The Air Near My Fingers

OMG This is SO untrue! Jack grew up in the Mexicantown district of Detroit. His parents worked for the Catholic Church...as a janitor and a secretary! I promise you, if you have ten children and you're working for the Church, you're not quite rich. Dropout though he is also not, Jack was done after high school. Horray for us, or he may have become a businessman.

I'm just going to also say, I basically have no idea what this one is about. I understand that he wrote it the day it was recorded, which explains a lot about the lack of consistency in lyric. I think he's combining a lot of different thoughts into this song.

Clearly when he talks about "sinning," it's a reference to the fact that he never really had to work hard for the money, never went to college or anything like that, "School bell" reference.

I think that "I get nervous when she comes around," is in reference to a love interest. If you've listened to the albums at all, it seems fair to say that Jack REALLY loves whomever it is that he loves. It seems less likely to be about his mother, mostly because, in my opinion, he is addressing how nervous he becomes around some enchanting woman, and he feels daunted by it because he will never be able to experience the "right" kind of love, except from his mother.

Tada! I apologize for my verbosity. Peace.

i believe this songis about loving the free life of childhood, hating responsibility. and loving being spoiled and not having a worry in the world. he says he'll never have to hear the ring of school bells or work. meaning his mother provides for him. and the love he gets from her. and he also says "never said i want to be a man"

so... thats my take on it

Intriguing song...makes no sense to me but lets rock on anyway.

Sinning as in being a sloth.

i agree with CUBErt6136

he gets nervous because she talks about how he needs to do something with his life "a boy is not a man Until he makes a stand" he doesnt like it because hes content being broke and lazy.

i also think he feels nervous around his mother because he feels guilty for everything shes done for him and he feels like hes letting her down for not doing more with his life.

i love this song. though im not going to hate on cluttered grace for not. we all have different opinions. even if hers doesnt make much sense seeing as this song is truly amazing.

Whenever i hear the "i get nervous when she come around" line i think of The La's song Here She Comes. I know they sound nothing alike but something in my head makes a connection between the two.

I beleive Jack does an interpretation of the "Wild Thing" riff in this song. Pretty cool song.

I like when he says:

"Well, I'm not a genius But maybe you'll remember this I never said I ever wanted to be a man"

I love the organ part on this song and the "do do, do doodido...) This is just catchy. "I get nervous when she comes around" and the splash of organ during the descending guitar part...I don't know what it's about and haven't decipherd it yet, but I like this song.

What's with Jacks thing with December? Notice that he mentions December in 'Same Boy You've Always Known' too

What's with Jacks thing with December? Notice that he mentions December in 'Same Boy You've Always Known' too