Caught In the Trees
"Caught In the Trees" marks the dawn of a new era for Damien Jurado. It may not be a huge departure from some of his past albums musically, but lyrically Jurado has taken a giant leap forward and there is no turning back. Best known for his dark yet fragile first person fictional tales, Jurado now unlocks the door and invites us into his own enigmatic world with an energy and intensity that is all-consuming. Jurado took a full year to make this record, longer than ever before, as he ran away from and eventually found himself in his own songs. He subsequently found refuge in sharing the songs with his closest friends and bandmates, Eric Fisher and Jenna Conrad. Having walked alongside him through this most challenging journey, the songs that came out of it are as much theirs as his. Jurado, Fisher, and Conrad collaborated on the compositions - some much more rocking than Jurado fans are used to, but ever as intense - and pulled in producers Kory Kruckenberg and Casey Foubert to contribute their own unique stylings. Recording started in the summer months and the sweltering heat, and wrapped in the freezing temps of winter. (It is clear on first listen that two distinct seasons are represented through "Caught In the Trees" - an accidental metaphor perhaps?) There was laughter and there was introspection, and the result is a record that Jurado loyalists will find was worth the wait. And perhaps a reason to listen for those who have yet to give this bedraggled storyteller a chance.
Gillian Was a Horse
It's midnight and I give up
I'm tired of lying for you
I will not hold your hands and pretend i'm your lover
You must admit the turnouts
Have all been less than grand
There's no more police escorts or the high school welcome bands
I'm no lie detector
He's no bullshit talker and we both know who knows
What should be known to all the onlookers
Now they've put away the kissing booths
Where chapstick gossip is truth
The only donkey they'll be riding, boy, is the one wearing your shoes
Now they've heard it through the walls of telephone operators
And I found out from someone else, who said he was your brother
I'm no lie detector
He's no bullshit talker and we both know who knows
What should be known to all the onlookers
I don't care if i'm the only one who's not paying
cause honey I am done staying up all night waiting
Now we're all tying the ribbons of worry to your tree
Your passing will make the headlines but sadly no one will read
Just how the town's hopeless romantic and his heart on his sleeve
He died alone in the carport of the local library
I'm no lie detector
He's no bullshit talker and we both know who knows
What should be known to all the onlookers
Trials
I'm broke at the seams and falling apart.
You wanna hang on so i'm letting you go.
You can come back when you make up your mind.
Please give me a call, I want you to see that love isn't real and your heart doesn't bleed.
You can come back when they let you down.
All cards are you, i'll follow your lead.
I'm more in need and I'm stuck in a sigh.
You can come back and give us a try.
Stuck in the hurt
Falling back
Hoping you don't relax
Shadows of teeth and caskets are used.
A bed is made, straighten your spine and you can come back whenever you lose.
High on their words you try to inhale.
I'm calling your bluff in every verse, and you can come back whenever you fail.
Tied to your waist, I'm a ship on a chain.
I'll make them think that my death was rehearsed.
You can come back when it's your turn.
Stuck in the hurt
Falling back
Hoping you don't relax
All cards are out, i'll follow your lead.
I'm more in need and I'm stuck in a sigh.
You can come back and give us a try.
Tied to your waist, I'm a ship on a chain.
I'll make them think that my death was rehearsed.
You can come back, baby it's you're turn.
Stuck in the hurt
Falling back
Hoping you don't relax
Caskets
Two tickets on a chevrolet train
I've got a sucicide pact with your name
You can doubt any doubt any move that is made
'cause I'm putting the worries to page
In a flash you'll be quick to react
I'm a useful spade for the grave
Collect calls to the shadow in town
So "what were the chances" he'll say
You must remove the skin and burn it all for fuel
Knock out teeth to improve how you look
And they're using your tongue for a flag
You look tired in your funeral suit
There's caskets for all to be had
Real estate cemetery, move over
I'm useful as bones in the tune
Gas drinks for the shadow in town
Because another record is due
You must remove the skin and burn it all for fuel
Coats of Ice
You'll be happy to know
The situation is worse
The endless bottles of pills
That never seem to work
Sleeping in this clothes
And still looking his best
He's so high in the tune
You wouldn't know he's dead
You look like you could use a rest
You look like you'd be better dead
They're making requests
For songs that you never play
Any sanity lost
Is worth the money paid
How does it feel
To be what you sing about
We all came to applaud
Be the ghost said you'd long checked out
You look like you could use a rest
You look like you'd be better dead
You'll be happy to know
The situation is worse
The endless bottles of pills
That never seem to work
She's keeping receipts
On all that you've done wrong
Your selfish efforts were cheap
And have lasted far too long
You look like you could use a rest
You look like you'd be better dead
Go First
Are you all right?
