Her music is frequently labeled alternative country, although Case doesn't describe it in that way. She recorded and toured for several years as Neko Case & Her Boyfriends before switching to her own name. Case primarily writes her own material, but she also performs and has recorded cover versions of songs by artists such as Loretta Lynn, Tom Waits, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Bob Dylan, and Hank Williams. She frequently infuses humorous narratives into her live sets, a habit she says she gained from her grandmother and Wanda Jackson.
She is protective of her artistic independence, combining punk's "do it yourself aesthetic," a strong business sense, and clear opinions about her artistic goals. She has spurned offers from major record labels because they don't offer her enough control of her music, remaining affiliated with Mint Records in Canada and Bloodshot and ANTI- in the U.S.
Though she grew up in the U.S., Case began her musical career in Canada. She lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, for several years, playing with a variety of local punk bands, most prominently cub and Maow, and recording her first country album. She frequently collaborates with Canadian musicians, including The New Pornographers, The Sadies and Carolyn Mark, and has recorded material by several noted Canadian songwriters, notably on her 2001 EP Canadian Amp. As a result, she is a significant figure in Canadian music, and even U.S. media have sometimes referred to Case as Canadian.
Jettison
Neko Case and Her Boyfriends Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't let go so you'd stay
I did let you go 'cause I love you so much
And it kills me to see us this way
Love saved my life when you found me
A debt I can only repay
By closing the doors, now I'm savin' yours
Sandman take me much further than sleep
We'll ride down that river of tears
Where only the stars and the angels will weep
As I jettison all of my years
Long are the nights I lay cryin'
Wasn't because you weren't true
I hope you can finally be happy my love,
'Cause I'd give up my own life for you
Sandman take me much further than sleep
We'll ride down that river of tears
Where only the stars and the angels will weep
As I jettison all of my years
Oh, I jettsion all of my years
Oh, I jettison all of my years
"Jettison" by Neko Case is a song that speaks about the pain of letting go of someone you love, not because they hurt you or because you want them to stay, but because you love them enough to sacrifice your own happiness for theirs. The first verse reveals the motivation for letting go; the singer loves the person too much to see them unhappy, even if it means being apart from them. It's a selfless act of love that speaks to the depth of the singer's emotions.
The second verse reveals that the relationship was important to the singer because it saved their life. They feel a debt to the person they are letting go of, and in letting go, they are saving that person's life as well. The bridge discusses the grief and pain the singer has been experiencing, and how it's not caused by the person they are letting go of. Finally, the song closes with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the finality of this decision to let go and move on.
Overall, "Jettison" is a powerful song about love, sacrifice, and the pain of letting go. The lyrics are emotionally honest and touch on themes that are relatable to anyone who has experienced the end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't let go 'cause you hurt me
I didn't leave because you hurt me, but because I knew staying would hurt us more.
I didn't let go so you'd stay
I didn't let go to make you stay, I did it for our own good.
I did let you go 'cause I love you so much
I let go because I love you so much, and I couldn't bear to see us suffer any longer.
And it kills me to see us this way
This situation pains me deeply, and it hurts to see us in this state.
Love saved my life when you found me
I owe my life to the love you showed me when we met.
A debt I can only repay
I owe you a debt that I can never fully repay.
By closing the doors, now I'm savin' yours
By ending things, I'm actually saving you from further hurt and pain.
And I know that you want it this way
I can sense that deep down, you know it's better for us to end things.
Sandman take me much further than sleep
I want the Sandman to take me on a journey beyond my dreams, to a place where I can let go of everything.
We'll ride down that river of tears
Together we'll go down a path that's full of emotions and pain.
Where only the stars and the angels will weep
We'll be in a place where only the celestial beings can understand and feel our pain.
As I jettison all of my years
I'll be unloading all of the baggage that comes with years of pain and heartache.
Long are the nights I lay cryin'
I've been up all night crying for a long time.
Wasn't because you weren't true
It wasn't because I thought you were dishonest, but because of the pain we both feel.
I hope you can finally be happy my love,
I hope that you can finally be happy, my love, even if it's not with me.
'Cause I'd give up my own life for you
I'm willing to give up everything, even my own life, for you to be happy.
Oh, I jettsion all of my years
I'm finally letting go of all the hurt and pain from the past.
Oh, I jettison all of my years
I'm finally unburdened and free from the weight of my past struggles.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ford Pier, Neko Case
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind