Doesn't have to be raw as fuck objectively, just wondering what line gets you, personally, every time. Really punches you in the balls. Really stuffs you in a locker. Really straight up murders you.
Mine's either "There is no one left to kill: There is sand and that is it" from Middle, or "Whatever it is in me, let it die in me - I don't even wanna feel it breathing" from No Destination.
Both of them really slim my jim. Post yours or else three ghosts will visit you.
Everything you’re gonna be
Needs every moment that you breathe
Nobody eats the fruit
The day they plant the seed
from That Can’t Be Right… “there’s no rescuing a diver with two cinder blocks for shoes”
Certified banger
When they pave over the bodies and democratize the stones/I will leave a yelp review in the valley of the bones
That whole verse blows me clean off the map.
Big fan of both you've mentioned but 'Oh ye wizards of ineptitude, you've conspired for my end' is the one that brings me to tears every time, without fail.
Partially because when Middle came out I was really going through some shit where I was constantly battling against bureaucratic bullshit, being passed from one department to the next with no real answers in a system that seems to be designed solely to exhaust and frustrate ND folks trying to have their needs met. I remember one particular day driving home and when that line came on I completely broke down and had to pull over.
Sending love, from a fellow ND individual who has often felt the same way. I hope you’re in a better place right now!
Middle -I hope wins that best song catagory it’s nominated for.
I think the simple phrase from Malaise "Will they measure Mars in acres?" is sneaky smart and always smile when I hear it. As we know from previous land rushes you need to survey and measure land in that way before you can sell it.
Malaise is an especially smart song. Not a single bit of it is wasted.
All of ‘It Dont Come Easy’
specifically
“I still don’t know what livin cost, but I can tell you what I’ve spent”
“he said ‘son, there is no justice theres just what and that just is”
Send out all your checks
you can’t take back birth defects.
Which song is that from?
DuPont.
There's just something about the opening lines og Simple Gifts that gets me
"slouching towards the sky's extent
on the edges of a waste
with something darker than a hope
something brighter than a fate"
Maybe one of the best opening verses of all time. It’s definitely in the conversation.
Some folks don’t ask whats in the wagon They just grin and bear the yoke
I believe the light is cracklin' Round the edge of anesthesia Lying on a table With the whole world reachin' in ya
I thought for sure "some folks don't ask..." was a turn of phrase he picked up somewhere because of how cute it is, but no. Dude's just freeballing that shit from his own brain.
"There's a place among the stars where you find out who you are, ill meet you there."
"Do you want to know a secret, do you want to know the truth? The river is laughing, and we're only passing through."
"I'll see you in the firmament, theres nothing left to lament, im going up the way"
Im definitely more into his spiritual side than the political side. First time I've heard an artist speak to me so clearly.
I love that he can speak to both. I've been saying for a few years now we're gonna see something of a spiritual revival among people at the bottom of the ladder, and Jesse is really a wonderful presence for that.
“yeah i can work this out / i can fight through the pain / i can see a light at the end of the tunnel / then again it might be the train / yeah i can work this out / nothings holding me back / there’s hope on the horizon / or maybe the earths just flat”
hi im the guy that keeps talking about saint steve irwin, but honestly that whole song gets me. it just feels like the endless struggle of having to force yourself to be overworked to get through whatever issue you are currently dealing with cause if you stop for even a second you are going to ruin all the work that you have done. you get so excited cause you think the outcome is finally there, but what you are facing is the possibility that you have just overworked yourself into oblivion. that whole song makes me feel so many emotions
another more positive one from life is good is “but they can baptize us heathens / til the water runs cold / everything’s been tried / nothing works im told”. especially being queer that lyric just reminds me of my friends
What are your thoughts on:
I don't know if it means anything more than the metaphorical/literal image it puts in your head, but I wouldn't doubt if there's something I'm missing there.
