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.
KILLER
Mason Jennings Lyrics
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The streets were fast and filled with flames
Kids were screaming
Talk to me, please I beg you
I'm a wounded man
All is lost if trust is broken
Help me understand
Standing by the empty creek, fish are flipping
The air is hot and filled with sun
My head is swimming
Talk to me please I beg you
I'm a wounded man
All is lost if trust is broken
Help me understand
Promise me that you won't let me go
If you fail me please don't fail me now
Trapped beneath twisted steel
My legs are broken
I look at you, I'm waiting for
Your eyes to open
Talk to me please I beg you
I'm a wounded man
All is lost if trust is broken
Help me understand
Promise me that you won't let me go
The lyrics of "Killer" by Mason Jennings paint a vivid picture of a desperate and dangerous situation. The singer of the song is following someone to Killer's Creek on a motorcycle, and as they arrive, the streets are fast and filled with flames. The scene is chaotic, with kids screaming and the air hot and filled with sun. The singer begs for the person they're following to talk to them, to help them understand what's happening and make a promise to not let them go.
As the two stand by the empty creek, the singer's head is swimming and they beg again for the other person to talk to them. They reveal that they are a wounded man and that all is lost if trust is broken. They need reassurance that the other person will not let them down. The final verse finds the singer trapped beneath twisted steel with broken legs, waiting for the other person to wake up and help them. They once again plead for the other person to talk to them and promise to not let them go.
Overall, the song seems to be about the importance of trust and communication in difficult and dangerous situations. The singer seems to be in some sort of physical danger, and they are relying on the person they are following to help them through it. But their need for reassurance and understanding suggests that there may be emotional stakes at play as well.
Line by Line Meaning
Followed you to killer's creek on motorcycle
I followed you to the place where danger and death await.
The streets were fast and filled with flames
The roads were full of speed and danger, with destruction all around us.
Kids were screaming
The sound of children's fear and pain echoes in the air.
Talk to me, please I beg you
Please communicate with me, I am desperate for your attention.
I'm a wounded man
I am suffering from deep emotional scars and am vulnerable.
All is lost if trust is broken
If our trust is shattered, everything we have will be destroyed.
Help me understand
Please help me comprehend this difficult situation.
Promise me that you won't let me go
Please guarantee that you will stay with me and not abandon me.
Standing by the empty creek, fish are flipping
I am here, watching the fish flounder and gasp for air in the dried-up creek.
The air is hot and filled with sun
The weather is hot and the sun is scorching down on us.
My head is swimming
I am dizzy and disoriented.
If you fail me please don't fail me now
I am already in this dire situation, I cannot handle you leaving me now.
Trapped beneath twisted steel
I am physically trapped and trapped in my emotional pain.
My legs are broken
I am immobilized and in intense pain.
I look at you, I'm waiting for
I am relying on you for help and support.
Your eyes to open
I need you to see me and the situation clearly.
Help me understand
Please let me comprehend this difficult situation.
Promise me that you won't let me go
Please guarantee that you will stay with me and not abandon me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MASON STEWART JENNINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind