J Mascis (b. 1965) is an American musician and songwriter, probably best-kn… Read Full Bio ↴J Mascis (b. 1965) is an American musician and songwriter, probably best-known as the singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Dinosaur Jr., though he has also occasionally worked as a producer and film composer.

Born Joseph Mascis on 10th December 1965 in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States, in the early 1980s he founded the short-lived hardcore group Deep Wound with his high school friends Lou Barlow and Scott Helland. He started out on drums, but moved to guitar when he went on to found Dinosaur Jr. (with bassist Barlow and drummer Patrick "Murph" Murphy in 1984), which achieved national and international success. After Mascis dismissed Barlow from Dinosaur Jr. in 1989, he recorded several more Dinosaur Jr. albums until 1997, including the 1996 acoustic solo album Martin & Me. He then went on to produce albums with his new band, J Mascis and the Fog, starting in 2000.

In April 2005, Mascis joined up again with Barlow and Murph, as the original trio of Dinosaur Jr., to begin a tour celebrating the re-release of the group's first three albums.

In August 2005, Mascis released a new solo album as J Mascis and Friends, J and Friends Sing and Chant for Amma, an album of devotional songs dedicated to Hindu religious leader Mata Amritanandamayi, or Ammachi, about whom he had previously written "Ammaring" on the first J Mascis and the Fog album More Light. The proceeds from the album are being donated to Tsunami relief efforts by Ammachi's organisation.

In late summer 2005, Mascis helped Danish band Mew by adding vocals to the song "Why Are You Looking Grave?" and backing vocals on "An Envoy to the Open Fields". Both songs can be found on Mew's newest album And the Glass Handed Kites.

In 2006, Mascis released an album with his newly-formed heavy metal band Witch, returning to drumming for their debut album, Witch.

In 2010, J Mascis teamed up with two members of Cobra Verde and one of his Witch bandmates for a new project: Sweet Apple. Like Mascis’ Witch side project, Sweet Apple finds J behind the drum kit, although he does plays guitar and sings this time around.

Make It Right
J Mascis Lyrics

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I don't know when
I don't know how you know
All I know is I feel it
I can't make it alone
I can't face on my own
I need more than to be here

Make it right

Make it right
Make it right

Smile won't let me astray
Silence held me the way
Now I'm lost and I'm reelin'
I know more than I should
Never did need no clue
All I know is I feel it

Make things right

Make things right tonight
Make it right

Overall Meaning

The J Mascis song "Make It Right" is a poignant and introspective ballad that explores the theme of romantic uncertainty and the desire for reconciliation. The lyrics convey a sense of confusion and helplessness as the singer expresses their inability to navigate their feelings alone, and the need for the other person to "make it right". Throughout the song, they reflect on the power of emotion, and how it can lead us astray or hold us steady, as well as the impact of silence when communication breaks down.

The chorus "Make it right" is repeated several times throughout the song, serving as a reminder and a plea for resolution, as the singer confesses their vulnerability and their inability to fix the situation alone. The use of repetition in the chorus underscores the urgency of the request, while the somber tone of the music highlights the gravity of the situation, lending the lyrics a sense of emotional depth and authenticity.

Overall, "Make It Right" is a beautiful and insightful song that speaks honestly to the human condition and the power of love and connection.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't know when
I am unsure about the time frame of this situation.

I don't know how you know
I am not aware of how you came to know this information.

All I know is I feel it
My intuition tells me that something is not right.

I can't make it alone
I can't handle this situation by myself.

I can't face on my own
I am not mentally strong enough to confront this alone.

I need more than to be here
Being in this place is not enough for me to solve this problem.

Make it right
I am pleading for someone to fix the issue at hand.

Make it right
Repeating the above line for emphasis.

Make it right
Continuing to beg for someone to correct the problem.

Smile won't let me astray
Although I may appear happy, deep down I know something is wrong.