When Instant Star wrapped after four seasons (2005-2008), Alexz endured her share of off-camera drama in her music career, when both Capitol and Epic, respectively, ended up shelving her records due to internal conflicts . "It’s been tough,” she says, “but something always keeps me going. Even with no money in my pocket, things land where they land and you keep moving.” Johnson had completed a full length record entitled Weight in 2008, and was set to release it in September the next year.
Alexz independently released her debut album, Voodoo in 2010 and remixed it in 2011 as Reloaded. She released a compilation of unheard demos in the form of The Basement Recordings (2011), while prepping to release her first EP, Skipping Stone in January 2012. She has also released one live album, Live from the Skipping Stone Tour in December 2012. Johnson later continued to release two more demo compilations, The Basement Recordings 2 and The Basement Recordings 3 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Finding success and a loyal fanbase through her independent releases, Johnson's 2014 EP, Heart and sophomore album Let 'Em Eat Cake were both funded through the crowdfunding service Pledgemusic. Heart and Let 'Em Eat Cake both showcase a different side of Johnson, tackling subjects such as heartbreak and loss. The two releases include tracks produced by David Kahne, who has worked with Lana Del Rey, Kelly Clarkson, Regina Spektor, and other artists.
Mr. Jones
Alexz Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
stepping in to step out,
he's in town, he doesn't make a sound,
what's this, what is this about...?
Uh, I figured it out but I'm a little unsure,
I can't sleep here tonight,
won't ask, do I really wanna' know,
What happened to the black suitcase,
in the middle of the dark staircase,
where he's hiding and acting like nothing is wrong,
where'd he go? There's he goes,
Mr. Jones suddenly gone... ha...
Fine dine better wine then the rest,
he's got looks to kill,
in touch, but never too much,
oh no, alone left with the bill...
Black hat, Cadillac, lots of cash,
lots at stake,
quick wits got a room at The Ritz,
can't judge a man by what he makes...
What happened to the black suitcase,
in the middle of the dark staircase,
where he's hiding and acting like nothing is wrong,
where'd he go? There's he goes,
Mr. Jones suddenly gone...
(You wanna', do you, do you wanna'?
Piranha, p-p-piranha...)
(You wanna', do you, do you wanna'?
Piranha, p-p-piranha...)
(Piranha, do you, do you wanna'...?)
I don't really wanna'...
(Piranha p-p-piranha...)
Sleep without piranha...
(You wanna', do you, do you wanna'...?)
I don't really wanna'...
(You wanna' Mr. Jones... shhh...)
What happened to the black suitcase,
in the middle of the dark staircase,
where he's hiding and acting like nothing is wrong,
where'd he go? There's he goes,
Mr. Jones suddenly gone...
What happened to the black suitcase,
in the middle of the dark staircase,
where he's hiding and acting like nothing is wrong,
where'd he go? There's he goes,
Mr. Jones suddenly gone...
(Do you, do you wanna'...?)
I don't really wanna'...
(Piranha p-p-piranha...)
Sleep without piranha...
(You wanna', do you, do you wanna'...?)
I don't really wanna'...
(Piranha p-p-piranha...)
Sleep without piranha...
(You wanna', do you, do you wanna'...?)
I don't really wanna'...
(Piranha p-p-piranha...)
Sleep without piranha...
(You wanna', do you, do you wanna'...?)
Sleep without piranha...
You wanna' Mr. Jones...
The song "Mr. Jones" by Alexz Johnson tells a mysterious story about a man named Mr. Jones. The song opens with the line, "Mr. Jones in the middle of the door, stepping in to step out." This implies that Mr. Jones is entering a space and exiting almost immediately. Although he's in town, he allegedly doesn't make any noise. The singer of the song wonders what's going on with Mr. Jones and says, "I figured it out but I'm a little unsure." As the song progresses, the singer questions what happened to a black suitcase that was in the middle of a dark staircase. Mr. Jones is allegedly hiding and acting like nothing is wrong, but then he suddenly disappears.
The second verse portrays Mr. Jones as a man with a luxurious lifestyle. The singer describes him as having "fine dine better wine than the rest" and "lots of cash, lots at stake." Despite all of this, "he's in touch, but never too much," the singer says. This line suggests that Mr. Jones might be a cold or distant person, who might be difficult to get close to. Toward the end of the song, the chorus repeats the question, "What happened to the black suitcase in the middle of the dark staircase?" This stanza is sung in a more desperate tone than the previous stanzas. In the final lines, the singer addresses Mr. Jones directly, "You wanna, do you wanna sleep without piranha? You wanna Mr. Jones."
Line by Line Meaning
Mr. Jones in the middle of the door,
Mr. Jones is standing right in the doorway,
stepping in to step out,
He's about to step outside,
he's in town, he doesn't make a sound,
Mr. Jones is in the city, but he's very quiet,
what's this, what is this about...?
What's the reason for Mr. Jones being so quiet?
Uh, I figured it out but I'm a little unsure,
I think I know what's going on, but I'm not entirely sure,
I can't sleep here tonight,
I can't sleep because of what might be happening,
won't ask, do I really wanna' know,
I don't want to ask what's happening because I may not want to know,
what Jones was doing last night...?
I'm curious about what Mr. Jones was doing last night,
What happened to the black suitcase,
I'm wondering about the whereabouts of the black suitcase,
in the middle of the dark staircase,
It was located in the middle of the staircase,
where he's hiding and acting like nothing is wrong,
Mr. Jones is hiding, pretending that everything is alright,
where'd he go? There's he goes,
I'm not sure where he went, but there he goes,
Mr. Jones suddenly gone... ha...
Mr. Jones has suddenly disappeared,
Fine dine better wine then the rest,
Mr. Jones likes the finer things in life,
he's got looks to kill,
Mr. Jones is a good-looking man,
in touch, but never too much,
He is social, but never overly so,
oh no, alone left with the bill...
I'm worried about being left with his expenses,
Black hat, Cadillac, lots of cash,
He has a black hat, drives a Cadillac, and carries a lot of money,
lots at stake,
He has a lot on the line,
quick wits got a room at The Ritz,
His cleverness helped him secure a room at The Ritz,
can't judge a man by what he makes...
It's not fair to judge someone based on their material possessions,
(You wanna', do you, do you wanna'?
Asking a question, specifically if I want something,
Piranha, p-p-piranha...)
The thing I may or may not want is a piranha,
(Piranha, do you, do you wanna'...?)
Asking again if I want a Piranha,
I don't really wanna'...
I'm not sure if I really want it,
Sleep without piranha...
I want to sleep without having to worry about piranhas,
You wanna' Mr. Jones... shhh...
I am warning to be quiet about our discussion of Mr. Jones
What happened to the black suitcase,
Asking again about the whereabouts of the black suitcase,
in the middle of the dark staircase,
It was located in the middle of the staircase,
where he's hiding and acting like nothing is wrong,
Mr. Jones is hiding, pretending that everything is alright,
where'd he go? There's he goes,
I'm not sure where he went, but there he goes,
Mr. Jones suddenly gone...
Mr. Jones has suddenly disappeared,
(Do you, do you wanna'...?)
Asking again if I want something,
I don't really wanna'...
I'm not sure if I really want it,
Sleep without piranha...
I want to sleep without having to worry about piranhas,
You wanna' Mr. Jones...
Asking again if I want Mr. Jones,
Contributed by Blake S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chrystal Bess Redding
I love all of Alexz' songs, they are absolutely timeless
She can sing blues, rock, rap, country; she and Brendan are equally talented! ❤ ❤ ❤ 🌂 🎵
hereiam19
LOVE IT ♥ ♫♪
tartenormande69
Hey, me again (lol) (if you don't know, go check your Voodoo post), just to say that I think this one is my favorite ^^