Here is some background information on Clear Heart Full Eyes from the No Future Songfacts . In early 2011 Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn challenged himself to write a new song every day in his Brooklyn apartment for his first solo album. "I had written a bunch of songs that were outside of the norm for The Hold Steady, a little quieter and perhaps more narrative," he said. "I wanted to gain some experience and insight into the process of making a record by working with new people." Finn enlisted producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon) and traveled to an Austin, Texas studio far away from his New York comfort zone. He hooked up with some local musicians there, including members of Phosphorescent and White Denim and sang his vocals live, keeping takes to a minimum and completed recording in a few days. The resulting album, Clear Heart Full Eyes was released on January 24, 2012 on Vagrant Records.
Jackson
Craig Finn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At least he was when he was well
Stephanie was good to me but not so much to herself
We were holed up in a hotel room from August to November
It was Jackson, me, and Stephanie
The rest I don't remember
Stephanie appeared to me in the back half of the theater
We pooled our funds and made a run
We were foolproof when it counted
It was Jackson, me, and Stephanie
And it didn't seem all that crowded
Now why you asking about Jackson?
It was a long time ago and nothing really happened
Why you asking about Jackson?
Jackson just got restless
Couldn't take the lack of action
He was sort of like a shark
He just had to keep on swimming
And the sailors kept on coming off the boats down at the harbor
It was difficult to stop
It was easy to get started
Stephanie came on strong but suddenly went weak
She seemed a little speedy and her tongue worked at her teeth
The sirens came behind us
It was a bit be fore we heard it
It was Jackson, me and Stephanie
And for a while it felt just perfect
Now why you asking about Jackson?
It was a long time ago and nothing really happened
Someone said he ended up in Denver
Someone said he went to Kansas City
Someone said he went off the deep end
Some said he was living there already
One day Jackson just didn't show up to the party
One day Jackson just didn't show up to the party
Stephanie was long on looks and short on mental health
She said depression is an ocean and it's prone to tides and swells
Anxiety's persistent
It's an ambitious politician
It keeps knocking on your door
Until you come and let it in
I think that Jackson let it in
I think Jackson let it in
Craig Finn's song "Jackson" centers around the characters of Jackson, Stephanie, and the singer. Jackson, who was an actor, is described as restless and always on the move. Stephanie appears to struggle with mental health issues, particularly depression and anxiety. At one point, the three hole up in a hotel room together for several months. They eventually decide to make a run and pool their money together. The song seems to hint at some sort of illegal or shady activity, as they are "foolproof when it counted" and the sirens eventually catch up to them.
The singer is asked about Jackson and seems dismissive of his significance, saying "nothing really happened" and questioning why he is being asked. The song ends with Jackson disappearing and the suggestion that his mental health struggles may have contributed to this. The lyrics provide a sense of desperation and a lack of direction, particularly for Jackson, who seems to be searching for something but unable to find it. The song is a commentary on mental health, as well as the importance of human connections and finding purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Jackson was an actor
Jackson used to be an actor
At least he was when he was well
He was only an actor when he was healthy
Stephanie was good to me but not so much to herself
Stephanie treated the singer well, but she didn't treat herself well
We were holed up in a hotel room from August to November
The singer, Jackson, and Stephanie stayed in a hotel for three months
It was Jackson, me, and Stephanie
These three people were together during their time at the hotel
The rest I don't remember
The singer doesn't remember anything else from that time
Stephanie appeared to me in the back half of the theater
The singer saw Stephanie in the theater's back section
We met up with Jackson on the strand a few days later
The three of them reunited on the beach a few days after the theater encounter
We pooled our funds and made a run
They combined their money and left to go somewhere new
We were foolproof when it counted
They felt confident during crucial moments
And it didn't seem all that crowded
Their surroundings didn't seem to have many people around
Now why you asking about Jackson?
The singer doesn't understand why someone is asking about Jackson
It was a long time ago and nothing really happened
According to the singer, nothing significant occurred during that time
Jackson just got restless
Jackson became bored and antsy
Couldn't take the lack of action
Jackson disliked not having anything to do
He was sort of like a shark
Jackson was like a shark because he needed to keep moving forward
He just had to keep on swimming
Jackson felt like he had to keep going
And the sailors kept on coming off the boats down at the harbor
Many people kept arriving at the harbor
It was difficult to stop
It was tough to stop the momentum
It was easy to get started
It was effortless to begin something
Stephanie came on strong but suddenly went weak
Stephanie acted forcefully but then became helpless
She seemed a little speedy and her tongue worked at her teeth
Stephanie appeared agitated and was grinding her teeth
The sirens came behind us
Emergency vehicles began chasing them
It was a bit before we heard it
The sound was delayed before reaching them
And for a while it felt just perfect
For a brief time, everything seemed to be going well
Someone said he ended up in Denver
Someone claimed that Jackson moved to Denver
Someone said he went to Kansas City
Another person suggested that Jackson relocated to Kansas City
Someone said he went off the deep end
Someone stated that Jackson began acting unpredictably
Some said he was living there already
Others believed Jackson already lived in his new location
One day Jackson just didn't show up to the party
Jackson was absent from a social gathering
Stephanie was long on looks and short on mental health
Stephanie was physically attractive but struggled with mental health
She said depression is an ocean and it's prone to tides and swells
Stephanie compared depression to an ocean with changing levels
Anxiety's persistent
Anxiety is persistent
It's an ambitious politician
Anxiety can manipulate and influence someone
It keeps knocking on your door
Anxiety will keep appearing in someone's life
Until you come and let it in
Unless someone actively resists it
I think that Jackson let it in
The singer believes Jackson didn't resist anxiety
I think Jackson let it in
The singer reinforces his belief that Jackson let anxiety take hold
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CRAIG FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scott Dickey
Cool to see Craig on his own. He's done so many cool things in the music biz.
Dave M.
God Bless you, Craig Finn.
Kevin McGuigan
In craig we trust. -my cousin
Luke Dyer
Holy shit the guy from the Hold Steady
Anauroch
So, whats up with Jackson? Maybe he'll show up one day.