J.R. is said to have started dabbling in music when he was six and his mother mandated – as she did with his older and younger brothers – that he take piano lessons. A self-taught guitar and banjo player, J.R.’s fondness for old gospel hymns, bluesmen like Son House and R.L. Burnside, and artists like The Carter Family and Tom Waits, helped shape his sound, which has been described as “haunting stomp blues tempered with a touch of honey.”
Growing up the middle of three brothers, J.R.’s childhood developed in him a strong sense of home and yearning to return to it – despite being shot in the back by his blood brother with a BB gun – the pellet is still nestled comfortably behind his ribs to this day.
J.R. pulls from a constellation of sensory experiences “the smell of being in an apple orchard first thing in the morning, the sound of boots on old wood floorboards, the feeling of falling asleep to the hum of a fan in the summer, early autumn in the country” that inspire and inform his music.
With a musical style that adeptly toes the line between folky and sorrowful lullabies to dirty, grainy, blues-influenced songs, J.R.’s voice communicates a level of intimacy and passion that carries with it a quiet sense of loss, yearning, and wanting.
Performing on stage with a kick drum, high-hat, and guitar/banjo (as well as the occasional harmonica and kazoo) J.R.’s live shows are visually impressive – a powerful and dynamic display that showcases his musical and emotional range.
His songs speak of sorrow and hope, a longing for home, and, he says, “The more unsavory desires and wants in your life – those demons and devils that haunt you.” *
*taken from his website, The-Wildness.com.
Hammers and Nails
The Bones of J.R. Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Holler and scream,
My fruit will bleed,
My fruit will bleed,
Oh, my son,
What have you done?
Dirt always tells,
Dirt always tells.
Hold your heart,
Bury the shovel,
Rumours and spells,
Rumours and spells,
Hold your tongue,
Bury the rope,
Hammers and nails,
Hammers and nails.
Hammers and nails.
Hammers and nails.
(Bury it down, down) x 8
(Woah, woah) x 8
Sing a song,
Holler and scream,
My fruit will bleed,
My fruit will bleed,
Hold your tongue,
Bury the rope,
Hammers and nails,
Hammers and nails.
The song Hammers and Nails by The Bones of J.R. Jones is a reflective piece about the consequences of one's actions. The singer speaks of the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions as dirt always tells the truth about them. The reference to "my fruit," may refer to one's life's work, and in this case, the singer's work is bleeding, highlighting the destructive nature of the actions taken. The second verse focuses on the need to bury and forget the rumors and negative effects of previous actions, and to hold on to one's values and not repeat the same mistakes again. The singer uses the imagery of hammers and nails to symbolize the labor work required to rectify the damage caused by one's deeds, and the phrase is repeated multiple times, emphasizing the need for hard work to undo one's wrongs.
The song's message is quite powerful, and the lyrics are deeply metaphorical. It highlights the importance of accountability and taking responsibility for one's actions, reminding us that every action has consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing a song,
Express yourself with passion and emotion through music,
Holler and scream,
Make your presence known through loud and forceful vocalization,
My fruit will bleed,
My creativity and expression will flow and be on display,
My fruit will bleed,
My creativity and expression will flow and be on display,
Oh, my son,
Addressing someone who has made a mistake or caused harm in some way,
What have you done?
Questioning the actions and consequences of the previously mentioned person,
Dirt always tells,
The truth will eventually be revealed, especially when trying to hide something,
Dirt always tells.
The truth will eventually be revealed, especially when trying to hide something,
Hold your heart,
Protect yourself and be cautious with your own emotions,
Bury the shovel,
Put away the tool that was used to cause harm or create a mess,
Rumours and spells,
Gossip and manipulation,
Rumours and spells,
Gossip and manipulation,
Hold your tongue,
Keep quiet and not speak out of turn or say something regrettable,
Bury the rope,
Get rid of the means to harm oneself or others,
Hammers and nails,
Tools used to build and create,
Hammers and nails,
Tools used to build and create,
Hammers and nails.
Tools used to build and create,
Hammers and nails.
Tools used to build and create,
(Bury it down, down) x 8
Repeating the earlier message of getting rid of negativity and harm,
(Woah, woah) x 8
Vocalization to emphasize the message and get the point across,
Sing a song,
Express yourself with passion and emotion through music,
Holler and scream,
Make your presence known through loud and forceful vocalization,
My fruit will bleed,
My creativity and expression will flow and be on display,
My fruit will bleed,
My creativity and expression will flow and be on display,
Hold your tongue,
Keep quiet and not speak out of turn or say something regrettable,
Bury the rope,
Get rid of the means to harm oneself or others,
Hammers and nails,
Tools used to build and create,
Hammers and nails.
Tools used to build and create,
Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nolan
on Bless Your Soul
Oh, when all of your ghosts in your dark hollow
All them move to whats holy in you
Oh and Bless Your Soul
If your keeping time, aint hard if your blind
Just tap your feet to your prayers off beat
Oh and Bless Your Soul
Oh, Lord only knows
'Cause I, got all sorts of time
Yes I got all sorts of time
Oh, when all of your ghost in your dark hollow
All them move to whats holy in you
'Cuase your keeping time, aint hard if your blind
Just tap your feet of your prayers off beat
Oh and BLESS YOUR SOUL
Lord only knows
'Cause I, got all sorts of time
I got all sorts of time
Yes I got all sorts of time
Mel Menchini
on St. James' Bed
These are the lyrics to "St. James Infirmary" not "St. James's Bed". They're not even close. Literally the only thing they have in common is St. James.
Tonio Niémo
on Hearts Racing
Love this one... keep it simple, keep that melancholia...