You're making me nervous with how much you leave me here.
Is it a sign? I don't feel like ever getting well
Tell me the lie, you're taking your time over and over
Our closest friends, live on the side of where you now divide.
Is is a sign if I don't feel like ever getting well
Tell me the lie, you're taking your time over and over
You can go first. You're making me nervous with how much you leave me here.
Is it a sign? I don't feel we're ever getting well
Tell me the lie, you're taking your time over and over.
Sorry Is For You
Last Rights
I'm not a bird
You catch and release
Your last phone call
Some last ride home
I'm playing for keeps
The characters are real
So don't write me off
Like a noise that you hear on return
It's easy to land but harder to fall
Broken on command
It'll change my tune
If it matters to you
God forbid that you listen
To a voice of a man not with it
March 16th
The sorry is for you
Send it back if you don't want it
Like a noise that you hear on return
It's easy to land but harder to fall
Broken on command
Should you ever, ever need me to stick around
Dimes
I've got dimes by the dozen
I'm placing a call to your husband
Does he know about me at all?
I hang up when he answers
It's too much for me to handle
What happens now, when it all goes down?
Gas station lights for a candle
You heart's put together then dismantled
Secrets are best when left unsaid
The floodgates are open
And you'll see me
Running back
And no one is perfect
You must admit it now
I'm do my best when you're pretending
And no paper plane is safe for landing
This is how the best all die
Holding my breath until you needed
Foraging our way into the simple
Somehow my voice was caught in the trees
The floodgates are open
And you'll see me
Running back
And no one is perfect
You must admit it now
We built this all on what they told us
Switch all the lines just to confuse them
What happens now
Now all goes down
Everything Trying
I'd call you now to tell you I'm thinking of you
But it does me no good when the phone is just blocking my view
And I would sail back to you
I would come back and admit that it wasn't you're fault
But i'm tired and unwilling to be the only one what was wrong
And I would sail back to you
I'll be sailing on your deep blue eyes
Sheets
Is he still coming around like an injured bird needing a nest?
A place to rest his head in a song you'll regret
Lord knows I don't want to compete
But I still sleep in the very sheets he's been in
Swallow him whole like a pill that makes you choke and stills your soul
You have the nerve to look me in the eyes and lie
Send him back
I won't share the trap that you have me in
Is he still coming around like and injured bird needing a nest?
A place to rest his head in a song you'll regret
Still you take him
Lord knows I don't want to compete
But I still sleep in the very sheets he's been in
Swallow him whole like a pill that makes you choked and stills your soul
You have the nerve to look me in the eyes and lie
Send him back
I won't share the trap that you have me in
Paper Kite
I'll be right outside
Floating by like a paper kite
I'm caught up in your string
Lucky in enough to be in your tree
And you'll never float too long
The birds watch as I sing
Waiting around for scissor teeth
And I could be of use
One more knot in a prisoner's noose
And you'll never float too long
Best Dress
Hey now put your best dress on
I'm tired of fighting
Let's take it out on the town,
do some old style dancing
We should just have a good time
We can stay out all night long
Hey now put your best dress on
Hey now put your best dress on
No price I would't pay
to always have you with me
Nothing that I could take
feels like the thrill you give me
I'll show you such a good time
keep you up 'til the darkest dawn
Hey now put your best dress on
(music and words by Jenna Conrad)
Predictive Living
Moving back, chairs broken and stacked
I can't seem to shake the fix I'm in
Better words that were sung or heard years before me, still I do my best
Pushing pens to breath
Cut out signals left
Just when you thought you had me pegged
Thinking I'm the same
Then I go and change
Three become a name
Chords just rearrange
Rhythm shoes and windows to see through
Another jealous husband to be killed
Better words have been sung out of tune
I'm happy in this hotel once again
Forcing thoughts to pen
Rehearsals for the end
Just when you thought you had me pegged
Thinking i'm the same
Then I go and change
Three become a name
Chords just rearrange
Never kill the manufactured feel
Songs no longer matter in the end
Better words you're never gonna hear
Mrs. Jones your son crossed to the bank
Still he must give thanks
The money's all been made
Just when you thought you had me pegged
Thinking I'm the same
Then I go and change
Three become a name
Chords just rearranged