Born in Hawaii, Jennings moved with his family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at an early age. Jennings learned to play guitar at the age of 13, when he began writing songs. Jennings later dropped out of school and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to pursue his musical career.
Jennings produced his self-titled debut album in 1997 on an analog four-track in the basement of a rented home, manning all instruments himself. In October 1998, after bringing drummer Chris Stock and bassist Robert Skoro on board, he began a weekly gig at Minneapolis' 400 Bar as the Mason Jennings Band. Garnering local praise and a wide fan base, Mason began touring nationally.
His 2000 album Birds Flying Away revealed Jennings' political activism and penchant for singing first-person narratives of imaginary rustic characters. Following the release of this album, Noah Levy took over drumming duties from Stock.
2002 saw the release of two albums: the studio piece Century Spring and a "fans only" collection of acoustic rarities, Simple Life. An EP supporting Century Spring was also released, featuring the album's opening track, "Living In The Moment," two live tracks, and the previously-unreleased "Emperor Ashoka." Jennings released all three discs -- and re-released his earlier albums -- on his homebrewed record label, Architect Records.
In 2003, Skoro and Levy left the band (the former to pursue a solo career), and were replaced by bassist Chris Morrissey (formerly of Bill Mike Band) and drummer Brian Mcleod.
On 10 February 2004, Jennings released Use Your Voice, which notably included the songs "Keepin' It Real," a foot-stomper ostensibly written at the request of Shrek 2 producers (but not used in the film), and "The Ballad of Paul and Sheila," an acoustic dirge for late Minnesota senator Paul Wellstone. On the 30th, September of that year, the band released a DVD entitled Use Your Van, which chronicled the recording of Use Your Voice and part of the promotional tour. The DVD was filmed by Andy Grund.
On June 17, 2005, news broke that Jennings had finally signed with a major label: Glacial Pace, a subsidiary of Sony's Epic Records headed by Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock. Minnesota's Star Tribune broke the story, and credited Brock with convincing Jennings to sign after the Mason Jennings Band had opened for several Modest Mouse shows in 2004. Jennings had long avoided the major labels, citing desires to maintain creative control and dodge big-label politics.
Jennings recorded his sixth album, "Boneclouds," at Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, MN. The album was released on May 16, 2006 by Glacial Pace.
After considerable success on "Boneclouds", Jennings released his seventh full length album "In the Ever" in 2008. The album was released under Jack Johnson's "Brushfire Records".
In September 2009, Blood of Man was released on CD and vinyl format. In late 2010, Live at First Ave., his first ever live album, was released.
Gentlest Hammer
Mason Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blue, like oxygen, coming in and out again
Good god I want you, run hide and I?ll hunt you
Tracing your mouth like clouds across the sun
I am the gentlest hammer
I am the gentlest hammer
Coming down, down till I break through
I am the gentlest hammer
I am the gentlest hammer
Coming down, down till I break through
Gotta get into you, gotta get into you
You polish stones with your eyes, set kites free
Out where ships have sank coming trying to rescue me
My hand is drawing faster, I am the one you're after
And you move like shadows on the wall
I am the gentlest hammer
I am the gentlest hammer
Coming down, down till I break through
Gotta get into you
I am the gentlest hammer
I am the gentlest hammer
Coming down, down till I break through
Gotta get into you, gotta get into you
You are my garden green, golden leaves , haloed trees
Move into me, take me like the enemy
I'll stay until it?s ended, till all your aches are mended
Come here silhouette and let me see you break
I am the gentlest hammer
I am the gentlest hammer
Coming down, down till I break through
Gotta get into you
I am the gentlest hammer
I am the gentlest hammer
Coming down, down till I break through
Gotta get into you, gotta get into you
Gotta get into you, gotta get into you
In "Gentlest Hammer," Mason Jennings sings about his desire for someone who he compares to "wine" and "battle smoke." He wants to chase them down and "break through" to get closer to them, using the metaphor of a "gentlest hammer." He describes the person's movements as "shadows on the wall" and their gaze as being able to "polish stones" and "set kites free." The lyrics suggest a passionate pursuit of someone who is both mysterious and captivating.
One interpretation of the song's lyrics is that the object of Jennings's affections could be seen as a representation of creativity or inspiration. The references to polishing stones and setting kites free evoke images of things that are trapped or needing to be released. The idea of chasing down this inspiration is akin to pursuing it with force, but doing so in a gentle way that doesn't destroy it. The gentle hammer could be seen as a tool to coax creativity out of hiding, rather than bludgeoning it into existence.
Another interpretation is that the song is about the highs and lows of romantic love. The lyrics depict the intensity of wanting someone desperately, but wanting to approach them in a gentle and delicate way. The references to blue oxygen and golden leaves imply a sense of beauty and wonder, but the line "take me like the enemy" adds a sense of danger or risk. Ultimately, the song explores the balancing act required to navigate the powerful emotions of love and affection.
Line by Line Meaning
You taste like wine, battle smoke, something crying
Your taste is a mixture of wine, smoke from battles, and something that makes me cry
Blue, like oxygen, coming in and out again
Your presence is like the blue oxygen that comes and goes
Good god I want you, run hide and I?ll hunt you
I desire you so much that I'll chase you no matter where you hide
Tracing your mouth like clouds across the sun
I am exploring your lips as if I were tracing the clouds painting the sun
I am the gentlest hammer
I am the softest method to reach your heart
Coming down, down till I break through
I'll keep trying until I find a way to break through to you
Gotta get into you
I have to find a way to connect with you
You polish stones with your eyes, set kites free
You possess the ability to polish stones with your gaze and set free flying kites
Out where ships have sank coming trying to rescue me
In the same location where ships have sunk, you come to save me
My hand is drawing faster, I am the one you're after
My hand moves swiftly, I'm the one you're searching for
And you move like shadows on the wall
Your movements resemble shadows dancing on the walls
You are my garden green, golden leaves , haloed trees
You are my beautiful garden filled with greenery, golden leaves, and angelic trees
Move into me, take me like the enemy
Embrace me as if I were your enemy and you had to win me over
I'll stay until it?s ended, till all your aches are mended
I'll stay with you until everything is resolved and all your pains have been healed
Come here silhouette and let me see you break
Approach me, shadow, and allow me to witness your vulnerability
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MASON STEWART JENNINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind