The Jazz June started their eight year run in 1996 in a small town in Penns… Read Full Bio ↴The Jazz June started their eight year run in 1996 in a small town in Pennsylvania named Kutztown. The 5 of them all met at Kutztown University and started playing shows in basements and garages throughout Kutztown, PA. The band took their favorite aspects of indie rock, punk and post hardcore and made it their own. Each songs precision seems to be countered by just the opposite - the ever-so-often changeups can throw the new listener off a bit, creating a conglomeration of noise and melody as if 5 different bands were to play at once.

The band stopped playing live in 2004, but remained close and continued to write songs and collaborate on each others projects. In 2013 the band has returned to form in a non-traditional or virtual sense and have indicated new songs are in the pipeline.

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The Jazz June Lyrics

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The proper understanding
of the situation
that's been called upon
There are two equal pieces
Dictated by the grains of sand
Watch the scales tip
and they fall like water
the cycle spins around the nail in the middle to stay afloat

The center holds the weight and seems to fit
Life spins in the middle
set the other side on digging heels
somewhere in the middle
The center of focus
distinguished in each direction
A tunnel visionary spears to rights and lefts
Weights in motion are equally fixed at both ends
While the sound leaps in waves around the middle
tied tight to the nail of all things falling apart
pinned between the equals of today and yesterday

running out off all sides and returning to the center
where it should be

Overall Meaning

The Jazz June's song "Balance" is a deep reflection on the importance of understanding and finding balance in life. The lyrics suggest that there are two equal aspects to any situation or choice we face, represented by the two pieces of a scale. The balance between them is delicate and must be maintained to ensure that they do not tip too far in either direction, causing chaos and upheaval.

The "cycle" referred to in the lyrics suggests that this balance is a constant struggle, and it is only by "setting the other side on digging heels" and finding the "center of focus" that we can hope to stay afloat. The imagery of a "tunnel visionary" suggests that it is easy to become fixated on one side or the other and lose sight of the greater picture. The repetition of the phrase "somewhere in the middle" reinforces the idea that balance is a process rather than a fixed state, a constant journey rather than a destination.

The use of sound and music to convey this idea is also significant, with the "sound leaping in waves around the middle" and being "tied tight to the nail of all things falling apart". This suggests that music, like life, revolves around a central point and must maintain balance to stay in harmony. The final line emphasizes the importance of finding that center and maintaining balance: "returning to the center where it should be".

Line by Line Meaning

The proper understanding
Having an accurate comprehension

of the situation
Regarding the circumstances

that's been called upon
That has been brought to attention

There are two equal pieces
Two parts that are identical

Dictated by the grains of sand
Influenced by minute details

Watch the scales tip
Observe the balance shift

and they fall like water
And they descend fluidly

the cycle spins around the nail in the middle to stay afloat
The recurring pattern rotates around the central anchor to remain stable

The center holds the weight and seems to fit
The midpoint supports the burden and appears suitable

Life spins in the middle
Existence revolves around the center

set the other side on digging heels
Place the opposite end with firm footing