So Close
This song is about longing and rejection. Rejection of an outsider by the popular folks, that is. Just because you are an outsider, well, there's plenty of us, we have feelings, and we're not a joke. So, please don't play me.
Chance For Romance
Everyone wants a chance for romance. It doesn't always work out, but it's always worth while to persue.
Reborn
This is about rebuilding yourself after a crisis, about bouncing back and continuing to live your life. "As I fade away, I break my shell and be reborn!"
This song has a lot to do with what Leftstronger really means: I was knocked down, but I was reborn and left stronger because of that experience.
Drunken Wreck
Let's clear this up first: This is an anti-drinking and driving song. It just sounds like a cool party song. But the message is pretty straightforward. I know plenty of people who'd have too much to drink then get behind the wheel, and that's a recipe for disaster. After all, this guy never made it to the party...
Can It Be
This is a question: Can it be, that there's a future for us together?
I'll wait and see, because you're the one I turned to, the one one who saved me, the one who made me survive.
To all lovers who are bound together by a painful experience, this one goes out to you.
Change The World
This is a call to change the world in two ways: to change the world we live in, to spread the word of peace and love, and to change your own personal world by moving on or changing your behavior or environment. Without fading away. Not easy, but worthwhile.
Open Your Mind
I'm pretty angry here. I keep getting put down, but people should open their minds, to see me as I really am.
This applies equally to people with disabilities, people of different races or national origin, or anyone who might be seen as "different". It is call for us to change people's minds, and for other people to open up, be more respectful, be more accepting of differences.
Is this asking too much?
Production Notes: Yes, that is one long note (15 seconds!) near the end of the song. Not a studio trick, Jesse holds that note every time he performs this song live.
1-5-06
This song was written from a very dark place, and it describes depression and surviving depression. I was too thin and basically starving myself, but now "I live to live on."
I don't want to preach, so let's just say if anyone else understands this, seeek help and advice. The rain in the beginning sets the mood, the melody reminds me of a journey, and the words sort of invoke flipping through a scrapbook of life's ups and downs. The build up at the end is attacking the depression, saying screw you to everything and everybody that made me sad. I'm better now, but I might need a shower to cool me off!
Riot
Many trips into Baltimore with Dan gave us some pretty rough images of an inner city and its people struggling to stay alive. Combine this with the evening news and we think of a riot.
The main riff is an homage to ZZ Top.
Put Up a Fight
Whatever your affliction or problem, you either have to put a fight or you'll succumb to that problem: drugs, alcohol, marital problems, mental problems, family issues, whatever.
The drum solo is a tip of the hat to The Who, because my Dad likes The Who.
Pain and Misery
There was a girl I really liked in High School, who eventually broke my heart. She kind of lead me on for a long time, but it turned out it wasn't me at all. She ended up liking girls instead of boys! Pretty painful back then, took me quite a while to get over her.
So, the first part of the song is set to a sweet and sad melody, but then the tune morphs into an angry rock riff that explodes into your ears. This tune especially sound awesome live.
No More
Sometimes there are people in your life that exhaust you, who make you numb. Call it bad karma, bad vibes, whatever. You just have to get out. So, stand up and say "No More!"
Listen to my voice as the song progresses. It was all done in one take, and just singing it, the words evoking those feelings all over again, exhausted me to the core.
