The avant-jazz guitarist Mary Halvorson has been making a stir in downtown … Read Full Bio ↴The avant-jazz guitarist Mary Halvorson has been making a stir in downtown New Music circles for a while now. She is noted for her collaborations with the violist Jessica Pavone, among many others. Halvorson's strong 2008 debut, DRAGON'S HEAD features her new trio, comprised of the extraordinarily fluent bassist John Hebert and drummer Ches Smith (of indie-rockers Xiu-Xiu). Together, they make a far-ranging, expansive, and even accessible sound. Hebert's more-or-less continual dialogue with Halvorson's spidery, fresh improvisations places the music in the vicinity of free improvisation but the set is also distinguished by the guitarist's angular, brainy compositions. She does indulge in some rock-like freakouts and climaxes when called for (see the title track), but her highly inventive playing is characterized by cleanly executed, loping intervals--an endless web of logical free associations. It's much less impressionistic (and rootsy) than, say, Bill Frisell, but just as imaginative.

In The Second Before
Mary Halvorson Lyrics

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tangent to
the intense
quiet power
already there
in the second before
it reaches the eternal
fragrance
of your hands and feet

you may not know
that it’s easy
but his voice comes
out of the sound
of the million people

we are known
to discard

Overall Meaning

In Mary Halvorson's song "In the Second Before," the lyrics portray a sense of anticipation and insight into a moment just before a significant event or encounter. The opening line, "tangent to the intense," suggests a connection to something profound or powerful. The following lines, "quiet power already there," indicate that this intensity exists in a subtle and understated manner.

The lyrics then describe this moment as "the second before" it reaches "the eternal fragrance of your hands and feet." This can be interpreted as the moment just before someone's presence or touch is felt, implying that there is an aura or energy surrounding them. It conveys the notion that there is a deep significance in that fleeting moment of anticipation before a connection is made.

The lyrics take a turn when it states, "you may not know that it's easy," which can be understood as the realization that the significance or impact of this moment goes unnoticed or unacknowledged. The line "but his voice comes out of the sound of the million people we are known to discard" suggests that amidst the noise and distractions of everyday life, there is a hidden voice or message that often goes unheard or disregarded. It implies that there is something profound within the overlooked or discarded aspects of life.

Overall, the lyrics of "In the Second Before" by Mary Halvorson evoke a sense of contemplation and insight into the power and significance of those moments just before something meaningful occurs, highlighting the often unnoticed beauty and depth in seemingly ordinary experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

tangent to
running parallel to

the intense
the overwhelming

quiet power
silent strength

already there
existing beforehand

in the second before
in the brief moment preceding

it reaches the eternal
it reaches the everlasting

fragrance
scent

of your hands and feet
emanating from your hands and feet

you may not know
you may be unaware

that it’s easy
that it is effortless

but his voice comes
however, his voice emerges