i honestly have no idea! i like how it sounds tho lol
These always bring up images of Trump holding that giant flag and just swaying, on that stage during one campaign stop fall '24. My brain even tells me he once mentioned "Trump soap" on a rope, so I picture the soap swaying in the shower (not sure that's an accurate memory).
the first time I heard the “lying on a table with the whole world reaching in ya” line from TCBR I had to sit down for a second. what an image. TS Eliot ass line
I'm sure there are plenty but one that hit me personally is the chorus for Great Caucasian God - 'There are many who will die in the Lord's plan by and by but it won't be you or I thanks to the great Caucasian God'
I think this one got me because it was coming at a time when my friends and I (and all of our feeds) were just pumping out WW3 jokes. And I don't think any of that came from maliciousness, just a way of dealing with a scary world. But there's living in a scary world because every time you turn on the news you're seeing horrible things, and there's living in a scary world because you're not sure if your family is going to be obliterated tomorrow. I know some people might feel attacked by this point but I don't judge anyone for making jokes about the end times etc, but it just gave me a different perspective on in and changed my attitude a lot.
edit
Hey guys, just to save everyone else a little time, I know this song is about right wing Christian hypocrisy. It's not subtle. It's possible to get something else out of a song that wasn't written there in black and white?
What I took wasn't 'don't make jokes' in case that wasn't clear. Keep in mind that this song was released as the US was bombing Iran and Ted Cruz was telling Tucker Carlson that he supports Israel no matter what because the Bible tells him too (it doesn't but that's a separate issue).
It made me think about how I am able to avoid total annihilation based on things like birth country and skin color, things we have no control over. Things that people unjustly die for every day.
If you can understand that (and that right wing Christian fundamentalists think that's a God given blessing and not luck of the draw) then you should understand I didn't really interpret the song any differently to the people in my replies (but if I had, that's okay too).
The great Caucasion God is a song that many misunderstand I think. It’s opposing White Christian nationalism is it not?
I agree. It's anti-White Christian Nationalism, and against any violence stemming from that movement.
Yeah AKA Maga.
Yes, of course. I wasn't meaning to say that what I took from it was the core message of the song. But I'm not a white nationalist so I didn't learn not to be one from the song, if that makes sense.
They played it on the house speakers of Jesse Welles' night at Americanafest to play off the Christian country band that was actually pretty decent but ended their set with a bunch of worship songs, and I appreciated that.
That’s cool.
Have to disagree with the other replies, I think you actually broke through to the second level meaning here. On the surface it’s sardonic yes but this song is also a warning. In my read he’s saying we are in serious times but for those that think “oh I’m good God is on my side” probably should think twice or hey idk even read what your bible actually says about those folks if that’s your persuasion.
Seems people have a tendency to want to over simplify or impose some super complex meaning in his lyrics… Usually the truth is there’s a main theme and a undercurrent, sometimes more but usually just the two.
That song and that line specifically is about mocking the death cult of American Christianity/MAGA and their exceptionalism/hypocrisy/bigotry.
..yes, I know. Thank you?
I appreciated and loved your first comment, and just wanted to say that it's making me sad now that what began as a really fun sharing post, is becoming really stressful, where people are having to defend their "misunderstanding" of Jesse's lyrics. Honestly I think he wouldn't like it and would say just let people take from my songs what resonates to them (apart from complete right wing misunderstanding of course). I think we can all agree that his lyrics are brilliantly layered and insightful.
Also sorry OP, this comment is not an attack against you. I loved your post, a friend of mine just died, and thinking about your question gave me a little break from my grief. I was also loving reading all the other comments and thinking: God yes, that's a great one, I need to listen to that song again. I'm confused why it's now become a nitpick fest, can't we just enjoy each other's comments, none of them were offensive or trying to stir up trouble. They were all just loving Jesse's music.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind comment, especially while dealing with such a horrible time. Thinking of you and your friend tonight x
That's lovely of you, thank you so much ❤️ He was such a good man, we are missing him xx
I appreciate your edit. I didn't understand how your initial comment related to the line you quoted. I get it now. Thanks. No question mark.
