Wise was raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up amongst a religious family; his father owned a Christian bookstore and his mother was a choir director. Wise joined the church choir as a child and grew up with classical and gospel music as a primary influence.
He attended the University of the Arts and sang with a couple of neo-soul bands in Philadelphia, before re-locating to New York City where he started working with Robin Carolan of Tri Angle Records. The blisters EP was released in September 2016 with previously available songs 'flickering', 'blisters' and 'four ethers' , alongside 'penance' and 'redemption'. The EP was co-written and produced with The Haxan Cloak.
Wise is openly gay and from a young age used gospel music to express his sexuality.
http://tri-anglerecords.com/serpentwithfeet
A Comma
SERPENTWITHFEET Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm wondering what's wrong with me
I'd like to be an open book
But honesty strides like a crook
I'm struggling to find a way
One day soon I'll find my place
Can't carry a heavy heart into another year
Life's gotta get easier
No heavy hearts in my next year
Ooh, ooh
I pray for punctuation, Lord, be a comma
Or better karma
Or a sweeter situation
I'm dressing wounds I cannot see
Someone else's beasts are riding me
I know this pain isn't mine
Yet I feel it all the time (oh)
Life's gotta get easier
Can't carry a heavy heart into another year
Life's gotta get easier
No heavy hearts in my next year
Ooh, ooh
Life has gotta get easier
Ooh, ooh
In "A Comma", SERPENTWITHFEET expresses his frustration with his current emotional state, admitting that he has closed himself off from the world and is struggling to be honest with those around him. He wants to be open and transparent, but he feels like he can't because the truth seems too elusive, like it's being stolen by an invisible thief. He yearns for a sense of peace and resolution, a way to punctuate the chaos of his life, hence why he prays for a comma, a symbol that separates phrases and makes meaning clear.
SERPENTWITHFEET also reflects on the burdens of carrying emotional pain that doesn't necessarily belong to him. He recognizes that he is carrying the weight of someone else's "beasts," perhaps their emotional baggage or trauma. This pain is not his own, but it still affects him and makes it difficult to move forward with a light heart. Ultimately, the song is a plea for relief and release, an acknowledgement that life is hard, but the hope that it can get easier with time.
Line by Line Meaning
I've shut my windows and demanded a breeze
I've isolated myself and asked for change, but I'm not sure what's wrong
I'm wondering what's wrong with me
I'm questioning my own state of mind and searching for answers
I'd like to be an open book
I wish I could be more transparent and honest with others
But honesty strides like a crook
Being truthful doesn't always come easy, and can even feel like a crime
I'm struggling to find a way
I'm facing obstacles and trying to navigate through them
One day soon I'll find my place
I hope to eventually discover where I belong in this world
Life's gotta get easier
I'm holding onto hope that things will become less burdensome
Can't carry a heavy heart into another year
I can't keep holding onto emotional weight and must let it go before moving forward
No heavy hearts in my next year
I aspire to enter the future with a light heart and clear mind
I pray for punctuation, Lord, be a comma
I'm longing for a break or pause in the challenges I'm facing
Or better karma
I'm hoping for a change in destiny or a chance at redemption
Or a sweeter situation
I desire a more favorable circumstance or environment
I'm dressing wounds I cannot see
I'm attempting to heal internal emotional pain and trauma that may not be visibly apparent
Someone else's beasts are riding me
I'm carrying the emotional burden and trauma of others on top of my own
I know this pain isn't mine
I'm aware that some of the emotional turmoil I'm experiencing belongs to someone else
Yet I feel it all the time (oh)
Even though the pain isn't mine, I'm still affected by it constantly
Life has gotta get easier
I reiterate my desire for a slowing down of troubles and a more favorable fate
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jonathan Wise, Wynne Bennett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Taylor Fifi
insane song, thank you so much for this beauty...your voice and instrumental are always amazing.
Percy Jnr Johnson
I really am here for this, I've been through some shit last year and for the most part of what we call 2020. I really needed this ๐ญ๐ข LIFE GOTTA GET EASIER
IGUANA JOE
This song pops at my job's radio every now and then and it transmits (at least to me) deep, deep energy. It helps me center and breathe, regardless of what's happening. Now that I can pay my full attention to it and read the lyrics, I double down on my feels about it and I love it even more.
This is coming from someone who delves in the "extreme" sides of music, so it's incredible even for me to fathom such power in a simple message.
Life's gotta get easier.
Timbah.On.Toast
the absolute guy, can't get enough of his music and I'm excited to see him back <3
Ah Shii, Here We Go Again
He should make more such songs. This is the finest.
Pinky1975
Angelical voice๐๐ป๐๐ป๐
Cris Garcia
Iโve been playing this song since I found it. Or maybe it found me. Either way I needed it so much. THANK YOU ๐
maud wlodarczyk
Amazing feeling!!!! Many thanks for this beautiful song! ๐
Oliwia Eustacchi
this is just amazing!! i had shivers from the beginning to the end
Aiman Haji
What a voice ๐