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.
Three thats the magic number
yes it is, its a magic number
Two times three is six
and three times six is eighteen
and the eighteenth letter in the alphabet is R
There's three Rs we're going to be talking about today
You gotta learn to Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
If you're going to the market to buy some juice
bring your own bags and you'll learn to reduce your waste
Gotta reduce your waste
And if your brother or your sisters got some cool clothes
try them on before you buy some of those
reuse
you gotta learn to reuse
And if the first two Rs dont work out
and you gotta make some trash, dont throw it out
Recycle
You gotta learn to recycle
You gotta learn to Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
'cause three, thats the magic number
yes it is, its a magic number
yes it is, its a magic number
Two times three is six
and three times six is eighteen
and the eighteenth letter in the alphabet is R
There's three Rs we're going to be talking about today
You gotta learn to Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
If you're going to the market to buy some juice
bring your own bags and you'll learn to reduce your waste
Gotta reduce your waste
And if your brother or your sisters got some cool clothes
try them on before you buy some of those
reuse
you gotta learn to reuse
And if the first two Rs dont work out
and you gotta make some trash, dont throw it out
Recycle
You gotta learn to recycle
You gotta learn to Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Reduce Reuse Recycle
'cause three, thats the magic number
yes it is, its a magic number
Lyrics submitted by JustAStupidKid
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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"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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
JJ played this song at the 1st Kokua Festival and it was cute and catchy. He originally played it for kids at school assemblies. The profits from the 1st festival went to start recycling programs at Oahu schools. I wish I was goin to da 2nd Kokua Festival but all sold out. Somethin interesting: 1% of the profits from his CD, In b/w Dreams, are going to enviro organizations. I wonder how JJ got so enviro conscience?
when you live in hawaii and you see it getting polluted, you wanna try and do anything you can to keep this world clean. why can't someone take a few more steps to a trash can?
he sang this at the second kokua festival too, btw. i went to it. he was guuuu!
i got the curious george album today - this song is one of my faves off there
Nobody else notices the De La Soul reference? He says:
"Three, that's the magic number Yes it is, it's the magic number"
...exactly like De La Soul did (in Magic Number), which is kind of funny.
Whoops, I didn't realize it came from something completely different. :P
This is a reall cool take on Bob Dorough's "Three is a Magic Number," from Multiplication Rock (later called Schoolhouse Rock, when they started adding more than just numbers and multiplication songs).
Although I prefer the Multiplication Rock original, Jack's version has a special groove to it, and a good environmental message. I also like the way The Sharing Song shifts right into this 3 R's song after Jack says, "Share a beat, now."
Economimus is right, part of the beat and the lyrics are taken off or inspired by De La Souls song. I think this songs is very educative for children as they learn so much from a catchy song. You go teach them about polution, Jack!
Waaaay before De La Soul, there was Bob Dorough, and Multiplication Rock (later lumped into Schoolhouse Rock). De La Soul simply took a snippet from Dorough's classic song about the number 3. So the original inspiration was Dorough, not De La Soul.
oh my god worst song ever please tell me this song is supposed to be a joke. i knew jack fartface was lame but i didn't know he was THIS lame.
words cannot express how much i hate this song. and as an anti-environmentalist, the subject matter is also highly offensive to me.