Jarosz emerged on the scene in about 2003 as someone to watch. Jamming on stage with bluegrass icons named Grisman or Skaggs, she played her mandolin with a sure touch and real joy. It looked and sounded comfortable in her twelve-year-old hands. She started writing songs on the guitar, took up the banjo, and won a bunch of awards. While her instrumental talents are formidable, let's make one thing clear: Sarah is a singer. She's just flat got it. Her voice is velvety smooth, agile, and powerful. With subtle use of colors and effects, she inhabits her songs the way a fine actress does her role. Overall, her music feels good, avoids over reaching. Nothing's contrived.
Her schoolteacher parents have raised her well, providing the skills, support, and freedom to become the confident artist that she is. Beautiful, talented, and just a little mysterious in a wholesome, Wimberley Texas hill-country kinda way, Jarosz is at home in this world. She knows what she's about and is ready to get out there and make her mark.
Floating In The Balance
Sarah Jarosz Lyrics
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Holds my ears in sweet embrace
The endless chain reaction
Of what we give and what we take
Going through the motions
And acting out this part
Sifting through the pages
Calloused fingers fumble
On the boardwalk of my muse
Feeling fit to crumble
Some days I wake up with the blues
Holding onto my time
Or at least what I've got left
I'll work with what I'm given
And I'll dream up all the rest
Throw away the watches
Call off every bet
The time ain't mine for saving
But I'll take what I can get
Holding onto wisdom
Of the ones who came before
Floating in the balance
Of the calm before the storm
In "Floating In The Balance" Sarah Jarosz sings about finding solace in music, both as a form of escapism and as a way to make sense of life. The first verse speaks to the pleasure of losing oneself in sound, and the concept of balance that runs through the title and chorus is introduced: everything we do and receive becomes part of a delicate equilibrium, and it's only by recognizing this fact that we can move forward. The second verse delves deeper into the idea of taking control, and the struggle to find one's voice and direction in the vastness of the artistic world. Though it can be difficult, Jarosz urges the listener to hold onto time and experience, to make the most of what they have rather than wishing for something else. The final verse touches on the wisdom of others and the inevitability of change, and ends with a note of hope and anticipation of what lies ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Sonic satisfaction
The pleasing sound engulfs me harmoniously
Holds my ears in sweet embrace
It envelops my auditory senses in a delightful manner
The endless chain reaction
The never-ending sequence of actions and reactions
Of what we give and what we take
Related to the laws of cause and effect, and how our actions have consequences
Going through the motions
Following established habits and routines without much thought or passion
And acting out this part
Playing a role that may not be authentic or true to oneself
Sifting through the pages
Sorting through the information and memories of one's life
Of the life that I can start
Reflecting on the possibilities and options for the future
Calloused fingers fumble
Rough and hardened hands struggle to perform a delicate task
On the boardwalk of my muse
Navigating the creative process with difficulty and uncertainty
Feeling fit to crumble
Experiencing a sense of fragility and vulnerability
Some days I wake up with the blues
Occasionally feeling sad or down for no apparent reason
Holding onto my time
Trying to preserve and make the most of the limited time one has
Or at least what I've got left
With an awareness that time is fleeting and non-renewable
I'll work with what I'm given
Making the best use of the resources and opportunities available
And I'll dream up all the rest
Imagining and creating a vision of what could be beyond the present circumstances
Throw away the watches
Releasing the obsession with time and the constant clock-watching
Call off every bet
Letting go of the outcomes and the expectations of what may happen
The time ain't mine for saving
Acknowledging that time is not something one can possess or keep
But I'll take what I can get
Making the most of the opportunities that present themselves
Holding onto wisdom
Valuing the knowledge and experience of those who have gone before
Of the ones who came before
The teachings and experiences of previous generations
Floating in the balance
Existing in a state of equilibrium or uncertainty
Of the calm before the storm
The period of peace and tranquility that precedes a major upheaval or challenge
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: SARAH JAROSZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind