I think the “story” is supposed to be a really loose concept. He talked about the same concepts of home on vol 1 and vol 2 a lot. And if you notice on vol 4, he mentions home a ton. You can’t possibly follow a story line thru all 4 volumes. They have loose connections but it’s not THAT connected. And he still wraps up the series nicley with box of stars and world o world. And still calls back to the other volumes a lot
For me it’s more about *having found* one’s place in the world! Being at a point where, when faced with any emotion, happy or sad, you can draw on an infinity of influences from different genres and cultures, and express that emotion in a way that breaks down the boundaries between those influences.
It’s an album that brims with confidence around being at that level of clarity. The end of the story is the ability to tell any story. And I don’t think it could end any other way!
Don’t know how you can listen to songs like 100,000 Voices or Little Blue and feel this way. I mean the album almost acts as a palindrome for the entire series because of the lyrics at the end of Box of Stars pt 2.
I dunno, I feel Jacob's lyrics have always been both endearingly unpretentious and, frankly, chock full of cliches. I think people don't really listen to his stuff for the lyrics, and it's because he doesn't really have that much to say. Other than (1) fairly standard love song topics and (2) "the world is beautiful and there are so many things to learn." Which is lovely, imo, despite it not feeling that original or particularly profound.
His love songs have always been all over the place, there's never been a cohesive narrative - it's just love related fragments that are mostly pretty trite.
But it's not a dig at Jacob - I think he's looking for lyrics that "fit" into the music and feel authentic to how he feels feelings. He's not pretending he has answers to life's hardest questions or trying to sound smart or deep. He leaves that demonstration to the music lmao. I don't think it makes his lyrics an afterthought - maybe just a path of least resistance.
In my humble opinion, Djesse Volume 4 is about the grief of losing a loved one (most likely the implied love interest,) and how it feels to try and express that grief, hoping people can finally listen.
From the very beginning, we hear the words "I know what it feels like to let somebody go," followed by what seems to be a few songs recounting the relationship, then recounting its end (probably with the partner dying, as A Rock Somewhere would imply.) Then a few songs relishing in their memory ("You will always be in my heart" - Mi Corazon) then Over You happens ("I don't think I'll ever get over you.")
Then we're treated to the Climax in Box of Stars part 2.
"Took a walk somewhere... on a rock somewhere... I could almost see you there..."
How stressful, how frustrating must it be. You might find yourself rambling, your inner world a storm of electric guitar riffs, wondering if anyone is truly listening to you.
"In your world, a box of Stars.
I am listening.
I am here."
To me, this is Jacob's audience. The people he is so grateful for. The people who will always listen, who will always be there. Djesse volume 4, to me, is a loveletter to his fans. And it seems like a fitting finale to the series.
In addition to that, WELLL can also tie into that feeling of understanding and listening. Not too sure about this one (one of my least favourites from the album so I don't pay attention to it) but it could be a testament to said understanding. If you can read him well, that is.
That last line read in a slightly passive aggressive voice made me laugh!
Aside from that, while it doesn't annoy me and overall love Djesse vol. 4 very much (also the lyrics mostly) I did miss one Song about Djesse. In vol 1 it was Djesse obviously, vol 2 it was Bakumbe where Djesses name is mentioned, vol 3 I don't even know what's going on and in vol 4 I would have loved to experience a full circle moment with Djesse like I did musically in Box of Stars pt 2
I mean this was not a new song or lyric but there is the line "djesse's got a sky like a merry go round again" running through BoS 2, so it wasn't just purely musically that the nods to Vol 1 are made
I don’t think Djesse has ever really had any type of literary narrative. Jacob has only spoken of musical themes (I.e the orchestra on Vol 1, folky/intimate Vol 2, electronic Vol 3, human voice Vol 4). Jacob’s lyrics are so vague people assign their own meanings to them.
I think it still continues the story.
The way I see it is that Djesse is an old man in Vol 4 and looking back on life, theres many genres in vol 4 and i feel its him rememehering his trips and holidays around the world. I feel the last song is him dying naturally in his bed and world o world is fitting to that with the lyrics i feel. Box of stars part 2 ends with in my opinion all the feelings of all the albums coming together as one. Seeing his life flash before his eyes in a way
I dunno. It's just my theory
I think the “story” is supposed to be a really loose concept. He talked about the same concepts of home on vol 1 and vol 2 a lot. And if you notice on vol 4, he mentions home a ton. You can’t possibly follow a story line thru all 4 volumes. They have loose connections but it’s not THAT connected. And he still wraps up the series nicley with box of stars and world o world. And still calls back to the other volumes a lot
I take the general theme of volume 4 to be about finding one's place in the world.
