Pavement, a band started by Malkmus post-Ectoslavia, pre-New York, at this point began to gain attention. This attention resulted in a record deal and a constant inferiority plague placed upon the 'Joos with Berman totally at the forefront of the group. Misinformed music fans now saw the band as a side-project and, even worse, Berman as being not good enough to play with Pavement, many band members being shared between the two bands.
The connection to Malkmus and the now blossoming Pavement was not all negative, however. Drag City, then not the bastion of American folk music it is today, agreed to release the band's debut EPs which has led to a fruitful relationship (the label continues to release the band's records, right up to album number 7 in 2008, (Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea).
The Silver Jews in their later days primarily consisted of David and Cassie Berman who contributed most of the lyrics, and a changing cast of characters. They had numerous indie stars in a rotating line up, including Willie T. of Lambchop, and Brian Kotzer of Tim Chad and Sherry.
David Berman is also a poet and has been published in numerous poetry magazines and journals. He also has a book of poetry and rants entitled "Actual Air," which was released in 1999 and received favorable reviews from The New Yorker and GQ.
On the 22nd of January, 2009, David Berman announced on the Drag City messageboard that their show on the 31st of January in Tennessee would be their last. "Can't be like all the careerists doncha know. I'm forty two and I know what to do. I'm a writer, see? I always said we would stop before we got bad." After 10 years off, Berman reappeared in 2019 as Purple Mountains.
David Berman died from suicide on August 22, 2019 after a long battle with depression.
Rebel Jew
Silver Jews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's like he's coming through the walls
When I'm working at my desk at night
I hear his footsteps in the hall
You can believe me not believe me
I'm just a bird upon the sill
And these words just pour right through me
He was a rebel jew
He was a rebel jew
And he died for you and your sins
He was a rebel jew
He was a rebel jew
Let him in
Sometimes I dream of Texas
Yeah, it's the biggest part of me
And the planes look like the sea at night
Oh, she wants to be so free
She is a rebel state
She is a rebel state
And it's not too late for her to break
From a sick, sick union
An unhealed wound and separate
All the time I dream of Michelle
And the towers in her mind
Some women lie down with killers
Oh, my baby's not that kind
She is a real good girl
Yeah, she's a real good girl
And she stops the world so I can't see
That she's a good, good girl
A good, good girl to me
The lyrics to Silver Jews' song "Rebel Jew" are complex and intense, exploring themes of faith, rebellion, dreams, and love. The singer describes visions they have of Jesus, where he appears to be coming through the walls, and they can hear his footsteps in the hall while they work at their desk. They acknowledge that these experiences may not be believed by others, but for them, these words and images flow through them like water through a mill. The singer then declares that Jesus was a "rebel Jew" who died for their sins and should be welcomed in.
The lyrics then shift to the singer's dreams of Texas, where the planes look like the sea at night, and they describe the state as a "rebel state" that can break free from its "sick, sick union" and unhealed wounds. Finally, the singer dreams of Michelle and the towers in her mind, acknowledging that some women lie down with killers, but not their baby. They describe Michelle as a good girl who can stop the world so they can't see how good she is to them.
Overall, the lyrics to "Rebel Jew" explore complex themes of faith, rebellion, love, and freedom, all wrapped in David Berman's trademark poetic style.
Line by Line Meaning
In the times I dream Jesus
The singer has dreams of Jesus that feel extremely vivid and real.
It's like he's coming through the walls
The singer feels as if Jesus is with him, even if he cannot see him.
When I'm working at my desk at night
The singer experiences Jesus' presence even in the mundane parts of his life.
I hear his footsteps in the hall
The singer feels as though Jesus is physically present in the same space as him.
You can believe me not believe me
The singer shares his experiences of Jesus but understands that others may not believe him.
I'm just a bird upon the sill
The singer is sharing his experiences honestly without imposing his beliefs.
And these words just pour right through me
The lyrics come naturally and effortlessly to the singer like water through a mill.
He was a rebel jew
The singer is describing Jesus as someone who challenged the established norm for his time.
And he died for you and your sins
Jesus sacrificed his life for the sake of humanity and to absolve our sins.
Let him in
The singer invites the listener to accept Jesus into their life.
Sometimes I dream of Texas
The singer has dreams of a place that is close to his heart, which may represent his roots.
Yeah, it's the biggest part of me
The place he dreams of holds significant importance to him.
And the planes look like the sea at night
Maybe referencing the Gulf of Mexico and relating the vastness of the gulf to the size of Texas.
Oh, she wants to be so free
The singer describes Texas like a person who desires freedom.
She is a rebel state
Texas is seen as a state that has always stood apart from the rest of the United States.
And it's not too late for her to break
The singer suggests that Texas can boldly resist being repressed by the establishment.
From a sick, sick union
The singer is highlighting the corrupt practices and unhealthy politics of the United States system.
An unhealed wound and separate
The singer declares that Texas remains uninjured and retains its individuality from the United States.
All the time I dream of Michelle
The singer is constantly thinking about a woman named Michelle.
And the towers in her mind
The towers may be a metaphor for the obstacles that Michelle faces in her inner world.
Some women lie down with killers
Michelle is not like other women, who may compromise their morals or put themselves in harm's way.
Oh, my baby's not that kind
The singer is proud of the fact that Michelle stands up for herself and is not afraid to walk away from harmful situations.
She is a real good girl
Michelle is someone with a good heart and kind intentions.
Yeah, she's a real good girl
The repetition emphasizes that Michelle is someone the singer genuinely admires and loves.
And she stops the world so I can't see
Michelle distracts the singer from whatever else is going on in the world and captures his attention completely.
That she's a good, good girl
The singer repeats that Michelle is a genuinely good person who has a positive impact on his life.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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