“This is the record I’ve been wanted to make for years”, says Rosolino. “It’s a record that says something as a whole - an album in the old school sense - something that can be listened to from start to finish and takes you along for the ride, not just a bunch of non-related, radio-friendly songs.” Produced and mixed by Nashville local Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay) and mastered by Jacquire King (Tom Waits, No Doubt), “Wonderlust” marks the newest chapter in the rise of an authentic, wonderfully-gifted singer-songwriter.
Justin started playing guitar when he was six years old, which in a family like his, seemed the natural thing to do. His father sang and played guitar in the New York R&B circuit – places like the Apollo and the Cotton Club – and Justin began sitting in with the band by the time he was twelve.
His growth as a musician continued through his teens, and in 1991 he left New York for Charlottesville, Virginia, where he put down his electric guitar to front Southern Exposure, an acoustic duo that soon became a local mainstay. Within their first two years of performing, the folk/rock pair were jamming sell-out crowds into local venues and playing with prominent regional acts like SGGL and Jackopierce. They were later voted in as one of the top ten bands in the area, sharing the honor with groups like the Dave Matthews Band. It was at the University of Virginia that Justin began broadening his musical horizons, venturing beyond his folk/rock roots and joining an R&B/funk band, a gospel choir and nationally renowned collegiate chorus. Naturally, this expanded his understanding of music and his approach to the acoustic guitar, and he began digging into the more experimental styles of Michael Hedges, Paul Simon and Jimmy Page.
Moving south in early 1997, Justin quickly established himself in the Atlanta acoustic scene. Before he’d even found a place to live he’d already won his first songwriting/performance competition at the nationally-renowned venue Eddie’s Attic. Since then he’s performed in over 30 states as well as overseas, selling over 4,500 recordings along the way. Highlights have included performances with the likes of India.Arie, David Wilcox, Ellis Paul and Angie Aparo. Justin has also written TV commercial music for Ford, grown as an accomplished session guitarist in Nashville and Atlanta, gotten airplay on indie radio from Canada to the Czech Republic and everywhere in between, and even got to perform for President George W. Bush in the Spring of ’03.
“Wonderlust” is a must have for all music fans who are looking for something a little deeper. Take the reflective lyrics found in folk, add the passionate energy of rock and the textural depth of artful pop, and you’ve got the basic recipe for Justin’s music. At times reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith and Lenny Kravitz, “Wonderlust” travels through the whole range of human emotions.
www.justinrosolino.com
St. Francis
Justin Rosolino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it captures me but for a moment or two
Another romantic adventure
That fades in the name of something else new
Well that's not how I feel when I am around her
In fact it's not like that at all
And I finally found where I've always belonged
And all of my foolish distractions
Well I won't be needing them anymore
And alone I am frightened
But with her I can
Lay me down, lay me down
And let her know who I really am
And when she's nearby
All of my selfish pride
Fades away, fades away, fades away
[Chorus]
And she dreams of a love that won't change
Like the sanctified saint that bears her name
She covers her eyes when she prays
'Cause she finds it so hard just believing in grace
And hers is a heart that is torn
Between longing for love and hating what she's become
Would she be surprised
If she looked through my eyes
And she saw how she shimmers
Like a full moon sky
And would all of those demons
That live in her mind
Fade away, fade away, fade away
[Chorus]
And she willingly bears all the blame
Like the sanctified saint that bears her name
Bears her name
She gently whispers
When she speaks of her pain
And the words cut me through
Like a torrent of rain
She's longing for shelter
Where she'll be safe and warm
Evermore, evermore, evermore
[Chorus]
And she hides from the signs of her fame
And she willingly bears all the blame
And she dreams of a love that won't change
Like the sanctified saint that bears her name
That bears her name
The song "St. Francis" by Justin Rosolino speaks about a woman who longs for true love and acceptance but has been hurt and damaged by her past experiences. The singer of the song recognizes that he himself has been searching for fleeting love and adventure until he meets this woman who makes him feel like "coming home." With her, he can be his true self without any of his selfish distractions. He acknowledges that the woman struggles to believe in grace and constantly battles with her torn heart. However, he sees her beauty and recognizes her potential, and would like her to see herself through his eyes.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Like the sanctified saint that bears her name," which refers to the woman's namesake, St. Francis, who was known for his dedication to service, poverty, and simplicity. It is possible that the woman in the song is named after him and is trying to live up to his example. The singer admires her willingness to take the blame, her longing for safety and comfort, and her resilience to hide from the signs of her fame.
Overall, the song celebrates the beauty of finding true love and acceptance despite the struggles that come with it. It recognizes the importance of being genuine and authentic with oneself and others, as well as the power of seeing the potential in others and fostering it.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a feeling I get
I am experiencing an emotion
And it captures me but for a moment or two
Although the emotion is intense, it only lasts for a short time
Another romantic adventure
This feeling is not uncommon for me
That fades in the name of something else new
It does not last because I constantly pursue the next big feeling
Well that's not how I feel when I am around her
However, she is different
In fact it's not like that at all
My emotions are not fleeting when I am with her
Instead it's like I'm coming home
It feels like being in a familiar, comfortable place
And I finally found where I've always belonged
I realize that this is where I should have been all along
And all of my foolish distractions
My past pursuits seem trivial
Well I won't be needing them anymore
They are not important to me now
And alone I am frightened
I am scared when I am by myself
But with her I can
However, when I am with her
Lay me down, lay me down
I can relax and let go of my fears
And let her know who I really am
I can be my true self with her
And when she's nearby
Being close to her
All of my selfish pride
My ego and self-centeredness
Fades away, fades away, fades away
Disappears and becomes unimportant
[Chorus]
Refrain
And she dreams of a love that won't change
She desires a stable and constant love
Like the sanctified saint that bears her name
Like St. Francis, who she is named after
She covers her eyes when she prays
She feels vulnerable and ashamed when she prays
'Cause she finds it so hard just believing in grace
She struggles to have faith in mercy or forgiveness
And hers is a heart that is torn
Her heart is conflicted
Between longing for love and hating what she's become
She wants love but feels unworthy of it
Would she be surprised
I wonder if she would be amazed
If she looked through my eyes
If she could experience what I feel for her
And she saw how she shimmers
If she saw how beautiful she is
Like a full moon sky
As luminous as a perfect night sky
And would all of those demons
Would her inner struggles
That live in her mind
That she battles within herself
Fade away, fade away, fade away
Become unimportant and irrelevant
[Chorus]
Refrain
And she willingly bears all the blame
She takes responsibility for everything
Like the sanctified saint that bears her name
Like St. Francis whom she is named after
Bears her name
Is named after St. Francis
She gently whispers
She speaks softly
When she speaks of her pain
When she talks about what hurts her
And the words cut me through
Her words deeply affect me
Like a torrent of rain
Like a heavy and forceful downpour
She's longing for shelter
She wants to feel safe and secure
Where she'll be safe and warm
She wants to be in a protective and comforting environment
Evermore, evermore, evermore
Always and forever
[Chorus]
Refrain
And she hides from the signs of her fame
She avoids the attention that comes with being well-known
And she willingly bears all the blame
She takes responsibility for everything
And she dreams of a love that won't change
She desires a stable and constant love
Like the sanctified saint that bears her name
Like St. Francis, who she is named after
That bears her name
Is named after St. Francis
Contributed by Carter M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.