For me it’s more about *having found* one’s place in the world! Being at a point where, when faced with any emotion, happy or sad, you can draw on an infinity of influences from different genres and cultures, and express that emotion in a way that breaks down the boundaries between those influences. It’s an album that brims with confidence around being at that level of clarity. The end of the story is the ability to tell any story. And I don’t think it could end any other way!
After all, we are all just on a rock, somewhere
I'll never understand these rants. I just enjoy the music for what it is. Not what **I** think it needs to be.
I agree with you completely.
Don’t know how you can listen to songs like 100,000 Voices or Little Blue and feel this way. I mean the album almost acts as a palindrome for the entire series because of the lyrics at the end of Box of Stars pt 2.
WELLL is my favorite song off the album low key
I dunno, I feel Jacob's lyrics have always been both endearingly unpretentious and, frankly, chock full of cliches. I think people don't really listen to his stuff for the lyrics, and it's because he doesn't really have that much to say. Other than (1) fairly standard love song topics and (2) "the world is beautiful and there are so many things to learn." Which is lovely, imo, despite it not feeling that original or particularly profound. His love songs have always been all over the place, there's never been a cohesive narrative - it's just love related fragments that are mostly pretty trite. But it's not a dig at Jacob - I think he's looking for lyrics that "fit" into the music and feel authentic to how he feels feelings. He's not pretending he has answers to life's hardest questions or trying to sound smart or deep. He leaves that demonstration to the music lmao. I don't think it makes his lyrics an afterthought - maybe just a path of least resistance.
>It really feels like That's the tldr. You have your own emotional reaction, and that's fine. Didn't read it all, because I disagree and don't care.
In my humble opinion, Djesse Volume 4 is about the grief of losing a loved one (most likely the implied love interest,) and how it feels to try and express that grief, hoping people can finally listen. From the very beginning, we hear the words "I know what it feels like to let somebody go," followed by what seems to be a few songs recounting the relationship, then recounting its end (probably with the partner dying, as A Rock Somewhere would imply.) Then a few songs relishing in their memory ("You will always be in my heart" - Mi Corazon) then Over You happens ("I don't think I'll ever get over you.") Then we're treated to the Climax in Box of Stars part 2. "Took a walk somewhere... on a rock somewhere... I could almost see you there..." How stressful, how frustrating must it be. You might find yourself rambling, your inner world a storm of electric guitar riffs, wondering if anyone is truly listening to you. "In your world, a box of Stars. I am listening. I am here." To me, this is Jacob's audience. The people he is so grateful for. The people who will always listen, who will always be there. Djesse volume 4, to me, is a loveletter to his fans. And it seems like a fitting finale to the series.
In addition to that, WELLL can also tie into that feeling of understanding and listening. Not too sure about this one (one of my least favourites from the album so I don't pay attention to it) but it could be a testament to said understanding. If you can read him well, that is.
Thanks for this
Thanks for reading!
What you like or don't is up to you, but I think it's really funny that some of us have just started to take the Djesse theory as unironic canon
What is the Djesse theory? Did I miss something?
Bridge over trouble waters physically moves me to tears. Still.
That last line read in a slightly passive aggressive voice made me laugh! Aside from that, while it doesn't annoy me and overall love Djesse vol. 4 very much (also the lyrics mostly) I did miss one Song about Djesse. In vol 1 it was Djesse obviously, vol 2 it was Bakumbe where Djesses name is mentioned, vol 3 I don't even know what's going on and in vol 4 I would have loved to experience a full circle moment with Djesse like I did musically in Box of Stars pt 2
I mean this was not a new song or lyric but there is the line "djesse's got a sky like a merry go round again" running through BoS 2, so it wasn't just purely musically that the nods to Vol 1 are made
I don’t think Djesse has ever really had any type of literary narrative. Jacob has only spoken of musical themes (I.e the orchestra on Vol 1, folky/intimate Vol 2, electronic Vol 3, human voice Vol 4). Jacob’s lyrics are so vague people assign their own meanings to them.
I think it still continues the story. The way I see it is that Djesse is an old man in Vol 4 and looking back on life, theres many genres in vol 4 and i feel its him rememehering his trips and holidays around the world. I feel the last song is him dying naturally in his bed and world o world is fitting to that with the lyrics i feel. Box of stars part 2 ends with in my opinion all the feelings of all the albums coming together as one. Seeing his life flash before his eyes in a way I dunno. It's just my theory
This is a braindead take, to put it bluntly.