I Knew About Them - Lyrics - Jandek

Jandek is the musical project of Sterling Richard Smith, an outsider musician who operates out of Houston, Texas. Since 1978, Jandek has self-released over 70 albums of unusual, often emotionally dissolute folk and blues songs without ever granting more than the occasional interview or providing any biographical information. Jandek often plays a highly idiosyncratic and frequently atonal form of folk and blues music, often using an open and unconventional chord structure. Jandek's music is unique, but the lyrics closely mirror the country blues and folk traditions of East Texas. The name "Jandek" is most commonly used to refer specifically to the mainâoften soleâperformer, rather than to the project.

I decided to live for man instead of God I don't know how it happened I learned when you live for man, you die for man I didn't have to die It takes a lot longer to die than to live I was wondering if you wear out Many clothes these days If you lose, or need to change, or outgrow And is it easy to let your old clothes go And bring them To the place for the other unknown segment Who somehow wants them I decide this way is the best But the time is so hard to corral And pull out little intrigants (?) Which I can't read no more I surely can't keep the light on It's too dark to see Let me tell you somethin' I sure can hear I sure can hear They didn't know that They knew I couldn't see But they forgot That I could still hear And hearing is knowing I knew all about 'em, yes I don't know how they even got so close For me to even hear them But they know that I'm listening now And I've got some plans To stop anything negative dead in its tracks Go away now You're too heavy on my mind I need to lay back Close my eyes So go away now Before you're gone