ME DAZA (Originals) | Independent 2019
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ABOUT the record…
Vancouver’s Reid Jamieson returns with ME DAZA, a new all original album recorded in the wilds of West Cork Ireland with producer Kieran Kennedy (Maria Doyle Kennedy). The title ‘Me Daza’ is Cork slang for ‘most excellent’, – tho the direct translation is ‘I’m dying’ – but aren’t we all? There is nothing traditional about this record, or the dynamic duo behind it. Mature themes range from loving a woman during and after ‘The Change’, to Ireland’s abortion referendum, to coping with mental illness, social media, and overcoming it all – call it a soundtrack for the second act.
It was Canadian/Irish legend Mary Margaret O’Hara who introduced the artist and producer at a Toronto concert where she had joined Reid’s band for the night. Kieran Kennedy and his wife actor Maria Doyle Kennedy (The Commitments, The Tudors, Downton Abbey, Outlander) also enjoy a musical partnership, and have created many beautiful albums together under her name. That night a friendship was struck and plans were set in motion that went on to inspire an epic trip to the Emerald Isle, and perhaps Reid’s most daring record to date.
Husband and wife together 20+ years, Reid and Carolyn are creative partners who wrote each song together, with the exception of ‘Don’t Go Down’ written by the late great Fergus O’Farrell (Interference) and Glen Hansard (Swell Season, The Frames). Fergus’ was a much admired Schull local whose vocals appear posthumously (!) as he passed away (due to complications of Muscular Dystrophy) before he was able to properly release the track himself. All of this unbeknownst to Reid and Carolyn when they chose the tune from a selection of potential Irish covers sent by their producer. Fergus’ vocals appear thanks to studio magic and enthusiastic blessings from his family. You can find out more about this determined artist in the new award winning documentary about his life ‘Breaking Out‘ that recently won Best Irish Feature Documentary at The Galway Film Fleadh. Winner of the George Morrison Feature Documentary Award at the 2021 Irish Film & Television Academy Awards.
Post-Pandy plans are afoot to bring Me Daza back to Ireland in April 2025, where Reido and CVM will finally get to release this record in the land it was created.
SYNC NEWS: Don’t Go Down and Perfect Storm are featured in the new limited TV series Clean Sweep (RTE / SundanceNow).
“The first thing you notice on Me Daza is Reid Jamieson’s utterly spectacular voice. Like Thom Yorke back when Radiohead were writing conventional songs, or the late Jeff Buckley, or Jeremy Dutcher, Jamieson has one of those rich, resonant voices with a high-end range that never ceases to astonish. Then there’s the songs, co-written with his life and musical partner Carolyn Victoria Mill. There are thoughtful meditations on human self-doubt, fading possibilities, and encroaching middle age, and portraits of the dogged resilience of spirit required to best meet them. There are conscious views of the way humanity continues to constantly move in circles, and how we so often fall in line like dominoes. And there’s one of the best (and ironically, gentlest) pro-choice songs I’ve ever heard. Recorded in Ireland with producer Kieran Kennedy, the album sounds plush and cinematic, centred around Jamieson’s nylon-string acoustic guitar, of all things. The words of the album title, “me daza,” are County Cork slang for “most excellent,” though the direct translation is, “I’m dying.” In the face inevtiable mortality, this is an album made by adults, for adults, that stands up to it. – Howard Druckman, SOCAN Words & Music Magazine
“This latest album might be Jamieson’s finest moment. Jamieson’s voice is a crystal clear instrument that can cover an immense range with superb phrasing.” – Vancouver Province
“Brilliance. This recording really does feel like a special piece of work, and maybe the best thing Reid has done in his career so far.” – Jan Hall, Folk Roots Radio
“In the singer-songwriter department of sound, Vancouver’s Reid Jamieson more than satisfies on the beautiful, soothing album Me Daza.” – Canadian Music Blog
“From the first chords of the opening song, Evergreen, the listener is taken to a different world. The world of imagination, the world of magic. ” – Music from the Heart blog
ME DAZA on Bandcamp | Apple Music | Amazon | Tidal | Youtube
Please add to your playlists on Spotify!
TRACK LISTING
- Evergreen (Love Song for The Crone) 4:10
- Perfect Storm 3:49
- Enough 4:17
- Circles 3:33
- Don’t Go Down 2:57
- Dominoes 3:36
- Better Man 3:14
- She #repealthe8th 5:28
- Lullaby for the Lost 2:13
Dedicated to our precious Road Families. xo
CREDITS
Recorded and Produced by Kieran Kennedy in Schull, Co. Cork Ireland.
All songs written by Reid Jamieson and Carolyn Victoria Mill,
except ‘Don’t Go Down’ by Fergus O’Farrell and Glen Hansard.
Mixed at home in Vancouver, BC Canada by Reido. Artwork by CVM.
