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.
Take Me Away
The Bones of J.R. Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The day my fucking mom abandoned me
Was the day I learned to lie
She kissed my face and said she'd be right back
Before she walked away and cried
So take me away (take me away)
Take me away
From this lonesome place
Trouble
Is all I've ever known
How am I supposed to find some peace of mind
If I can't stand to be alone?
So take me away (take me away)
Take me away
From this lonesome place
From this lonesome place
From this lonesome place
From this lonesome place
Don't give up, don't give up, no
Don't give up, don't give up, baby (I give up)
Don't give up, don't give up, no
Don't give up, don't give up, baby (I give up)
Don't give up, don't give up, no
Don't give up, don't give up, baby (I give up)
Don't give up, don't give up, no
Don't give up, don't give up, baby
So take me away (take me away)
Take me away
From this lonesome place
Just take me away (take me away)
Take me away
From this lonesome place
Just take me away (take me away)
Take me away
From this lonesome place
The lyrics to The Bones of J.R. Jones's song Take Me Away are about a person who has had a difficult life and is seeking relief. The song speaks of a time when the singer's mother left him, resulting in him having to learn how to lie. This traumatic event is likely a metaphor for the singer's difficulty in trusting people and struggling with vulnerability in relationships. The chorus, "take me away from this lonesome place," suggests that the singer is searching for a way to escape feelings of loneliness and isolation.
The second verse, "Trouble is all I've ever known, how am I supposed to find some peace of mind if I can't stand to be alone?" further reinforces the theme of loneliness and how it has affected the singer. The repetition of "don't give up, don't give up, baby" in the outro might be seen as a call for help or a plea for someone to show the singer kindness and understanding.
Overall, the song is about the struggle to connect with others and overcome a difficult past. The desire for escape and relief from pain is a common human experience, and the powerful emotion in The Bones of J.R. Jones's singing makes it clear that this struggle is one that hits close to home.
Line by Line Meaning
The day my
The exact moment my mother abandoned me
The day my fucking mom abandoned me
When my mother left me alone for good
Was the day I learned to lie
I learned to protect myself by hiding the truth
She kissed my face and said she'd be right back
My mother tried to reassure me
Before she walked away and cried
But she couldn't help but show her own pain
So take me away (take me away)
I want someone to rescue me
From this lonesome place
And take me somewhere where I won't be alone
Trouble
I've always had problems
Is all I've ever known
My whole life has been difficult
How am I supposed to find some peace of mind
How can I ever be calm and happy
If I can't stand to be alone?
If I'm terrified of being by myself
Don't give up, don't give up, no
I'm trying my best to hold on
Don't give up, don't give up, baby (I give up)
But sometimes I feel like giving up
Just take me away (take me away)
I need to be rescued
From this lonesome place
From this place where I'm always alone
Just take me away (take me away)
Please, someone rescue me
From this lonesome place
And take me somewhere better
Just take me away (take me away)
I can't do this on my own
From this lonesome place
I need help to leave this lonely life behind
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Ayron Montea Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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...