We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Major Fifth (10th Anniversary Remix)

from City Lights: 10th Anniversary Remixes by Jasper's Cast

/

about

10 years later, my initial thought is this: Major Fifth makes no sense! In music theory, there is no major or minor quality associated with the fifth chord in a scale. Ironically, the five chord is a "perfect" chord, but for whatever reason, Eric and I sang "They call me major fifth," over and over again while walking from a dorm room to the cafeteria one day.

And in the end, I guess, that irony fits our main character here -- he's out of place, almost nonexistent, in a world that's left behind. In the overall context of the City Lights record, this would be the moment in which our titular hero sets out for the city to find a place that fits him. Or something. It's not a rock opera, it's a concept album, so we could get away with a few hazy plot points across our story.

I distinctly remember two days when recording this song ten years ago, and when remixing it I wanted to bring to the forefront the moments that reminded me of those days.

One: We set a mic up in the downstairs bathroom at the house where I was living and where we recorded 90% of this record, and that's where Eric recorded the vocals for this song. Don't know why we picked the bathroom; I guess we thought it sounded good? But I'm laughing now at Eric in this disgusting college house bathroom with a pink toilet and grimy floors, singing this heartbreaking song about being out of place. I guess Eric, in a sense, was out of place too. Fitting. Irony.

Two: One of the last days of recording, Mari and I tracked strings a handful of tracks (and saxophone, though that was not in the original plan). We locked ourselves in a practice room at Trinity at 11 at night, armed with a handle of whiskey. The strings on Major Fifth are my favorite freakin' thing on this whole record. She pushes this into "French chanson" territory with her layered violin parts (though I recall her using Arcade Fire as a reference point, there's something more golden and nostalgic in the final version). I remember laughing so much during that session.

In the end, I hope those two memories come through with the final recording. This is my favorite Jasper's Cast song of all time.

-- Jackson

lyrics

I'm coming back again
To a place I've never been
All of this surrounding me
Is more than I could ever see
And now it seems as though
All the things I used to know
Have gone away and left me here
All alone and full of fear
I never knew it, till I went away
That it always overwhelmed me at the end of every day
And now I'm thinking, where did they go?
All the things I used to wonder, the things I used to know

I read the Bible and
Found only fictions there
But they're the best I've ever heard
I loved them every single word
I tried to find a friend
But they'd all been born again
Turn away from what I need
I'm thinking they're afraid of me
And now I'm wonderin, what can I do
I'm all tangled up and lonely, I'm torn down and blue
You always told me I might be wrong
But I was caught out running, never thought it'd take so long

And when the minor slips into my life
I look around and know that I'm not all right
Then I hear your voice
And I'm on my way, far away

This world keeps changing, I'll stay away
It'll only take a moment, just a while each day
But you remind me of things I knew
There was never more to anything than what I had with you

And then the minor slips into my life
I look around and know I'm doing fine
I'm on my way
I'll be there someday, far away

They call me major major major major fifth

credits

from City Lights: 10th Anniversary Remixes, released April 15, 2021

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jasper's Cast image

Jasper's Cast San Antonio, Texas

Combine electric amplification with acoustic bluegrass instruments and you get Jasper's Cast. But don't forget to add some catchy melodies, rich harmonies, and untamed live shows, and then you've got what Jasper's Cast is all about. Give them a listen and come see them sometime. They might just keep you dancing all night. ... more

contact / help

Contact Jasper's Cast

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this track or account

Jasper's Cast recommends:

If you like Jasper's Cast, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Seafood Sam joins the show to discuss his newest album, " Standing On Giant Shoulders".
listen now