An introspective journey through life.
Early this October, underground Texas singer Jess Williamson released her newest album, A Mile South of Heaven. With this album, Williamson takes a more personal route, unpacking lingering regrets while contemplating her present and future.
The album explores many themes, some more thoroughly than others. One of the more analyzed themes throughout the tracks is the Texas songwriter’s struggle to accept change. In the opening track, “Goodbye To All That”, Williamson details leaving her past behind as she makes way for a new path in life. Of course, her past still weighs heavily on her heart, but she knows she has to let go in order to grow.
The tenth song, “Legends Die,” carries on the message of her first as the singer continues to explore her desire for a better future. During a long and lonesome car ride home, the singer reevaluates her relationships, trying to separate those who deeply care for her from those who couldn’t care less. Small steps such as these convey the singer’s devotion to a brighter future that differs from her past woes and worries.
While paving a new path for what’s to come, Williamson expresses a deep yearning for her past life. “Tracking the Tropics” is the first of many instances when listeners learn about the singer’s desire to go back to a time when she was accepted and surrounded by people who made her feel whole. “Hum of the City” continues to explore the dichotomy between the past and the future, with her past rural life represented as “country music” and her future in the city being the motel she’s staying at. Although she loves the feeling of the motel, she desperately wants the bartender to play country music in order to be brought back to a simpler time with those she loves.
Audiences investigate the tumultuous war between what feels familiar and forging a new, unknown path. Through learning more about Williamson’s past struggles and worries, listeners learn more about her present self. “A Mile South of Heaven” tells the story of the country singer striving for perfection, ultimately leading her down bumpy roads. Through the struggle, though, she’s learned not to let her ambition blind her to what’s currently happening. Why look toward a possibly unattainable future when one can live in the now and be content with what the current moment holds?
Songs like “High Heels and Blue Jeans” and “Someone Else’s Horses” connect the singer’s everyday struggles and modern-day socio-political problems that plague the music scene. The latter song primarily deals with the plight of being a woman in the country genre. The Los Angeles-based songwriter details how she works twice as hard as her male counterparts simply to fit in. The former song details how women are always expected to be at their best despite any internal conflicts they’re dealing with. Williamson presents clear issues in the verses, but by the chorus, she’s forced to forget about her problems and show up dressed in her best “high heels and blue jeans.”
Williamson’s journey of introspection definitely shapes the main narrative of her lyrical autobiography, but there are a few minor plots sprinkled within the album that aid audiences in further understanding the woman behind the music. Tracks like “Dark Day in Dallas” and “Texas Time” are devoted to her loved ones and those she holds dearly. The former serves as an ode to her mother, whom she greatly looked up to because she saw her struggle and work hard to provide the singer the life that she has now. The latter explores her deep love for her boyfriend, who keeps her grounded and makes her feel whole.
The grand finale, “The Gem and Mineral Show,” leaves listeners off on a somber but relatable note. By the end of her story, through all the reminiscing, deliberation and change, the Texas native continues to feel left out in her new world. She’s unsure if the high life really suits her. Although this isn’t a fairy-tale ending where everything is wrapped nicely in a neat bow, the conclusion is still a fitting one; it tells a raw, realistic story of life. At the end of her journey, Williamson discovers that self-awareness and change aren’t always the definitive answer to success; for some, they’re simply the first of many steps on the path towards growth and true happiness.
