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.
When You Rest
Sarah Jaffe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For each little mind game, it's own separate hell
I believe this is what it's like, that is to say
If you fool yourself at the end of the day
If you fool yourself
Where you gonna rest your head
Where you gonna rest those long legs
Where you gonna rest those long legs
Watch you sink to the bottom
But surely it will rise
Like oil and water, it separates right
On your sleeve, there it is
What you've always wanted to say
You long for the day you can pull it together
Pull it together
Where you gonna rest your head
Where you gonna rest those long legs
Where you gonna rest your head
Where you gonna rest those long legs
The opening lines of “When You Rest” convey the frustration of feeling like someone is playing games with you. The singer is exasperated and feels as if they’ve been manipulated without even realizing it. The lyrics “For each little mind game, it’s own separate hell” paint a picture of just how exhausting and draining it can be to constantly feel like you’re being used or taken advantage of.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift to a more introspective tone. The repetition of the question “Where you gonna rest your head/Where you gonna rest those long legs” suggests a sense of uncertainty and confusion about where the singer belongs in the world. It’s as if they’re searching for a sense of grounding or stability, but they can’t seem to find it.
The bridge of the song brings everything full circle, with the line “On your sleeve, there it is/What you’ve always wanted to say.” This suggests that the singer may have been holding something back, perhaps even playing their own games, and they’ve finally come clean about their feelings. But even though they’ve spoken their truth, they still don’t know where they fit in or where they can find rest and comfort.
Overall, “When You Rest” is a contemplation on the intricacies of human relationships and the search for a sense of belonging. It’s a relatable song for anyone who’s struggled with feeling like they’re being used or taken advantage of, or those who are searching for a place to call home.
Line by Line Meaning
Would have asked me if I didn't tell
If I didn't tell you, you wouldn't have asked me.
For each little mind game, it's own separate hell
Every single mind game is a hell of its own.
I believe this is what it's like, that is to say
This is what I think it's like, to be precise.
If you fool yourself at the end of the day
If you deceive yourself by the end of the day.
If you fool yourself
If you deceive yourself.
Where you gonna rest your head
Where are you going to lay down and rest your head?
Where you gonna rest those long legs
Where are you going to lay down and rest your long legs?
Watch you sink to the bottom
I see you sinking down to the bottom.
But surely it will rise
But it will certainly rise.
Like oil and water, it separates right
Like oil and water, it becomes separate on its own.
On your sleeve, there it is
It's right there, visible to everyone.
What you've always wanted to say
What you've always desired to express.
You long for the day you can pull it together
You crave for the day you can get it all together.
Pull it together
Get it all together.
Where you gonna rest your head
Where are you going to lay down and rest your head?
Where you gonna rest those long legs
Where are you going to lay down and rest your long legs?
Contributed by Sophia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.