Great song, I agree. It's obviously about Jack Johnson, a black boxer who managed to defeat the (white) Heavyweight champion. Look up Jack Johnson on Wikipedia if you don't understand the lyrics.
I do have one question, though. At the beginning of the song, it calls Jack Johnson a hero, which almost the rest of the song confirms. However, the end of the song says
"who said heroes had to be role models anyway?"
Jack Johnson had several flaws, but as none of them are mentioned in the song, I am hesitant to say that is the reason for that line. Does anyone have any ideas?
I most definitely agree with you (fortherechord) of your implication of the last line in this kick ass song. I think it's meaning may have something to do with the fact that Johnson was one of the very few black boxers of his time, and as we all know, his talent led to extreme mayhem. The majority of boxers/boxing fans of his time were against him. Therefore, as a boxer AND individual, he was more frowned upon than looked up to. I have no idea if this even applies to the true meaning of "who said heroes had to be...
I most definitely agree with you (fortherechord) of your implication of the last line in this kick ass song. I think it's meaning may have something to do with the fact that Johnson was one of the very few black boxers of his time, and as we all know, his talent led to extreme mayhem. The majority of boxers/boxing fans of his time were against him. Therefore, as a boxer AND individual, he was more frowned upon than looked up to. I have no idea if this even applies to the true meaning of "who said heroes had to be role models anyway?" but it's just a thought.
The issue of Jack Johnson's life were left out of the song, this is true. He was known to cohort with prostitutes often and ended up marrying a former prostitute (she was white). He was also a bit of a drinker and a gambler. He had a penchant for buying fast cars and expensive jewelry. When you think of Jack Johnson, frame him as the kid recently drafted to the NBA that blows $15k partying with his friends and ends up arrested. That's Jack Johnson out of the ring. He was hardly a role...
The issue of Jack Johnson's life were left out of the song, this is true. He was known to cohort with prostitutes often and ended up marrying a former prostitute (she was white). He was also a bit of a drinker and a gambler. He had a penchant for buying fast cars and expensive jewelry. When you think of Jack Johnson, frame him as the kid recently drafted to the NBA that blows $15k partying with his friends and ends up arrested. That's Jack Johnson out of the ring. He was hardly a role model to base your life on; however, he stood up and broke racial barriers like they were the faces of those he fought.
Great song, I agree. It's obviously about Jack Johnson, a black boxer who managed to defeat the (white) Heavyweight champion. Look up Jack Johnson on Wikipedia if you don't understand the lyrics.
I do have one question, though. At the beginning of the song, it calls Jack Johnson a hero, which almost the rest of the song confirms. However, the end of the song says
"who said heroes had to be role models anyway?"
Jack Johnson had several flaws, but as none of them are mentioned in the song, I am hesitant to say that is the reason for that line. Does anyone have any ideas?
I most definitely agree with you (fortherechord) of your implication of the last line in this kick ass song. I think it's meaning may have something to do with the fact that Johnson was one of the very few black boxers of his time, and as we all know, his talent led to extreme mayhem. The majority of boxers/boxing fans of his time were against him. Therefore, as a boxer AND individual, he was more frowned upon than looked up to. I have no idea if this even applies to the true meaning of "who said heroes had to be...
I most definitely agree with you (fortherechord) of your implication of the last line in this kick ass song. I think it's meaning may have something to do with the fact that Johnson was one of the very few black boxers of his time, and as we all know, his talent led to extreme mayhem. The majority of boxers/boxing fans of his time were against him. Therefore, as a boxer AND individual, he was more frowned upon than looked up to. I have no idea if this even applies to the true meaning of "who said heroes had to be role models anyway?" but it's just a thought.
The issue of Jack Johnson's life were left out of the song, this is true. He was known to cohort with prostitutes often and ended up marrying a former prostitute (she was white). He was also a bit of a drinker and a gambler. He had a penchant for buying fast cars and expensive jewelry. When you think of Jack Johnson, frame him as the kid recently drafted to the NBA that blows $15k partying with his friends and ends up arrested. That's Jack Johnson out of the ring. He was hardly a role...
The issue of Jack Johnson's life were left out of the song, this is true. He was known to cohort with prostitutes often and ended up marrying a former prostitute (she was white). He was also a bit of a drinker and a gambler. He had a penchant for buying fast cars and expensive jewelry. When you think of Jack Johnson, frame him as the kid recently drafted to the NBA that blows $15k partying with his friends and ends up arrested. That's Jack Johnson out of the ring. He was hardly a role model to base your life on; however, he stood up and broke racial barriers like they were the faces of those he fought.