Jelani Aryeh is a 22-year-old Filipino/African-American singer and songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Jelani Aryeh is a 22-year-old Filipino/African-American singer and songwriter from San Diego. His music lives between genre lines, seamlessly blending indie rock, R&B, hip-hop, pop and experimental sounds. Standing out in an era of memes and social media virality, Jelani brings substance and emotional depth that belies his years.

Inspired by contemporary creative outfits like Odd Future and Brockhampton, Jelani started Raised by The Internet, a collective of like-minded visual artists, producers, and songwriters who he originally met on BROCKHAMPTON, Odd Future, and Frank Ocean subreddits.

“Stella Brown” is Jelani’s latest indie anthem – an upbeat ode to brunettes and young love that has resonated worldwide. His debut nine-track Helvetica EP, featuring singles “Patagonia” “Jetfuel” and “Earl Grey” was released in 2019.
Jelani is currently recording his debut album, set to be released Q1 2020.

A Piece Of Your Mind
jelani aryeh Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Shifting through cities for stories to tell
Looking for somewhere you can settle yourself
Inside the mess of people wishing you well
Wishing you well, I'm wishing you well

All night covered in light
Outside a city where the streets have all died
This time I'm alive

Below the branches that keep scraping the sky

In your sleep, by your side
Darling, I'm a piece of your mind
Endless weeks have gone by
Darling, I'm by your side

I might find a way to hold your weight
A quiet place to make a home
While violet rays pry away
The world we make in daylight

I hate to be the man to take you from your dad's hands
But why lie when I'm knowing that you can't stand
Living in a house that's filled with all these fucking dead ends?
Dead ends, dead, dead ends

In your sleep, by your side
Darling, I'm a piece of your mind
Endless weeks have gone by
Darling, I'm by your side

I might find a way to hold your weight
A quiet place to make a home
While violet rays pry away
The world we make in daylight
I might find a way to hold your weight
A quiet place to make a home
While violet rays pry away
The world we make in daylight

I might find a way to hold your weight
A quiet place to make a home
While violet rays pry away
The world we make in daylight
I might find a way to hold your weight
A quiet place to make a home

While violet rays pry away
The world we make in daylight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jelani Aryeh's song, A Piece Of Your Mind, express the idea of living in a world where one needs to constantly move and shift through cities and towns to find a place to call home or to find stories to tell. The singer talks about wanting to settle down and create a home, but also acknowledges the mess and chaos that surrounds them in the form of people wishing them well. Despite the chaos, the singer finds solace in being alive and close to nature (below the branches that keep scraping the sky). They express their desire to be a piece of someone's mind and be by their side, even if it means taking them away from familial obligations or living in a house filled with dead ends.

The lyrics touch on the idea of longing for connection and belonging, despite the challenges of finding a home in a world full of chaos. The lines "While violet rays pry away/The world we make in daylight" could suggest the idea of holding onto happiness and peace in the face of outside forces that threaten to destroy it.

Overall, the song is a reflection on the struggles of finding a home and belonging, while also finding beauty and solace in the chaos of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Shifting through cities for stories to tell
Traveling through different places to gather experiences that could be expressed through art or music

Looking for somewhere you can settle yourself
Searching for a place to call home and feel at peace

Inside the mess of people wishing you well
Being surrounded by people who care about you, even if life feels chaotic

Wishing you well, I'm wishing you well
Expressing genuine hope and support for someone's happiness and success

All night covered in light
Being awake throughout the night, illuminated by some form of light source

Outside a city where the streets have all died
Being in a location where the hustle and bustle of daily life has come to a standstill

This time I'm alive
Feeling alive and present in the moment

Below the branches that keep scraping the sky
Being under tall trees that seem to reach up towards the sky

In your sleep, by your side
Being present for someone even while they sleep, showing constant support and loyalty

Darling, I'm a piece of your mind
Expressing that they are deeply connected to and a part of the other person's thoughts and emotions

Endless weeks have gone by
A significant amount of time has passed, possibly indicating a difficult or challenging period

I might find a way to hold your weight
Expressing a desire to take on someone's burdens or support them during difficult times

A quiet place to make a home
Searching for a peaceful and comfortable place to create a stable and happy life

While violet rays pry away
While time slowly passes and things change

The world we make in daylight
The life we create and live during the daytime, usually a positive and productive time

I hate to be the man to take you from your dad's hands
Feeling guilty about possibly taking someone away from their family or loved ones

But why lie when I'm knowing that you can't stand
Not wanting to deceive someone when their true feelings and desires are clear

Living in a house that's filled with all these fucking dead ends?
Feeling trapped or stuck in a situation with limited options or opportunities.

Dead ends, dead, dead ends
Emphasizing the feeling of being stuck with no way out in a particular situation.