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New Jersey Lyrics
you're and american girl
red headed eyes blank
living in a freckle on the face of the world
another dying kid that learned too much too soon
you're not as good as your mom
but you're as good as dead
you're as good as dead
new jersey ain't the whole world
which of your shots have sold?
twenty-nine with your child
who doesn't give and eats what's left
of your young soul
another dying spark that burned too fast too soon
you're not as bad as your dad
but you're as good as dead
you're as good as dead
new jersey ain't the whole world
don't you leave me out here too long
will you bring me out there?
you're an american girl
out of line in out of time
a cry for the leading role
your bum childhood stole
a mother tires and stuck
in her love-worn bed
you're not as good as your mom
but you're as good as dead
you're as good as dead
new jersey ain't the whole world
don't you leave me out here too long
will you bring me out there?
red headed eyes blank
living in a freckle on the face of the world
another dying kid that learned too much too soon
you're not as good as your mom
but you're as good as dead
you're as good as dead
new jersey ain't the whole world
twenty-nine with your child
who doesn't give and eats what's left
of your young soul
another dying spark that burned too fast too soon
you're not as bad as your dad
but you're as good as dead
you're as good as dead
new jersey ain't the whole world
will you bring me out there?
out of line in out of time
a cry for the leading role
your bum childhood stole
a mother tires and stuck
in her love-worn bed
you're not as good as your mom
but you're as good as dead
you're as good as dead
new jersey ain't the whole world
will you bring me out there?
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i cant beleive anyone who likes this band would not comment on this song. i think they must just be totally pussy. if your reading this now your obviously not pussy because here you are n all, unless you actually came here earlier and were all like "ohh nah im not gonna write anything its not that great.." cause id be like "ohh man thats so pussy... it is that great and your just timid, weak, wussy, frigid and fraidy cat that you dont fucking love this kick ass song.... yeah hows your band going?" - yeah i know i wrote this same quote under japanese to english too, but if youve made it through this quote for the second time surely you must agree that this band is one of the most underrecognised gifted emotionally profound acts ever, or unlees your pussy
This is the truest usage of the word 'pussy' I've ever seen.
This is the truest usage of the word 'pussy' I've ever seen.
It shocks me that this is actually considered by fans as one of the least good songs of theirs; it's always been one of my favorites (both versions, actually).
It shocks me that this is actually considered by fans as one of the least good songs of theirs; it's always been one of my favorites (both versions, actually).
and for those who want to actually talk about this particular piece... so how 'bout this song, hm?
I always figured this song was directed at some self important scenester chick that drew Mr. Kozelek's ire. The chorus gives the impression she's a big fish in a small pond (specifically New Jersey). Basically she thinks she's really important, like a queen of the rock 'n roll scene or something, and Mr. Kozelek is putting her in her place saying "you may be big shit in the Garden State, but 'New Jersey ain't the whole world'". Maybe I'm way off.
Oh, one other thing. New Jersey people are stereotypically looked down on by New Yorkers (watch the Sopranos or Joe Piscipo-era SNL if you don't believe me), who see them as trashy, uncultured, or clueless to the ways of New York sophistication. I don't personally feel this way, I just wanted to mention it since it may inform the attitude of the song.
I wonder if British fans of the Red House Painters catch this interesting tidbit of US geography/culture.
we do now :)
we do now :)
for some reason, i guess this song is related to one character in Philip Roth's American Pastoral named Meredith (Merry)... there's one sentence that goes for Merry and sound like this : "You are an American girl from Rimrock New Jersey! A very, very screwed up American girl." well,..it's just me... :)
When I was 17, I went to see Mark play in the sanctuary of the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia with a really good friend of mine. He had a great rapport with the crowd that night, even the hecklers, and when he was taking requests she and I repeatedly shouted "New Jersey!" (I grew up in Northeast Philly, not Jersey, but we both loved the song.)
After a bit of joking about how he wasn't sure he remembered how to play it, he digressed into saying, if I remember correctly, that the song had originally been called "Newark, New Jersey," because he'd heard the woman it was about had moved to "Newark." Later he found out it was Newark, Delaware, and cut that part off. Later, he told a story about the first time he'd played Boston and a heckler corrected him about where he'd played that year. "What, were you fuckin' there?" He sneered. "YES!" shouted back the Heckler, voice bouncing around the church. Everyone laughed.