No worries, sorry for snarky reply, I felt on the defense a little bit. Hope you are having a good night.
These are all so good, so gut-punchy. All of them get me, too - Jesse's work has such a wealth of lines like these, it's really only a matter of time before his lyrics start garnering awards...
A couple I would add, from Pilgrim:
The flood that comes in all my dreams A tsunami of memories Take me where they'll bury me Acquaint me with the stones
and
The day will come when I awake And the cold wind of the dawn will say I don't care if you go or stay Jus don’t forget your soul
"Acquaint me with the stones" reeeeally got me when that song first dropped. He speaks of a connection to nature and mankind in a way you just don't see often, and it's amazing.
"Who would've ever thought the Deep State were the National Park rangers?"
Haha thank you for this fun little exercise! I googled to check I wrote down the lyrics correctly, and got a laugh from Google AI's total inability to grasp sarcasm.
("In essence, it's a catchy, surreal lyric highlighting distrust in authority, suggesting the "Deep State" isn't who you'd expect, but rather mundane figures like park rangers.")
“Alt National Park Rangers” was the first group of federal employees organizing public resistance to the first Trump presidency; they are still going strong
They are absolute legends ❤️
Also defunded
That group was sold, just so you know. It's no longer run by actual park rangers. It's just a standard hopium with a store account now.
The Trump admin defunded the rangers. Many of them. He campaigned against the so called “deep state “.
Apologies, as an Australian I thought the "Deep State" are a corrupt and subversive group supporting the current government, and so Jesse's words were a sarcastic dig at Trump's appalling treatment of Park rangers. Did I get the wrong idea about this? Is the Deep State against Trump? We find US politics to be pretty confusing. Sorry if I misunderstood this. I meant to celebrate what I took to be Jesse's sarcastic cleverness with those lyrics, because I really admire the Park rangers defiance ❤️
Trump promised to get the “deep state” basically a conspiracy theory about any government agency. Turns out he actually did construct the “deep state” via his oligarchs
When you look up hypocrite in the dictionary there’s a name there.
"...I mean a dead people"
Cuts me up every time.
I can’t help but post one more-
Some nights I tell the stars our story How we raised intrepid generals Taught them to fight for paper money Invisible lines and minerals
"In the cockpit of a space craft, unknown with an acquaintance
It occurred to my my mind was probably overdue for maintenance
I'd like to lay beneath the grass so I never leave a mark
I want to exhale oxygen like a tree out in the park"
Simple Gifts
"In the mornin when I wake up I gotta feelin I might die, so I try and stay awake and I keep a watchful eye" from This, and Not Some Other Way. Waiting for JW to put this out somewhere...
Rattling the bars of my cage for a newer Powerlines album (again).
“All I ever wanted was to die young but I didn’t have the guts and songs needed sung” or “what will become of all the whales”
The former is one that gets me
There is foolish generation; squandered all their fathers gave them. They are running out of time left to enjoy.
Pretty much explains everything going on.
I never knew a catchy song could mention AIPAC buying out congress, (and Huckabee-Sanders selling out her people) to help Starve and bomb innocent children. From Starve Away:
My congressman's Got a heavy load on his back It's full of money and blood Straight outta a P.A.C He's in the tall cotton Be he ain't forgotten to Starve Away.
My governor Buys Israeli bonds With the taxes of the poor Down in Arkansas She says lucky me I'm a huckabee Starve away!
