On his debut album Your Crooked Part (Shoulder Tap Records, SHT010), accompanied by only his 1938 Gibson archtop guitar, Yazan delivers ten original blues, recorded live to tape in a one room house located in the woods outside of Athens, GA. The stripped down recording leaves plenty of room for his trademark howl, with slide guitar flourishes and steady foot stomps playfully weaving around his plaintive cries. Inspired by the percussive, hypnotic blues of North Mississippi Hill Country greats like RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, and the self-confident swagger of Delta Blues legends Robert Johnson and Charley Patton, Yazan blends his downtown sound with the root of rock n' roll, electrifying listeners without a socket in sight.
For his latest release Undress My Mind (Shoulder Tap Records, SHT013), Yazan returned to Athens to once again work with engineer/producer Will Manning, recording a batch of brand new songs in the same naked style as his previous effort. This time, Yazan breaks out of the blues idiom and performs ten melodic and visceral gems, exploring the depths of his mind, his heart, and his spirit. Between moments of poignant lyricism (the Dylanesque “I Wanted More of You”), and meditative explorations into the nature of his true self (the improvisational finale “I Undress My Mind”), Yazan explores feelings of alienation, love, and loss, ultimately finding redemption in his own voice (the climactic “Sing With Me”).
After several years developing his stirring solo performances in local New York bars and coffee shops, Yazan called on childhood friend Martin Celis to begin the next phase of his musical evolution. Yazan & Martin are an electric guitar and drum duo harkening back to the earthy sound of the juke joint heroes of Memphis and North Mississippi, while simultaneously ascending into the electric, psychedelic realm of Jimi Hendrix, Funkadelic, and Black Sabbath. Their incendiary live show is pure personality and energy, bringing crowds to their feet and moving them to tears all the while. Catch them on tour sweating with audiences across America this fall.
Help Me
Yazan Lyrics
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And babe I wake up tired
I seem to have lost my appetite
Help me baby, help return me right
And oh babe, you're putting a curse on me
You're making my mind so nervously
I can't take no more of this misery
Help me baby
And I drank some hot water on a silver dime
I put out every wicked thing from my mind
And I took a pinch of silverweed and a broken ring babe
Help me baby, help me don't you hear me crying
Help me baby
The lyrics of Yazan's song "Help Me" depict a person who is experiencing deep emotional turmoil and reaching out for assistance. The opening lines convey the restless and troubled state of mind, with the singer unable to find solace even in sleep. The loss of appetite further emphasizes their inner distress. They desperately seek help to bring back a sense of normalcy and balance into their life.
The second verse suggests that this suffering is being caused by another person. The singer feels as though they are being cursed by someone who is intentionally affecting their mental state, causing anxiety and unease. The misery becomes overwhelming, leading them to beg for assistance, hoping for relief from their suffering.
The chorus, with its simple plea of "Help me baby," reiterates the person's desperation and the urgent need for support and understanding. Their distress is so great they feel as though they are on their knees, humbled and vulnerable.
Overall, "Help Me" reflects the inner turmoil and vulnerability of a person desperately seeking relief from emotional suffering. It captures the universal longing for someone to come to our aid when we are at our lowest.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh babe, I can't sleep at night
My dear, I struggle to find any rest during the night
And babe I wake up tired
And my love, I awaken in a state of exhaustion
I seem to have lost my appetite
It appears that my desire for food has disappeared
Help me baby, help return me right
Assist me, my love, in restoring myself to the right state
And oh babe, you're putting a curse on me
And oh my dear, it feels as though you have cast a spell upon me
You're making my mind so nervously
You're causing my mind to become extremely anxious
I can't take no more of this misery
I can no longer endure this state of suffering
Help me baby, I'm down on my knees
Please, my love, lend me your assistance while I am on my knees
Help me baby
Assist me, my love
And I drank some hot water on a silver dime
I consumed hot water using a silver coin
I put out every wicked thing from my mind
I expelled every evil thought from my mind
And I took a pinch of silverweed and a broken ring babe
Furthermore, I ingested a small amount of silverweed and held a broken ring, my dear
Help me baby, help me don't you hear me crying
Help me, my love, can't you hear my desperate cries for assistance
Lyrics © DistroKid, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Yazan Fahmawi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind