Side Two of “Scenes from a Well Worn Path” is Jeremy’s continuation of the project, one which journeys through pain, grief, joy and fear while still maintaining a feeling of exhilaration. Far from viewing these emotions as separate events, the album shows them as part of a life that can experience difficult and rewarding moments together. The writing is full of passion, wit, honesty and humanity, and as a result the songs have a reflective tone in which they examine the various experiences that help us to understand both ourselves and the world around us.
‘Do Birds Sing the News’ is notable for the way its meticulously composed music goes hand in hand with its thought-provoking lyrics. The song encourages the listener to reflect on the way we live our lives and offers them something to think about beyond just the immediate experience of the track. Its position on Side Two highlights the project’s concern with examining feelings and ideas rather than merely presenting them. By doing so, the song provides room for contemplation and enables its questions and observations to stay with the listener.
“Idonella Sakaiensis” is another track that features music and lyrics which have been carefully crafted in order to cause the listener to pause and reflect. Together with the other songs on the album, it helps to form a body of work focused on emotional experiences, covering feelings such as fear and grief as well as joy. Side Two does not stay confined to a single emotional state; the journey it takes enables opposing emotions to coexist, thus producing a more comprehensive view of a fulfilled life which still includes pain, uncertainty and times for reflection.
Side Two acts as a continuation of Jeremy’s broader artistic statement by focusing on honesty, emotion and careful songwriting. Rather than just describing experiences, the songs examine them, giving the album a sense of curiosity regarding the way people live, feel and react to what goes on around them. The tracks ‘Do Birds Sing the News’ and ‘Idonella Sakaiensis’ in particular offer reflective moments, and in this way the album keeps a clear link between the thoughtfully composed music and the ideas which prompt the listener to stop and think about their own point of view.