The ending verse to War is a God gets me. Specifically the way it just stops after last two lines: And that's the story of the whole world/ I cant seem to make it stop
But that whole song has a lot of powerful lines, but some others to note that hit hard:
We all got the same damn god/ We just call it different names
Come ye winners, lose your souls/ Come ye losers, die in vain
It's gonna take a lot of blood/ Cause boy are we religious
Maybe man dont make the war/ Maybe it's lying there in wait/ And all it needed was our mud, and blood, and guts, and guns, and hate
"Time is not a mirror, it's some distorted view Of the way you thought you was and what you thought they thought of you"
These two are merciless: From Slaves:
Every corporation’s got some blood on its hands
Now there’s blood on my phone and blood on my pants
The dollar bill’s a killer, it’s bigger than man
Never felt so good to be American
From Starve Away:
It's my prayer unto you
Oh lord, I hope it comes true
Rain down your blessings from heaven on me
And starve the women and the children of my enemies
Alright
All of Hold On and John. Man, those songs destroy me.
Both those songs made me ugly-cry when I first heard them. Like, seriously. Most recent one to do that to me is Don't Stop Believing...
Thanks, Jess 🥹😭
Cancer is as lucrative a business as a war, so if you’re not expecting peace, then why expect a cure.
On “War isn’t Murder” the line “give it up for Tom Hanks” speaks volumes .
“Friends they seem to come and go, their passing only goes to show the depth now” from “how does it feel now” on pall mall church
Always made me think about how the depth of friendships are realized over the passing of time
“I was a veteran of an imaginary war, still sore; I think part of me died in there.” -Wild Onions. It’s my favorite song by him.
Also, “There’s a man in a yellow cloak. Good for him; it’s getting cold.” -Siddhartha I really like that song because I feel like it beautifully illustrates how it feels to become dissolutioned about spirituality in general.
I saw myself last night in a dream And it's not that great I really wanna die sometimes Don't understand the force that's stopping me
And I'd like to take back all the shit I've done But it's too damn late Sit and drink my jar of fire Feel my consciousness dissipate
YOOOO RIVER VALLEY MENTION. Probably my #1 or 2 Jesse song of all time.
Whole album is excellent! Both dying and living versions
"Blessed are the meek, the freaks and the geeks, blessed are the cursed instead" from Don't We Get By
You can fill a man with gold, and there'd still be room for greed.
There's a place among the stars where you find out who you are. I'll meet you there.
And for fun: I read the Dr Bronners bottle, Earth's a spaceship and rinse.
There's a light at the end of the tunnel, then again it might be the train
When the war gets here We're all gonna hold hands All the Baptists and the Catholics All the Marxists and the Fascists When the war gets here We're gonna get on the level Everyone will look a little bit nicer When you finally meet the Devil
And I can see past your short hair
Tellin' me that you don't care
He ain't here but here's somewhere
I'm all fucked up so I don't care
I know I'm in, but I'm out there
From SEVENTEEN
Does not the Lord abide in bunkers? In rifles without numbers, and every Ruby Ridge and Rittenhouse and home? Does not the Lord abide in fear? In tactical gear? Don’t the Lord abide in every hell-bent soul?
Big weed guy myself, but his song 'Weed' kinda hits home: Whoa, weed's gonna make you a dumbass/ But you shouldn't be doin' time/ Drugs are bad, m'kay/ You know they get in the way/ Of being yourself and that's the crime/ Give air a chance
Learned to play the recorder
How I envy all them stones, they don't never say a word
so many
with every mountain logged thus and every field farmed into dust
I guess we oughta go and put the sky in chains
(I hope my Reddit account doesn't get banned for this)
“It’s gonna take a lot of blood and boy are we religious”
“Will we midwife our demise”
“So I wrestle with my new pal, you know he lives inside my head I get the notion the way he's running this place, I feel we both might end up dead” - Goodbye Sheetrock, the dark humour makes me laugh every time
Q2 is underrated
Are we talking like Casper and Gus type ghosts here?
The band, actually. You will be awoken by Papa Emeritus.
Sounds like a good way to round out the three. We are just in time for an It's a Wonderful Life situation, too.
I wonder what their intentions will be if I'm not feeling suicidal though.
Panic don't look that good on you. It don't look that good on me. We're all gonna die. But love is free.