Their debut EP Taking Abalonia was released in 2007. It was re-released with seven new songs on June 3, 2008, in Canada as a full-length LP under the name Howe Sounds / Taking Abalonia.
On July 1, 2009, Said the Whale released the EP The Magician to drum up anticipation for the release of their second full-length album Islands Disappear on October 13, 2009.
In the spring of 2011, Said the Whale toured the U.S. for the first time. During this time they were the subject of the CBC documentary "Winning America" directed by Brent Hodge and Thomas Buchan. The movie documented the band's trip and performances along the West Coast of North America on their way to and from Austin, Texas' SXSW Music Festival and culminated when Said the Whale won the Juno Award for New Group of the Year at the 2011 Juno Awards. The documentary aired on July 23, 2011, in British Columbia, and on April 7, 2012, across Canada.
They released their EP New Brighton on November 8, 2011, in preparation for their third full-length album, Little Mountain, released internationally on March 6, 2012.
In early 2012, the band was awarded a spot on the Canadian music magazine Rockstar Weekly's list of the "Top 12 RockStars to Watch in 2012". The list also included Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, and Rush. The band performed at the Sasquatch! Music Festival in 2012 and 2013.
Said the Whale released their fourth studio album, titled hawaiii, on September 17, 2013.
On January 4, 2017, they announced their fifth album, As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide. At the same time, they announced the departure of Spencer Schoening, and that they would move forward as a trio. The album was released March 31, 2017. The first single was "Step Into The Darkness."
On March 5, 2017, they posted an Instagram video with an email address which fans could contact in order to listen to the whole album for free before its release. Fans could stream the whole album on a personalized, private SoundCloud account from the 10th until the 15th of March without leaking or sharing the link. From the 15th until the 26th of March, the fans could invite their friends to listen to the album in a "listening party" in order to promote it but still not sharing the link to the album, keeping it strictly limited to those who were sent the link.
In September 2018, Said the Whale signed to Canadian indie label Arts & Crafts, and announced a new record to be released in early 2019. The band released a new single "UnAmerican" on October 12, 2018. They released their sixth studio album, Cascadia, on February 8, 2019.
Throughout 2021, Said the Whale released a number of singles and music videos from their upcoming album, including "Honey Lungs," "Everything She Touches is Gold to Me," "Show Me Everything," and "99 to the Moon." In May, Bancroft announced he was launching a new record label called EVERYTHING FOREVER. Said the Whale's seventh studio album, Dandelion, was released on October 22, 2021, via that label.
Jesse AR
Said the Whale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had a house and sold it off
Been a husband for too long
Never been a lover, though
So he headed up to Edmonton
He changed his name and found some friends
Got a couple shekels from a brother who supported him
Didn't take a couple months
Till Jesse finally met someone
A simple girl from Edmonton
Thought that they could be something
So he brought her back to Little Rock
And showed her off to everyone
Found a house and found a job
Got a ring to get it done
Restless eyes they never sleep for too long they're always a couple steps ahead
Jesse disappeared again
Didn't go to Edmonton
Didn't talk to any friends
Like many others who are
Trying to be someone else
Instead of who they really are
Jesse came from Arkansas
Had a house and sold it off
Been a husband for too long
Never been a lucky one
In Said The Whale's song "Jesse AR", we are introduced to Jesse, a man who has been a husband for too long and has never experienced love. He decides to leave behind his old life in Arkansas and make a fresh start in Edmonton, where he changes his name and finds friends. With a little financial help from his brother, Jesse begins a new life, but it doesn't take long before he meets a simple girl from Edmonton and falls for her. He brings her back to Little Rock, where he finds a job and a house, and gets a ring to get it done. However, Jesse's restless eyes can never sleep for too long and he disappears again, not going to Edmonton or talking to any of his friends. The song ends with the realization that Jesse had never been a lucky one.
The lyrics of "Jesse AR" offer a poignant commentary on the difficulties of finding oneself and creating a new life. Often, we are quick to leave behind our past and start anew, but the consequences of such a decision can be difficult to handle. Jesse's inability to stay still and his search for love are aspects of the human condition that we can all relate to. The song's use of storytelling and vivid imagery makes it a powerful piece of music that is sure to resonate with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesse came from Arkansas
Jesse is from Arkansas
Had a house and sold it off
Jesse owned a house which he sold
Been a husband for too long
Jesse has been married for a while
Never been a lover, though
Jesse has not had a romantic relationship
So he headed up to Edmonton
Jesse went to Edmonton
He changed his name and found some friends
Jesse changed his name and made some new friends
Got a couple shekels from a brother who supported him
Jesse received some financial support from his brother
Didn't take a couple months
It didn't take long
Till Jesse finally met someone
Jesse eventually found a romantic partner
A simple girl from Edmonton
Jesse's partner is from Edmonton
Thought that they could be something
Jesse's partner saw potential in their relationship
So he brought her back to Little Rock
Jesse brought his partner to Little Rock
And showed her off to everyone
Jesse introduced his partner to others
Found a house and found a job
Jesse secured both a job and a home
Got a ring to get it done
Jesse proposed and got engaged
Restless eyes they never sleep for too long they're always a couple steps ahead
Jesse is constantly looking for the next thing and can never settle
Jesse disappeared again
Jesse vanished
Didn't go to Edmonton
Jesse did not return to Edmonton
Didn't talk to any friends
Jesse didn't communicate with his friends
Like many others who are
This is a common occurrence
Trying to be someone else
Jesse is attempting to be someone he is not
Instead of who they really are
Jesse is not embracing his true self
Never been a lucky one
Jesse is not fortunate in life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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