After the release of some EPs and singles, the group signed with Merge Records who released their second album, Long Goodbye, in 2003. After a world tour, they headed back to the studio in fall of 2005 to begin work on their third album, Cannibal Sea, which was released in March of 2006.
Chester
The Essex Green Lyrics
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I sometimes wonder, "Where have you gone?"
Unattached, you wander alone,
Lookin' for what, nobody knows
And you've got so much love
You bring it home in bundles of blood
To my doorstep, to my doorstep, yeah
Doo doo doo doo doo doo...
And it's a funny world out there
When your preying from your lair
And it's a funny world out there...
And if your neighbors could talk
They'd talk you up as the king of the block
Clapping hands with the rest of the lot, six fingered friend, right at the end
And in the end it will be
We'll hear your voice till eternity
Always cryin'
Your friends are dyin', yeah
Doo doo doo doo doo doo...
The opening lines of "Chester" by The Essex Green suggest a sense of longing and loss. The singer is on their way home, and is often left to wonder where someone they care about deeply, possibly a former lover, has gone. The wandering figure that they speak of is described as unattached and searching, though it's unclear what it is they're looking for. The repeated refrain of "you've got so much love" is interesting, as it suggests that this person is not necessarily lacking in love, but rather that they have an abundance of it that they don't know how to channel or express properly.
The second verse takes a slightly different turn, contemplating the strange, unpredictable nature of the world outside of the singer's home. There's a sense of danger and potential menace in the line "when you're preying from your lair", suggesting that the world can be a hostile place to someone who is already vulnerable and searching for something. Despite this, the song maintains a sense of compassion for this person who is lost in the world, with the image of neighbors clapping for them and considering them the "king of the block". The song's final lines suggest that this person's voice and memory will endure long after they're gone, and that they have experienced much pain and loss in their life.
Overall, "Chester" is a melancholy and wistful song that speaks to the universal experience of feeling lost, searching, and longing for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
On my way home
While returning home, I often contemplate
I sometimes wonder, "Where have you gone?"
At times, I wonder and question your whereabouts
Unattached, you wander alone,
You wander alone, unaffiliated with anything
Lookin' for what, nobody knows
The purpose of your wandering is unknown to all
And you've got so much love
You possess a great amount of love
You bring it home in bundles of blood
You express your love in a profound and intense manner
To my doorstep, to my doorstep, yeah
You bring your love to me, quite literally
And it's a funny world out there
The world outside is strange and peculiar
When your preying from your lair
You observe and wait from your hidden position
And it's a funny world out there...
The odd nature of the outside world continues
And if your neighbors could talk
If you were to communicate freely with your neighbors
They'd talk you up as the king of the block
They would laud you as the most prominent person on the block
Clapping hands with the rest of the lot, six fingered friend, right at the end
They would cheer in unison, alongside a unique and distinct friend
And in the end it will be
Eventually, as time passes
We'll hear your voice till eternity
Your voice and its essence will endure forever
Always cryin'
You are always in a state of emotional distress
Your friends are dyin', yeah
The people you care about are dying around you
Doo doo doo doo doo doo...
The song fades out with the refrain
Writer(s): ALLYN M. FERGUSON, DANIEL CLARY FERGUSON
Contributed by Levi M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.