"Jesus, Etc." by Wilco
Strong Songs
What Does Meaning Mean?
i think that i rely upon my brain really craving meaning. But in the case of some of these lyrics that i write that tend to be more abstract, what they mean to me is the feeling, the shock of mystery,. That's why poetry exists. That's why songs exist. They say things that we can't say with linear language. The way you describe it, it's just using the texture and the feel of language to a reach parts of coear that our intellects don't really have much control over. I'll let him and wilko have the last word. Aa, urninge as ba a e tu.
Few lyricists have Jeff Tweedy's ability to fluidly shift between plainspoken emotion and abstract imagery. The Wilco frontman has been writing beautiful, beguiling songs for more than three decades, and there is no way to pin down what any of them "means." There's only what they mean to you, right then, in the moment, as you listen to them.
That's certainly true of "Jesus, Etc." one of many standout tracks off of Wilco's groundbreaking 2001 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. On this episode, Kirk explores some of the writing and arrangement techniques that help make this song, and all of Tweedy's songs, so special.
Lyrics by: Jeff Tweedy
Music by: Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett
Album: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, 2001
Listen/Buy via Songwhip
Also Featured/Discussed:
- "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart," "War on War," and "The Ashes of American Flags" from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
- "She's a Jar" and "A Shot in the Arm" by Wilco from Summerteeth, 1999
- Audio from Jeff Tweedy's 2021 interview on The Ezra Klein Show
- Excerpts from Tweedy's 2020 book How To Write One Song: Loving the Things We Create and How They Love Us Back
- Audio of a pedal steel guitar demonstration by Steve Fishell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrbSL92Kz1Y
This episode has been updated to better identify one of the chords in the chorus.
OUTRO SOLOIST: Dan Nervo
This episode's outro soloist is the fantastic Dan Nervo. Dan plays guitar in the San Francisco Bay Area in bands like Neon Velvet, and also teaches private guitar lessons. Hit him up if you want to get good at guitar: https://www.facebook.com/DanNervoGuitarLessons/
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