‘Em Are I - Ending My First Year in College
cover of ‘Em Are I courtesy of Rough Trade Records/Jeffrey Lewis
by Laila Brustin ‘25
My morning routines have always varied. In middle school I was diligent and timely, in high school I was frequently running late, and now during this first year of college, when I can’t seem to bring myself out of bed, I put on this album. Jeffrey Lewis’s ‘Em Are I has not only ensured that I made it to my 8:30 AM classes, but also that my day begins on a sweet note. The music is soft folk with occasional bursts of garage punk. The tracks cover themes of gaining maturity, facing the fear of change in many forms, and accepting life as it is. By also mixing in strange, funny lyrics, the music remains light-hearted. I have always felt extremely close to this album, and as I continue to grow up and figure out my future, this music reminds me I don’t need to know everything nor do I have to rush past the present.
“Slogans” kicks off the album with an upbeat opener that gives me the energy to get up. It reminds me of other pieces of Jeffrey Lewis's work where he explores self-doubt and inadequacy. It's a fun take on facing up to imposter syndrome and learning to accept yourself. Feeling like you’re not enough, especially as an undeclared first year at Wellesley College, can be incredibly overwhelming. I appreciate this song beginning the album, as it takes a stance against many of the fears Lewis discusses.
“So everyone you meet is you
Divided by what they've been through
The fates fly past beyond control
And make pebbles of our mountain soul
And I kept repeating it to myself
'Til I convinced myself it's true
And everyone you meet is not better than you”
“Bugs and Flowers” is the first track that I fell in love with. It enters in with a soft guitar, discussing how when we die there will only be room in the afterlife for insects and plants. The imagery is thoughtful, evoking an abandoned and overgrown countryside. Playful lyrics which remove tinges of worry are spread throughout the song.
“Voracious flowers
Voracious hours
Voracious people
Voracious slime
Words like voracious
Just sound like nonsense
After you say them about five times”
The second song that I fell in love with was “Roll Bus Roll.” Although it was written about Lewis' annual overnight bus trips from New York to the countryside, I find a lot of comfort in it as I grow older and move on from things I'm not quite ready to leave. Although he is sad and prepared to leave a lot behind, Lewis remains flexible and open to his journey. This experience translates into growing up for me, since there is both anticipation to move forward and the fear of doing so.
“I wasn’t designed to move so fast, I wasn’t designed to have so much past…
then the sun setting on my youth makes that old shadow get taller,
Oh but it's all fine as long as the bus makes the city behind me get smaller and smaller.”
A final track worth note is “It's Not Impossible.” While still being about moving on, this song takes the approach of learning and growing. Lewis has sung about his anxieties in past works before, but this song is a reminder that there is always possibility.
"I’m still not certain, but it’s not so deadly
I’m not that person that despaired so steadily
Like sink tap water through my hands it went
But as long as failure's only ninety nine percent
It’s not impossible, now I know
It’s not impossible, I thought so
But it’s not impossible"
I love every track on this album and it was hard to pick and choose which to talk about, especially when there is some great variety throughout. However, seeing as the summer is approaching, that I’m going to be a sophomore, and am turning 20 this year, I thought these three songs would address these feelings. I think that no matter where you are in life, worries about growing older and facing change can be overwhelming. Whether it's ‘Em Are I or an entirely different album, I hope that on your next difficult morning you put on some music you love. In the meantime, take it easy over the summer!
