If there is one thing that Sarah Jaffe will never have to contend with it is the idea that she is a female singer for females. There once was a time that being a female singer meant you would undoubtedly be put into an all too snug box. Is she an angry singer? An activist singer? A singer for the victimor the singer your mom bonds with you over? To be honest, when Sarah’s new CD Suburban Nature was released on May 18th she inserted herself into and destroyed all those boxes simultaneously, because Sarah is a truth singer...and no matter who or what we are we all need and want our singers to be truth singers. Jaffe’s words and voice seem like they are speaking to you, only to you, yet they contain a universal appeal evidenced by the fact that she has recently toured with Midlake and Norah Jones -- two completely different audiences who Jaffe, equally endearing and confident, easily won over.
Growing up in Red Oak, Texas, might not be ideal circumstances for breeding the kind of talent that is encompassed in Sarah’s songs, but it does beg the question of nature verses nurture. What we have in us before we are even us, and what we interpret because of life circumstances. Writing since her early teens, many of the songs featured on Suburban Nature were written long before she could even enter the clubs where they are now performed.
Interestingly enough the first single “Vulnerable,” was written when Sarah was only 17, long before even the material on her first EP, the acclaimed Even Born Again, was produced. Even so, it comprises everything that matters about her voice. If there is one thread that flows through all of Sarah’s work, it is grappling with the self-serving cycles that are in all of us, and the aftermath that those needs deal out. “I’m a fan of life’s wicked ironies. These things that reveal the truth from an aerial view nowhere near your perspective of the situation, and through these realizations you find redemption.” And so it is with Suburban Nature.
From opening track “Before You Go,” everything sounds as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon, the sonic spread covering every degree of the mix. It’s thick enough to feel when you breathe, but spatial enough to allow for the one thing that truly matters with singer/songwriters: their voice. When talking to the album's producer and engineer John Congleton (St Vincent, Polyphonic Spree, Explosions in the Sky, Clinic) about the spacious feel of the album, he had this to say on the matter: “I think it was intentional. Both Sarah’s and my feelings on this was that the vocal should be the focal point have as much space as possible, while the music provided an emotional backdrop.”
Skilled players such as Kris Youmans - cello (Bill Callahan, The Paper Chase, Micah P Hinson) Becki Howard – violin (The Crash That Took Me) Jeff Ryan – percussion (The Baptist Generals, St Vincent, Pleasant Grove) and Robert Gomez - guitar (as himself) provide this essential emotional backdrop. Just take a listen to “Pretender” for an example of the power and talent contained in this group of players. Layers of moveable music float in, out, under and over lines such as “So here we stand, like flowers in the cold, wilt and wither/Here's your chance/Tell me what you want/I'm a forgiver.” In other situations the group provide the perfect backbeat so Sarah is free to spin yarn that might not always be fact, but like we said, is certainly truth.
On “Clementine,” she sings, “We were young, we were young, we were young, we didn't care.” Although only 24 you actually believe her. You believe her because you believe that no matter what her actual age, she lived through the war of a relationship or fifty that aged her to her core, and now her soul speaks to yours in the places where you have aged, and set down roots that flow as grid in a suburb becoming part of your nature. This is why we need singers like Sarah Jaffe and albums like Suburban Nature: We need a truth singer to be a soothsayer, and help heal us in the broken places of our time.
Since the release of Suburban Nature, Sarah has toured constantly, hitting both Europe and the US with Midlake, as well as supporting such varied artists as Norah Jones, Lou Barlow, Centro-matic and Old 97s. “Clementine” Sarah’s debut single reached the #1 spot at various radio stations including Austin’s influential KGSR and Sirus’ Spectrum. Sarah and Suburban Nature landed in many 2010 “Best of Lists” including: Paste Magazine’s 10 Best New Solo Artists, 50 Best Albums, and 50 Best Songs; Amazon.com’s Best Albums and Song’s; USA Today’s Pop Candy 100 People of 2010.
Sarah released The Way Sound Leaves a Room, a CD/DVD combo in Fall 2011. In early 2012, Sarah released the follow up to Suburban Nature, The Body Wins.
Before You Go
Sarah Jaffe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not to know how it ends
Yes, hello self-esteem
We shall finally be free
Before you go
Before you go
Before you go
It pains me to see
Let the weight anchor me
Let me hang in suspense
Let me cry on your fence
Before you go
Before you go
Before you go
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh
In Sarah Jaffe's song "Before You Go," the lyrics reveal a heart that is hesitant to let go of a relationship that is struggling. The singer's heart pretends not to know how the relationship will end, but deep down it knows that it's time to move on. The line "hello self-esteem, we shall finally be free" suggests that the singer has been holding on to this relationship for too long, and that it's time to regain their self-esteem and leave. However, there is still a sense of pain and indecisiveness as the singer doesn't want to let the weight of the relationship anchor them but also doesn't want to let go.
