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.
Trunk Song
jelani aryeh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That girl from providence was a rose
She went to Ireland
Then she came back and brought me a coat
I'm burning, touring, tired on road
I sent them cycling when I spoke
I'm talking chakras
I feel the light and anchor it whole
That feeling deeper down in your soul
I'll travel anywhere and it's home
One thing that I know is that I don't
Know one thing, watching Sirius glow
In ground, but somehow I'm so far from home
Go wash your hands dry
What did you dance like all in the late night?
Glance through the glass eyes
Glancing right back, I'm not who you think I am
Don't let the day deprive
Pick up your pace or you're wasting time
Oh, and I'd like a vacant mind
Oh, well, I'd like a vacant mind
When they say you're hard to know
How can I drop the hold?
Go tow your weight or watch it fold
All your bones on your own
All your bones
The opening lines of Jelani Aryeh's "Trunk Song" describe a simple moment: sitting in the trunk of a car with someone special, sharing a toke. The next line, "That girl from providence was a rose," is more mysterious, perhaps suggesting that this girl was like a beautiful flower in his life, or that she had some sort of ephemeral quality. The next couplet has even stranger imagery: "She went to Ireland / Then she came back and brought me a coat." Here, the girl seems to have been on some sort of journey, and upon her return, she brings Aryeh a gift that is both practical and symbolic. We don't know much else about this girl, but the impression is that she was important to the songwriter in some way.
As the song progresses, Aryeh sings about his life on the road ("burning, touring, tired") and his interest in spirituality ("I'm talking chakras / Those spiral wheels that cycle with tone"). He seems to have a keen sense of the metaphysical, as he describes feeling "the light" and "anchor[ing] it whole" in his soul. The final lines of the first verse express the idea that no matter where he goes, he is always at home, and that despite all his spiritual searching, there is still much he doesn't understand ("One thing that I know is that I don't / Know one thing, watching Sirius glow / In ground, but somehow I'm so far from home").
The chorus shifts abruptly to a more straightforward tone, urging the listener to "go wash your hands dry" and not let the "day deprive" them. It's hard to say exactly what this means in the context of the song, but it seems to be a call to action, encouraging the listener to stay focused and not waste time. The final lines of the chorus express a desire for a "vacant mind" - perhaps a moment of peace or clarity in the midst of chaos.
Overall, "Trunk Song" seems to be a meditation on the complexities of life, love, and spirituality. The song's imagery is often elusive, and the lyrics seem to hint at deeper meanings without fully spelling them out. Yet despite this ambiguity, the song has a powerful emotional resonance that resonates with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Sat in my trunk and took me a toke
I smoked a joint while sitting in the trunk of my car
That girl from providence was a rose
I met a lovely girl from Providence
She went to Ireland
She went on a trip to Ireland
Then she came back and brought me a coat
When she returned from her trip, she gave me a coat as a gift
I'm burning, touring, tired on road
I am exhausted from touring
I sent them cycling when I spoke
My words had an effect on people and made them think deeply
I'm talking chakras
I am discussing the energy centers in the body
Those spiral wheels that cycle with tone
The chakras have a spinning motion that is affected by sound
I feel the light and anchor it whole
I am able to connect with positive energy and absorb it fully
That feeling deeper down in your soul
This is a profound feeling that originates from within
I'll travel anywhere and it's home
I find a sense of belonging wherever I go
One thing that I know is that I don't
I am aware of my limitations and ignorance
Know one thing, watching Sirius glow
I enjoy stargazing and observing the star Sirius
In ground, but somehow I'm so far from home
Even though I am grounded, I feel a sense of disconnection from my true home
Go wash your hands dry
Clean your hands until they are dry
What did you dance like all in the late night?
What kind of dancing did you do late at night?
Glance through the glass eyes
Looking through eyes that seem like glass
Glancing right back, I'm not who you think I am
When you look back at me, you realize I am not who you assumed me to be
Don't let the day deprive
Don't let the day pass by without making the most of it
Pick up your pace or you're wasting time
Move faster, or you will waste precious time
Oh, and I'd like a vacant mind
I wish to have a mind free of worries and thoughts
Oh, well, I'd like a vacant mind
Again, I express my desire for a worry-free mind
When they say you're hard to know
When people say it is difficult to understand you
How can I drop the hold?
How can I let go of their perception of me?
Go tow your weight or watch it fold
Work hard to succeed or risk failure
All your bones on your own
You are on your own, responsible for your own actions
Writer(s): Jelani Aryeh Mccall, John Evans Kolbe
Contributed by Lucy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LadaijhaPhillips
This is your year baby ! You finna hit places you have never been ! Supporting you! In love with you !❤❤
@userx4923
this is absolutely amazing. so sad this doesn't have more views. you deserve the world.
@evantaylor8362
Great song
@user-dv5sf5gh4z
needed your music in my life
@Redmoose42
This deserves a million more likes, way to go.
@vanandvalnguyen6718
SO PROUD
@AnOriginalPenguin
What a track. I just wish that outro went on forever.
@AllDarkReaper
This needs more recognition 😵🤯
@Levi-xx1mj
Are you working on more songsss ive listened to every single one a million timess
@bxlla339
WHY IS THIS SO UNDERRATED