“I’ll Bring the Sun” – Jason Collett
(Words/music: Jason Collett, available on Idols of Exile, Arts and Crafts 2005)
At this point in the year (at least in the Northern United States), the weather is beautiful during the day and a little chilly at night. Fall is starting to roll in and unlike summer we’re quick to flock toward direct sunlight while sitting outside. It’s days like today where the sun’s light cuts through the brisk fall air that make me think of Jason Collett’s song. From the first second, Collett’s song feels bright and sunny. The guitars ring out while the drums push the tempo, and Collett lets his voice crack as it lifts toward the high notes. Still, it’s the glockenspiel that cuts directly through the arrangement like the sun through a September afternoon. It’s used the same way Bruce Springsteen used it on “Born to Run,” as a way to punctuate the melody during the instrumental parts. In this case, it’s what gives the song its bright shine by putting the melody in the forefront.
Lyrically, Collett uses “sun” as the bright interpersonal spark between two people in love. With distance separating his narrator and his lover, the bright spots seem few and far between. In particular, I love the way that the “all of my love got stuck in traffic” line underscores the frustration of being separated from the one he loves. Rather than offer a plea that their love will transcend miles, Collett makes a realistic promise – he’ll bring the sun when he comes to visit. It’s easy to get focused on the distance in the situation or the promise of a future that may never come, but in Collett’s case, he’s focused on the next time he can get back into the sun and warm up for a little while.
More on Jason Collett: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm
4 Notes