Vocals by Reido. BG vocals and Gin-infused glockenspiel by CVM.
Improv piano parts by Vincent ‘The Chancer’ Collins.
All other instruments / sounds by KK and Reido.
Mastered by Elisa Pangsaeng at CPS.
LYRICS
EVERGREEN (Love song for the Crone)
(on loving a woman before, and after, ‘the change’)
Bring to me love’s late desire
Turn the season, build the pyre
All will be enduring fire
Knowing my flame climbs
ever higher
Let the leaves curl on the vine
Burn the fields and bend the spine
As the blood soon turns to wine
True colours a deeper hue in time
The blade a finer line…
Evergreen. You are my only one.
All other lovers wrong
Believe. You are my chosen one.
Forever we belong.
Bring to me your faded gold
Crown of silver, linen folds.
Twisted hand still warm to hold
Our history speaking to my soul
The only story told…
Evergreen. You are my only one.
All other lovers wrong
Believe. You are my chosen one.
Forever you belong. With me.
On and on our love will go.
Deeper roots will only grow
When summer’s rain
has turned to snow
I’ll never leave you, not alone
I’ll love you; Maiden, Mother, Crone
Your sweet green leaves,
your weathered bones
When all of this has turned to stone,
If I still breathe
our love goes on…
Evergreen. You are my only one.
All other lovers wrong
Believe. You are my chosen one.
Forever we belong. Believe...
PERFECT STORM
(on the pivot point of fidelity)
You’re only lonely on your own
You’re only lonely holding on
Hold on to what we’ve got
You’re only lonely on your own
You’re only lonely holding on
Hold on to what we’ve got
Here tonight
There’s nobody holding back
Deep inside
There is only what you lack
The rest just fades to black
You’re only lonely on your own
You’re only lonely holding on
Hold on to what we’ve got
You’re only lonely on your own
You’re only lonely holding on
Hold on to what we’ve got
Open wide
You drink all defenses down
Wounded pride
Where the best intentions drown
Don’t buy another round
Stars align
Promise release should they collide
And ties that bind, they
Can’t compete with rising tides
Of need so long denied
Just hold on
There’s too much here to lose
When morning comes
There’s no way to undo
And what went wrong
Isn’t fate, no, its down to you
Here tonight
Only forward, no way back
You decide
What you break,
and what’s just cracked
Is that too much to ask?
You’re only lonely on your own
You’re only lonely holding on
Hold on to what we’ve got
You’re only lonely on your own
You’re only lonely holding on
Hold on to what we’ve got
Let go of what we’re not
ENOUGH
(on self esteem and the distorting funhouse mirrors that surround us every day)
Small inside
As you wander through your day
How hard you try, to justify
Not take up too much space
Are you good enough
Worth a little love?
Are you enough?
Kneel and bow
You just give yourself away
And swallow down
The tiny sounds
Of what you had to say
Are you smart enough
Worth a little love?
Are you enough?
You learned early on that
You were somehow flawed
The reason that he went away
If anything went wrong
You made the blame your own
And paid….
Burdened by
The weight of past mistakes
You paint the lie
With masks you buy
That make up for a fake
Facing shame
You quickly turn away
Reflections in
The window’s pane
Haves nothing kind to say
Do you rate enough?
Rate a little love?
Are you enough?
I don’t know who told you
You were never born to
Be the one that anyone needs
Just the way you are has
Always been enough
For me
You deserve
So much more
Than you take
To stand up proud
And sing out loud
Believe me when i say
That you’re good enough
Worthy of all my love
Yes you’re enough…..
CIRCLES
(on the struggle to escape the cycle of domestic abuse)
We’re always running around
In circles, circles
Back to the beginning here we go
We’re always running round
In circles, circles
Where it stops,
nobody can know
I’ve seen this light before
It’s shining in my eyes
Now i can’t see no more
Have you been keeping score?
Well anyone can tell
It’s not worth crying for
We’re always running around
In circles, circles
Back to the beginning here we go
We’re always running round
In circles, circles
Where it stops, nobody can know
Nobody can know
Just walking out the door
And then another year
And not one minute more
Have you been keeping score?
Well anyone can tell
It’s not worth fighting for
We’re always running around
In circles, circles
Back to the beginning here we go
We’re always running round
In circles, circles
Where it stops, nobody can know
Nobody can know
Nobody can know
Too much to ignore
Another night of fear
Enough to start a war
Have you been keeping score?
Well anyone can tell
It’s not worth dying for
We’re always running around
In circles, circles
Back to the beginning here we go
We’re always running round
In circles, circles
Where it stops nobody knows
We’re always running round
In circles, circles
Back to the beginning here we go
We’re always running round
In circles, circles
Where it stops, nobody can know
You just gotta let it go
Nobody can know
You just gotta let it go
Nobody can know
You just gotta let it go
Nobody can know
DON’T GO DOWN (Fergus O’Farrell / Glen Hansard)
(on the ups and downs and overcoming)
Through the glass
I can see the stars
Yeah I was born with a
wishing heart…
No matter what life brings
I won’t let it rattle me
When I’m up against a
turning tide
And everything starts to
twist inside
Won’t go down on my knees
Gonna let it ride over me
Aaaahhhooooohhh x 3
When life has got me
up against the ropes
It’s raining punches,
there’s nowhere to go…
I’m gonna float like a butterfly
and sting like a bee
Aaaahhhooooohhh x 3
When I’m tangled
in the mess of things
And all the troubles
that living brings…
Won’t go down on my knees
Gonna let it ride over me
Aaaahhhooooohhh x 3
Through the glass
I can see the stars
Yeah I was born with a
wishing heart…
No matter what life brings
I won’t let it rattle me
When I’m up against a
turning tide
And everything starts to twist inside
Won’t go down on my knees
Gonna let it ride over me
Aaaahhhooooohhh x 3
Won’t go down on my knees
Gonna let it ride over me x 6
Gonna let it ride….
DOMINOES
(on mental health and the sleepwalking sickness that is social media)
This is the story
Hear how it goes
We get to worry
Dogs on a bone
Be in a hurry
Be all alone
Fall on each other like dominoes
This is the story
Hear how it goes
We judge each other
Fish in a bowl
Follow the leader
Go with the flow
Fall on each other
like dominoes
We fall like dominoes
Just doin’ what we’re told
We’re sellin’ what we’re sold
We fall like dominoes
This is the story
Hear how it goes
We hurt each other
And no one knows
Birds of a feather
Thorn on a rose
Fall on each other
like dominoes
We fall like dominoes
Just doin’ what we’re told
We’re sellin’ what we’re sold
We fall like dominoes
We fall like dominoes
Just doin’ what we’re told
We’re sellin’ what we’re sold
We fall like dominoes
BETTER MAN
(on being trying to be a good man today, without a road map)
So hard to be the better man
Takes all you can to make a stand
Sometimes you can’t get up again
A chore to shake the upper hand
You might get by without a plan
Can always take the test again
Until they make you pay the man
You’re gonna fake the confidence
In the end
It’s not worth knowing
You just pretend
You know where you’re going
Get back up again
But you’re always falling down
So hard to be the better man
You play it safe yet still offend
Wait around till the weekend
Where you can break
instead of bend
You hang on ‘til the bitter end
Give what it takes
and make amends
There’s no check out just try again
And hope that you still want it then
In the end
It’s not worth knowing
You just pretend
You know where you’re going
Get back up again
But you’re always falling down
even further than you
thought you’d be
(always falling down)
they catch you sleeping
there’s no time to bleed
(always falling down)
there’s always someone
you forgot to be…
So hard to be the better man
Takes all you can to make a stand
Sometimes you can’t get up again
A chore to shake the upper hand
SHE
(on the realities of choice, and how she pays either way #repealthe8th)
All it took was a moment
How easily he pulls away
And now a time for atonement
Where for his precious gift
she’ll pay
A willing passion play,
Or trust betrayed.
Whatever choice she makes
For this mistake
She’ll pay and pay and pay
We, count the crosses row on row
Not the dirt in where we
sow their seeds
She, a harbour or a vessel below
We stand above
With every stone she bleeds
Two lie awake in the darkness
A long hard day, an age-old need
The love they make
they soon part with
The weight of
one more mouth to feed
Working twice a day
For half a wage
Oh, and when he breaks
For this mistake
She’ll pay and pay and pay
We, count the crosses row on row
Not the dirt in where we
sow their seeds
She, a harbour or a vessel below
We stand above
With every stone she bleeds
All alone by the millions
In shame they suffer silently
Do we care where her life ends
Hospital bed or back alley
Keep her on her knees
Tending seeds
Oh, but who will feed
Those unwanted
When they turn to weeds
We, count the crosses row on row
Not the dirt in where we
sow their seeds
She, a harbour or a vessel below
We stand above
With every stone she bleeds
She, was more than just where flowers grow
What else she’d be we’ll never know, will we?
She, was more than just a vessel you know
She…
LULLABY FOR THE LOST
Intrumental
| CAT: RAJ011 | ISRC: CA-R40-18-01001 | UPC: 193428281356 |
1. Evergreen (Love Song for The Crone) 4:10 Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Mill
2. Perfect Storm 3:49 Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Mill
3. Enough 4:17 Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Mill
4. Circles 3:33 Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Mill
5. Don’t Go Down 2:57 Glen Hansard, Fergus O’Farrell
6. Dominoes 3:36 Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Mill
7. Better Man 3:14 Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Mill
8. She 5:28 Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Mill
9. Lullaby for the Lost 2:13 Reid Jamieson, Carolyn Mill