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.
Southern Cross
Mason Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And opened my window over Bondi beach
Where all the stars seemed out of reach
And recognized none but the southern cross
Sitting on my bed with the light turned off
Till I found a sweet song on the little clock radio and it made me cry
Singing have some faith, have some faith
And everywhere I go, I wish you were here with me
Stars hang on tiny strings, my dreams are made of memories
Once everything made sense, now I get so alone that I can't sleep
Will somebody please tell me if this is where I'm supposed to be
Bottles on the table and socks on the floor
Trying to remember what I started this for
When a surfer friend of mine came and picked me up
And we paddled out as the sun was coming up
Talking about how everybody has to find
Something that gives them the strength to be alive
And out laying on our boards in the southern hemisphere, he said to me
Gotta have some faith, have some faith
And I don't know what I want but I know where I want to be
And everywhere I go, I wish you were here with me
Stars hang on tiny strings, my dreams are made of memories
Once everything made sense, now I get so alone that I can't sleep
Will somebody please tell me if this is where I'm supposed to be
Mason Jennings's Southern Cross talks about the journey of life and the search for a sense of purpose. The first stanza portrays the sense of disorientation that can come with travelling long distances, both physically and emotionally. The image of Bondi beach is a symbol of escapism, a place to go when things get too much, but even there, the singer feels lost, unable to find their bearings. The mention of the Southern Cross, a constellation only visible in the southern hemisphere, highlights the singer's displacement and desire for a sense of belonging.
In the second verse, we see the singer struggling with loneliness and confusion, uncertain about where they are meant to be or what they are meant to be doing. The clock radio serves as a kind of emotional trigger, reminding the singer of something they can't quite put into words. The repetition of the phrase "have some faith" seems to be a message to the singer to keep going, to trust that they will eventually find their way.
The third verse introduces a surfer friend who helps the singer gain some perspective. In this moment of connection, the friend reminds the singer of the importance of finding something that gives them the strength to be alive. The mention of being in the southern hemisphere ties back to the earlier reference to the Southern Cross, and suggests that the singer is on a journey of self-discovery.
Overall, the song hovers between feelings of confusion and hope, highlighting the struggle to find one's place in the world, but also suggesting that such a place exists, and that with faith and determination, it can be found.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up at 4:35, still jet lagged from another plane ride
Feeling disoriented and sleep-deprived due to all the traveling.
And opened my window over Bondi beach
Taking in the beautiful scenery of Bondi beach from the hotel room.
Where all the stars seemed out of reach
Feeling small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
And recognized none but the southern cross
Feeling out of place and unfamiliar with the new surroundings.
Sitting on my bed with the light turned off
Being alone in the dark, lost in thought.
Till I found a sweet song on the little clock radio and it made me cry
Finding comfort in music and being moved to tears by it.
Singing have some faith, have some faith
Encouraging oneself to keep going and have faith in the journey.
And I don't know what I want but I know where I want to be
Feeling uncertain about what the future holds, but knowing where one wants to end up.
And everywhere I go, I wish you were here with me
Longing for the company and support of a loved one.
Stars hang on tiny strings, my dreams are made of memories
Reflecting on the fragility of life and the importance of memories.
Once everything made sense, now I get so alone that I can't sleep
Feeling lost and disillusioned, unable to find peace in solitude.
Will somebody please tell me if this is where I'm supposed to be
Questioning the path that has brought one to this moment in life.
Bottles on the table and socks on the floor
Painting a picture of a messy and cluttered space.
Trying to remember what I started this for
Questioning the motivation behind one's actions and choices.
When a surfer friend of mine came and picked me up
Finding solace and companionship in a friend.
And we paddled out as the sun was coming up
Finding joy and beauty in nature, and connecting with it on a deeper level.
Talking about how everybody has to find
Reflecting on the importance of finding one's purpose in life.
Something that gives them the strength to be alive
Realizing the importance of having a sense of purpose to guide one's actions and give meaning to life.
And out laying on our boards in the southern hemisphere, he said to me
Bonding with a friend over the beauty of the southern hemisphere, and finding comfort in each other's company.
Gotta have some faith, have some faith
Encouraging each other to keep going and have faith in the journey ahead.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MASON STEWART JENNINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind