"Jara" lyrics

"Jara"

First sight of the first good morning since you've been out of town
First time any violet omens don't shadow me around
So you want part of the great white tyrant, of ghost after ghost?
Well you won't stop and I know you'll find it, halfway down the coast

You were never afraid of fighting, you blame an angry god
And when you see the first sign of violence, you bear it all as hard
When you held her son and wept I just felt jealous most of all
The best I had was near as bad as the sign of the rising fall

Though we're only alive a short while
So many beneath my feet
All weather, you walk with me
And you were off on a wandering mile
I was holding a weak excuse
I was heavy beneath blue

Now you're off to Victor on his ladder to the sky
And I'm left to sing it with you from my piece of the waterside
And you sang for the lost and gone who were young, and deserving more
And now I'm stood upright all night ready when you come in the door

Though we're only alive a short while
So many beneath my feet
All weather, you walk with me
And you were off on a wandering mile
I was holding a weak excuse
I was heavy beneath blue

All I heard
Wait for the word
You're coming with me


Writer(s): Robin Pecknold
Speaking with Apple Music, Robin Pecknold said of this song, "Jara is a reference to Victor Jara, the Chilean folk singer. A national hero there who was killed by Pinochet's army. But it's not about Victor Jara— it's more like with 'Sunblind' where you're trying to eulogize someone, to honor someone or place them in some kind of canon."
Robin Pecknold explained on EW.com, "Politics are really important to me and it helps me stay involved when I have friends who are even that much more active. That song is equating those friends of mine to Victor Jara — the Chilean folk singer who is a national hero — and thinking about the people in my private life who serve that similar role that Victor Jara does in public. It was super inspiring working on that one."