The repetition of "before you go" emphasizes the significance of this moment of decision. The singer is torn between wanting to let go and wanting to hold on. The line "let me cry on your fence" suggests that the singer may even be bargaining with the partner for just a little more time, despite knowing that it's time to move on.
Overall, the lyrics of "Before You Go" convey a complex set of feelings associated with the end of a relationship. The singer is hesitant and indecisive, but ultimately knows that it's time to move on and regain their sense of self-worth.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart pretends
Despite what I may truly feel, my heart chooses to pretend otherwise
Not to know how it ends
I am in denial about the inevitable outcome of our relationship
Yes, hello self-esteem
I am welcoming and acknowledging my self-worth for the first time
We shall finally be free
My newfound respect for myself will liberate us from this unhealthy relationship
Before you go
I am asking for closure before we part ways
It pains me to see
I am hurt by what we have become
Let the weight anchor me
I am allowing myself to be weighed down by my emotions instead of repressing them
Let me hang in suspense
I am willing to face the uncertainty of not knowing what lies ahead
Let me cry on your fence
I am seeking comfort from you one last time
Ooh, ooh-ooh
A reflection of my emotions, the sorrow I feel
Ooh, ooh-ooh
A reflection of my emotions, the sorrow I feel
Ooh, ooh-ooh
A reflection of my emotions, the sorrow I feel
Ooh, ooh-ooh
A reflection of my emotions, the sorrow I feel
Ooh, ooh-ooh
A reflection of my emotions, the sorrow I feel
Ooh, ooh-ooh
A reflection of my emotions, the sorrow I feel
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Sarah A. Jaffe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MM G
My heart pretends
not to know how it ends
yes, hello self-esteem
we shall finally be free
Before you go
before you go
before you go
It pains me to see
that the wait (ain't complete?)
let me hang in suspense
let me cry on your fence
Before you go
before you go
before you go
Bảo Tuấn Cao Thiên
My heart pretends
not to know how it ends
yes, hello self-esteem
we shall finally be free
Before you go
before you go
before you go
It pains me to see
that the wait (ain't complete?)
let me hang in suspense
let me cry on your fence
Before you go
before you go
before you go
WOUTER JOYCOMPANY.ORG
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EN DAT IS VEBODEN WE ZIJN JUIST HEEL GELUKIG SAMEN IK ZOU HET LIESTE WEERSAMEN ZIJN NU OMINDELIJK IK BEN VLAK NA MIJ GEBOORT BESNEDEN
IK KOM UIT EEN TWELING IK HEB EEN ZUS IK BEN HAAR ALLEEN EEN BEETJE VERGETEN AL ZAL IK HAAR OOK WEER VINDEN IK VIOND HET HEERLIJK JOU TE SCHRIJVEN EN JOU WEER TE ONTMOETEN IK HEB ALTIJD EEN DUBBEL LEVENS GEVOEL GEHAD EN TOEN MOEST IK JOU OOK NOG MISSEN NET ALS IK LEEFDE JIJ OOK EEN EN DUBEL LEVEN IK KOM VAN EEN SIAMESE TWEELING WE ZATEN MET ELKAAR ONRUG VAST MAAR TRUG NAAR JOUW WE HEBNBEN NOG ZOVEEL TE BESPREKEN
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NOG KINDERTEKENING GEVONDDEN WAAROM IK WEET NIET JIJ HEBT LAST VAN EEN SIDROME DAAROM GAAT HET STEEDS MIS IK WIL JE GRAAG HELPEN ERVALT NOG WAT AAN TEDOEN IN TERAPIE GEEN MEDICEIN ZAL JE KUNNE HEPEN
HET IS EEN OORLOGS SINDROOM JE BENT OOK AL ZO OUD JE HEBT IN EEN KORTE TIJD VEEL MEEGEMAAKT EN STEEDS VERLIES JE MIJ WEER OF IK JOUW
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VOOR MIJ WAS JEALTIJD MIJ EVIE DANK JE WEL MIJN EVIE IK HOU VAN JOUW
WOUTER JOANNES HENDRICK
Laura Wolfe
God I love her music
Patrick Crosby
If I could add a third artist, I would add somebody like Coeur de Pirate or Milo Greene.
Stephanie B
+Patrick Crosby I know I would love that as well!
Patrick Crosby
+Stephanie Bailey Daughter is amazing. I'd like to see them on tour with someone like Sarah Jaffe.
Stephanie B
+Laura Wolfe Me too! Have you listened to Daughter? They're really good as well and Cat Power
Guilherme Leoni
Música maravilhosa! 💜
Nikki George
i honestly have this song on replay everyday.. love it!
Terry Westbrook
This song has a serious hold on me. Love it.
Jamie McMullan
I love this song so much. I wanted one more verse...
Jamie McMullan
2022 still love ❤️ this song! Thanks Sarah.