was barely noticeable in this region of the country.
All the houses with their windows open,
The warm weather made everyone open up their windows to let in the fresh air.
and the dog beneath the steps,
The dog was so hot that it retreated to the shade under the porch steps to cool off.
lying lazy, low, and panting softly,
The dog was laying down and panting gently trying to keep cool in the hot, oven-like environment.
all the porches cleanly swept.
The porches were meticulously cleaned and free of debris in preparation for summer visitors.
Seeking shade we fled
to the darkness of the woods,
To escape the blistering heat, they went to the soothing cool of the woods.
where we learned to dance--
we learned to dance, as we should.
Dancing came naturally and effortlessly to them as if they were made for it in the woods.
Grandpa drank too much and told us
stories of the one and only war.
Grandpa had one too many drinks and told them war stories of a previous generation.
Singing sweet and soft, then growing silent,
'Grandpa' sang to them softly and sweetly, but then he trailed off, and his voice faded away.
and we asked to hear some more.
'Grandpa's' stories intrigued them, and they wanted to hear more tales of his experiences.
We went to bed with the spirits shifting,
moving slowly in the heat.
The warm air was causing the spirits to become agitated and restless, which was appreciated as a fitting ambiance on a hot summer's night.
We felt them full, then flicker, fading shyly,
The artist felt the spirits entirely before they began to weaken, flickered away and finally disappeared into the dark, reclusive recesses.
floating softly down the street.
As the spirit flickered away, it appeared to move effortlessly, unguided, down the street.
Selling lemonade down on the corner,
sticky sweetness for a dime.
The artist was peddling their highly sought-after lemonade for a meager ten cents on the street corner.
Days passed delicate in halting humor,
The days went by leisurely and pretty funny, yet at times they killed time, and subtle jokes and puns kept things mellow and light.
No one noticing the time.
No one was keeping track of time, and it appeared to move in slow motion, making the summer last longer than normal.
Till one day I am my mother's daughter,
small and lean and brown and strong.
One day the artist realized she had matured into her mother's daughter, with similar physical features and an inner strength that comes with time.
Lines of laughter leading from my eyes,
lines of truth within my song.
The artist's music was a genuine and honest reflection of who the she is, exemplified and emphasized by the laugh lines in her eyes.
Contributed by Grayson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.