Jack
Doug Anthony All Stars Lyrics
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Black from the coal.
What is your back, Jack?
Snapped and cracked from digging it, digging it.
Watch that soul.
What are your hands, Jack?
Black from the coal.
Snapped and cracked from digging it, digging it.
Watch that soul.
Failed the test,
Need to rest (hands Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck.
Failed the test,
Need to rest (look at your hands, Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck.
Hands jack, look at your hands, Jack.
Failed the test,
Need to rest (hands Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck (black from the coal).
Failed the test,
Need to rest (what is your back, Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck.
(snapped and cracked from diggin' it, diggin' it, watch that soul).
Failed the test,
Need to rest (hands Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck (black from the coal).
Failed the test,
Need to rest (what is your back, Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck.
(snapped and cracked from diggin' it, diggin' it, watch that soul).
Failed the test,
Need to rest (hands Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck (black from the coal).
Failed the test,
Need to rest (what is your back, Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck.
(snapped and cracked from diggin' it, diggin' it, watch that soul).
Failed the test,
Need to rest (hands Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck (black from the coal).
Failed the test,
Need to rest (what is your back, Jack).
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck.
(snapped and cracked from diggin' it, diggin' it).
Watch that soul.
Richard's part
Help me father,
Jack fell down,
When the shaft caved in.
Gotta cut the line,
Danger strikes.
Help me father,
There he falls (alternates - 'goes'. He says 'watch that soul' in last verse.)
The lyrics of "Jack" by Doug Anthony All Stars tell a story of a coal miner named Jack who has been working hard in the mines, and the toll it has taken on his body and soul. The repetition of the lines "What are your hands, Jack? Black from the coal. What is your back, Jack? Snapped and cracked from digging it, digging it. Watch that soul," emphasize the physical toll the work has taken on Jack's body while also hinting at the underlying themes of the song: the dangers of labor and the dehumanization of the working class.
The song also touches upon the idea of failure and the need for rest. The singer mentions multiple times throughout the song that he has "failed the test" and needs a break. The repetition of this line mirrors the repetition of the earlier lines, reinforcing the idea of the singer being stuck in a cycle of physical and mental exhaustion due to his labor.
Line by Line Meaning
What are your hands, Jack?
Asking Jack about the appearance of his hands which are black from coal mining.
Black from the coal.
Explaining the reason behind Jack's hands being black from coal mining.
What is your back, Jack?
Asking Jack about the condition of his back which is snapped and cracked from coal mining.
Snapped and cracked from digging it, digging it.
Describing Jack's back that is snapped and cracked from continuous coal mining.
Watch that soul.
Advising Jack to take care of his inner self during this tough time.
Failed the test,
Referring to a situation where the singer is failing to fulfill expectations.
Need to rest (hands Jack).
Expressing the need for rest since Jack's hands are exhausted from mining.
I'm all messed up in a trusted wreck.
Feeling completely ruined because of the situation, potentially both physically and mentally.
Look at your hands, Jack.
Asking Jack to take a closer look at his hands that have turned black from coal mining.
Failed the test,
Referring to the same situation where the artist has failed to fulfill expectations.
What is your back, Jack?
Again, asking Jack about the condition of his back that is snapped and cracked from coal mining.
Snapped and cracked from digging it, digging it, watch that soul.
Reiterating the fact that Jack's back is damaged from continuous coal mining and advising him to keep his mental and emotional states in check.
Help me father,
Asking for father’s help in a dangerous situation.
Jack fell down,
Referring to Jack collapsing due to dangerous working conditions.
When the shaft caved in.
Describing the dangerous incident on the worksite that led to Jack's fall.
Gotta cut the line,
Expressing the immediate need to cut any ties or connections to the situation for safety reasons.
Danger strikes.
Explaining that there is a dangerous situation occurring.
There he falls (alternates - 'goes'. He says 'watch that soul' in last verse).
Describing Jack's fall and expressing the need to take care of oneself during such dangerous incidents.
Contributed by Alaina O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.