Also having… Read Full Bio ↴Yussuf Jerusalem is a psychedelic rock musician from France.
Also having played under the banner of Yussuf Jerusalem and the Riders of Allah, the imagery on his Myspace site pokes at Western Culture's embedded fear of cave dwelling dudes in black hoods whose jihad-fueled hatred burns in the secluded cliffs of a mountain in Afghanistan. Coupled with the black metal imagery on his debut album, "A Heart Full of Sorrow", released in 2009 on Floridas Dying, which visually brings to mind old world monks casting spells in burlap ropes, one might expect something completely different from this record once the needle hits the grooves. But these are different times we are living in, and now a band that plays weird, folky, and vaguely gloomy music can open their debut release with a black metal tune if they want. Mr. Jerusalem proves so by doing just that, as if his intent were to scare off the toe-dipping hipsters before the record slips into the good stuff.
His second album, "Blast From the Past", was released in 2011.
With You in Mind
Yussuf Jerusalem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I can think of nothing else
But loving you when we find time.
These are the things I'll do with you in mind.
I'll pick a rose and feel the thorn
Every day that you are gone
A new memory to live I'll find.
There'll come a day when I can live
To go and bring you back to me.
We'll dance and sing and toast someone.
There are the things I'll do with you in mind.
There are the things I'll do with you in mind.
The lyrics of Yussuf Jerusalem's song "With You in Mind" express a deep sense of longing and devotion to a loved one who is currently absent. The singer describes taking a solitary walk in order to focus solely on thoughts of this person, and even goes so far as to say that they will "think of nothing else" but their love in those moments. This dedication is further emphasized when the singer picks a rose, feeling the prick of its thorn, with the memory of their beloved in mind. These small, everyday actions are imbued with great meaning and passion because they are done with the intention of keeping the person they love close to their heart, even in their absence.
The song's repeated refrain, "These are the things I'll do with you in mind," speaks to the way that love can imbue even the most mundane activities with significance. The singer's devotion is also evident in the final lines of the song, which speak of a future reunion with the beloved. The singer imagines a scene of joyous celebration, of singing and dancing and toasting to their love. This future possibility serves as a source of hope and motivation for the present struggles of being apart.
Overall, "With You in Mind" is a powerful ode to a love that persists even in the face of physical distance and separation. The singer's willingness to hold onto the smallest memories and moments, and to cherish them as signs of their love, is a beautiful testament to the enduring nature of true devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll take a walk all by myself
I'll take a solitary walk to contemplate my thoughts and feelings about us.
So I can think of nothing else
During that walk, I will focus all my thinking and attention on you and our love.
But loving you when we find time.
Despite our busy schedules, I'll always find time to cherish and adore you.
These are the things I'll do with you in mind.
All my actions and decisions will be motivated by my love for you.
I'll pick a rose and feel the thorn
In your absence, I'll gather a rose while acknowledging the pain of missing you.
Every day that you are gone
Your absence is felt every day, and I'll deal with it in my own way.
A new memory to live I'll find.
To keep my love for you vibrant, I'll create new memories and live them with you in mind.
There'll come a day when I can live
One day, I believe, we'll be together, and that thought keeps me going.
To go and bring you back to me.
When that day comes, I'll go anywhere and do anything to have you back in my arms.
We'll dance and sing and toast someone.
When we finally reunite, we'll celebrate with joy, music, and a toast to our love.
There are the things I'll do with you in mind.
All the things I dream of doing with you, from the mundane to the extraordinary, will be driven by my love for you.
Contributed by Bentley S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.