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.
Talk
Sarah Jaffe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've opened my mouth too many times
Now that I'm done talking
Here you come walking
And I feel ignorant to be certain
Strung out like a fool
I know I don't need to
And I feel ignorant to be certain
All your debts are paid off
You don't owe a thing
Heaven sent and precious and wise for your age
All these moves are calculated
And I feel ignorant to be certain
Strung out like a fool
I know I don't need to
But I know that I want you
And I feel ignorant to be certain
Strung out like a fool
I know I don't need to
But I know that I want you
And I feel ignorant to be certain
The lyrics of Sarah Jaffe's "Talk" speak to the singer's feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty in the presence of someone they are attracted to. The singer expresses regret for "opening [their] mouth too many times" in the past and feeling foolish in comparison to the person they desire. The line "All your debts are paid off / You don't owe a thing" suggests that the object of the singer's affection has their life together, making the singer feel even more inadequate. However, despite these feelings, the singer cannot help but want the other person.
This song captures the vulnerability and insecurity that many feel when dealing with romantic feelings. The singer's admission of feeling "ignorant" speaks to the fear of not measuring up to the person they desire. The chorus repeats the same lines, emphasizing the intensity of the emotions the singer is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
All my young life
Throughout my youth, I've constantly spoken up, often to my detriment.
I've opened my mouth too many times
I've been guilty of speaking too much and not listening enough.
Now that I'm done talking
Having been a highly vocal person, I've decided to be quiet.
Here you come walking
But someone has come along that I want to speak with.
And I feel ignorant to be certain
Though I have a strong conviction, I'm aware that I'm not fully informed.
Strung out like a fool
I'm emotionally drained for putting in too much effort.
I know I don't need to
I'm aware that I don't need to feel this way, but I can't help it.
But I know that I want you
I'm certain that I have feelings for the person I'm talking to.
All your debts are paid off
You have no financial obligations and are free of debt.
You don't owe a thing
You're not indebted to anyone and have fulfilled your obligations.
Heaven sent and precious and wise for your age
In my eyes, you're a gift from above, valuable and mature for your years.
All these moves are calculated
You're strategic and intentional in your actions.
Contributed by Samuel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.