So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Who's so fly up in the sky
Faster than any boy could ever describe?
Who has got a love so deep
With everything alive?
I said
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
This's the kinda place where no one cares
What you're living for
And Jet Boy's so preoccupied
He don't care 'bout before
And that's why
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
My baby
Jet Boy's fly, you know
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
We was all endangered charms
Swear we're havin fun
And Jet Boy goes after all we've done
That's why he's the one
That's why
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
My pretty baby
My pretty, pretty baby
My pretty baby
When I first came around this dump
I knew I couldn't stay
'Cause up above the world are Jet Boy
That's how I gotta play
Don't ya know why
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby, like he was my baby
Like he was my baby, like he was my baby
Like he was my baby
Jet Boy's fly
And ya know he's gone
I said he been gone
Gone, gone, gone
And he been flying
He been flying
He's been flying
He's been flying
Baby, up all night
Baby, New York City
Baby, so, so high
Baby, so, so high
Don't you know that
Like he was my baby
Like he was my baby
Like he was my baby
Like he was my-my-my-my baby
My-my-my-my baby (like he was my baby)
My-my-my-my (Like he was my baby)
My baby, my baby (Like he was my baby)
M-m-m-m-m-my baby
My baby
Faster than any boy could ever describe?
Who has got a love so deep
With everything alive?
I said
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
This's the kinda place where no one cares
What you're living for
And Jet Boy's so preoccupied
He don't care 'bout before
And that's why
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
My baby
Jet Boy's fly, you know
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
We was all endangered charms
Swear we're havin fun
And Jet Boy goes after all we've done
That's why he's the one
That's why
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby
My pretty baby
My pretty, pretty baby
My pretty baby
When I first came around this dump
I knew I couldn't stay
'Cause up above the world are Jet Boy
That's how I gotta play
Don't ya know why
Jet Boy's fly
Jet Boy's gone
Jet Boy stole my baby
Flyin' around New York City so high
Like he was my baby, like he was my baby
Like he was my baby, like he was my baby
Like he was my baby
Jet Boy's fly
And ya know he's gone
I said he been gone
Gone, gone, gone
And he been flying
He been flying
He's been flying
He's been flying
Baby, up all night
Baby, New York City
Baby, so, so high
Baby, so, so high
Don't you know that
Like he was my baby
Like he was my baby
Like he was my baby
Like he was my-my-my-my baby
My-my-my-my baby (like he was my baby)
My-my-my-my (Like he was my baby)
My baby, my baby (Like he was my baby)
M-m-m-m-m-my baby
My baby
Lyrics submitted by stubenedict
Jet Boy Lyrics as written by Johnny Thunders David Johansen
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Ave Grave
Thee More Shallows
Thee More Shallows
Spirit Within
Bertoldi Brothers
Bertoldi Brothers
Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
reminds me of jet boy ket girl by the damned
no clue what the term jet boy means