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.
This Fire
The Bones of J.R. Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pull me out of this fire, I'm burning to slow
Cause if I'm leaving, this ain't how I'm gonna go
If I'm leaving, this ain't how I'm gonna go
I've been good, bigger plans don't you know
Cut me down from this tree, ain't tall enough for me
Cut me down from this tree, ain't tall enough for me
I've been swinging from limbs, since I was just three
There ain't a tree around here big enough for me
Oooh
Oooh
I'll be wading in the water when the world is tumbling down
I'll be wading in the water when the world is tumbling down
I'll be singing, when the rest have lost their sound
I'll be singing loud, when the rest have lost their sound
I hope to find some peace, cause I'm gonna be homeward bound
I pray to find some peace, I'm gonna be homeward bound
Oooh
Oooh
The lyrics to The Bones of J.R. Jones's song, "This Fire," describe feelings of being overwhelmed and needing help to escape from a dire situation. The repeated cries of "pull me out of this fire" suggest a sense of urgency and desperation. The line "I'm burning to slow" suggests the singer is aware that they need to act quickly to avoid being consumed by the situation. The repeated refrain of "If I'm leaving, this ain't how I'm gonna go" suggests a desire to leave on one's own terms, rather than being consumed by the circumstances.
The second stanza talks about feeling constrained and limited by one's surroundings. The line "cut me down from this tree, ain't tall enough for me" suggests a desire for greater freedom and space to move around. The references to swinging from trees since childhood suggest a sense of restlessness and a desire to explore. The idea that there isn't a tree big enough for them speaks to a need for greater challenges and new horizons.
The final stanza offers a sense of hope amidst the chaos. The image of wading in the water when the world is tumbling down suggests a sense of resilience and an ability to weather whatever storms come their way. The declaration that they will keep singing even when others have lost their sound suggests a sense of purpose and a refusal to be silenced. The repeated refrain of "I hope to find some peace" and "I pray to find some peace" suggests a longing for a sense of home and belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Pull me out of this fire, I'm burning too slow
I need your help to escape a dangerous situation, because I'm not moving quickly enough to save myself
Cause if I'm leaving, this ain't how I'm gonna go
If I'm going to leave this world, it's not going to be because I let myself burn up in a fire
I've been good, bigger plans don't you know
I've been living a good life, and I have bigger plans for my future
Cut me down from this tree, ain't tall enough for me
I need to be freed from a situation that isn't challenging enough for me
Cause I've been swinging from limbs, since I was just three
I've been taking risks and pushing my limits since I was very young
There ain't a tree around here big enough for me
I need a challenge that is greater than anything I've faced before
I'll be wading in the water when the world is tumbling down
Amidst chaos and destruction, I will remain calm and steady
I'll be singing loud, when the rest have lost their sound
Even when others are silenced by fear or despair, I will continue to make my voice heard
I hope to find some peace, 'cause I'm gonna be homeward bound
My ultimate goal is to find inner peace and a sense of being at home within myself
I pray to find some peace, I'm gonna be homeward bound
I am hoping and praying to find that inner peace that will guide me towards my true home
Contributed by Tristan O. 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...