Kneejerk were formed in the mid nineties by three friends at school who had… Read Full Bio ↴Kneejerk were formed in the mid nineties by three friends at school who had developed a love for hardcore. They became enamoured with the emo of the time and coloured the more abrasive aspects of their music with such sensibilities. The band had an odd vocal approach of one main singer (Frank Turner) being beset by the two other members' vocal lines. This style was once described in Fracture zine as being "like pterodactyls fighting." The line up never changed despite what it says on their official website ( www.geocities.com/nowwemust ). The details on there are the result of mischief making by two members of the band and the inability to remember passwords years later.

They self released the self-titled "Helpless I Cry" in 1998, the "Don't clap it startles me" split EP with Abjure on Skipworth Records in 1999 and the final "Half-life of kissing" record on Sakari Empire in 2001, splitting before the release of the record.

Singer Frank Turner and drummer Ben Dawson went on to form the more melodic punk bandMillion Dead. Tom Fowler, the guitarist in Abjure would later go on to be the second guitarist in Million Dead as well as forming Palehorse with Ben Dawson. Frank Turner is now pursuing a successful solo career.

Reaching Jerusalem
Kneejerk Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let's look to the hands of the weak
For the scars of more genuine living.

I'm stuck in this intellectual rut
Trying to find an explanation
In the wrong language.
Weak at the knees but strong
At the top of my spine.

Oh Solomon, who am I kidding?

I'm doubting like a philistine.
(behold thy walls Jerusalem...)

My throat is sore from crying and my bed is wet with tears.
I have no stone tablet for anyone

So tell me why
Are you waiting for me to give you textbook answers
Before you start to move?
I can't secure
Your fading wealth because it sickens me.
So let us part the clouds
And start your mind in a fresh day,
And put aside the things you learned.
Let's stretch out our fingers
And we might
Just get to that promised land
Before we suck it's life away.

And so we're reaching,
Trying to shift the focus from the world to myself
And those around me who i love.
And so we're reaching,
Trying to conceive the size of lightyears
And trying to save the world that sustains us.
And yes we're reaching,
One building block at a time
Until the roofs of our houses disrupt jerusalem.
So nearly reaching,

So close and yet so far.
Just one last tear-stained exertion to get to that elusive contact.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kneejerk's song Reaching Jerusalem are rich with imagery and emotion. The first stanza speaks to the idea that we should look to those who have experienced struggle and hardship for true wisdom and understanding. The lines "Let's look to the hands of the weak / For the scars of more genuine living" suggest that it is through adversity that we gain the most insight into the human condition.

The singer then turns inward, expressing frustration with their intellectual limitations and the difficulty in finding an explanation for their struggles. They feel weak and vulnerable, but ultimately recognize their own strength and resilience. The reference to Solomon highlights the singer's feelings of self-doubt and uncertainty.

The following lines convey a sense of intense emotional pain and vulnerability, with the singer describing their tears and exhaustion. They recognize that there is no easy solution or quick fix, and that they cannot provide answers for others. Instead, the singer encourages listeners to embrace new perspectives and let go of old habits and beliefs in order to move forward.

The remainder of the song is a call to action, urging listeners to work towards a more sustainable and compassionate world. The repeated refrain of "And so we're reaching" emphasizes the importance of forward momentum and collective effort in addressing the world's problems.

Overall, Reaching Jerusalem is a powerful and poignant meditation on struggle, growth, and resilience.

Line by Line Meaning

Let's look to the hands of the weak
We should seek guidance from those who have suffered and experienced genuine pain

For the scars of more genuine living.
Their physical and emotional scars can represent a more honest reality than what is seen on the surface.

I'm stuck in this intellectual rut
I am mentally confined and unable to find a way to understand or make sense of things.

Trying to find an explanation
Attempting to uncover a logical reason or justification for something.

In the wrong language.
This search is happening within a framework or language that is unsuited to the task.

Weak at the knees but strong
While physically weak, I can still assert my strength in other ways.

At the top of my spine.
My inner resolve and determination are strong and centered.

Oh Solomon, who am I kidding?
I am expressing a sense of self-doubt and questioning my ability to truly understand or make a difference.

I'm doubting like a philistine.
The sense of doubt feels overwhelming, like that of someone who is seen as unrefined or uneducated.

(behold thy walls Jerusalem...)
These words are a reference to the biblical city of Jerusalem, suggesting the artist's connection to spiritual or religious ideas.

My throat is sore from crying and my bed is wet with tears.
I have been weeping for some time and cannot find comfort or rest.

I have no stone tablet for anyone
The artist lacks any authoritative answers or absolute truths that they can offer others.

So tell me why
The singer is seeking information or motivation from someone else.

Are you waiting for me to give you textbook answers
The other person expects a clear or simple response to a question, which the singer might not be able to offer.

Before you start to move?
The singer wants to motivate the other person to take action, even if all the answers aren't clear.

I can't secure
The artist feels unable to guarantee or ensure something.

Your fading wealth because it sickens me.
The wealth in question is symbolic rather than literal, and the artist is expressing displeasure with the idea that the world's riches are fleeting and transitory.

So let us part the clouds
The singer wants to remove the confusion or obscurity that surrounds an issue.

And start your mind in a fresh day,
To help the other person gain a new perspective on things, leaving outdated thinking behind.

And put aside the things you learned.
The other person should not rely solely on received knowledge, but should question and have an open mind about new ideas.

Let's stretch out our fingers
The artist wants to reach ever further and take risks to achieve something great.

And we might
There is no guarantee or assurance that what follows will come to pass.

Just get to that promised land
Achieving a goal that has been imagined or dreamed of.

Before we suck its life away.
The artist is worried about negatively affecting the achievement or goal by taking too long, or by pursuing things in an unhealthy or unsustainable way.

And so we're reaching,
The singer is describing an ongoing effort or quest, that is not yet complete.

Trying to shift the focus from the world to myself
The singer is turning their attention inward, focusing on personal betterment or growth.

And those around me who I love.
The singer wants to improve the lives of those closest to them, and to be a source of support and encouragement for them.

And so we're reaching,
Again, expressing an ongoing pursuit.

Trying to conceive the size of lightyears
Describing an attempt to understand complex and challenging ideas or concepts.

And trying to save the world that sustains us.
The singer is motivated by a sense of environmentalism or preservation, with a goal of making the world a better place for everyone.

And yes we're reaching,
The singer is resolute in their pursuit, even given challenges or frustrations.

One building block at a time
The artist is describing an effort that requires persistence, effort, and attention to detail, with small steps taken over time.

Until the roofs of our houses disrupt Jerusalem.
The pursuit described will cause tangible and significant changes, possibly to other people or places.

So nearly reaching,
The achievement is tantalizingly close, but not quite attained.

So close and yet so far.
The achievement could almost be grasped, but there are obstacles to overcome.

Just one last tear-stained exertion to get to that elusive contact.
Persisting in the pursuit, even given emotional or physical difficulty, to achieve a long-sought goal.

Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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