The initial impulse behind McMahon’s new project Jack’s Mannequin was "Locked Doors", a song he recorded in December 2003, which he felt was too different from previous Something Corporate material to be one of their songs. He realized that, if he would ever decide to release it, it would be on a solo album rather than a Something Corporate record. The idea seemed to be off the table, until in late summer 2004 both McMahon and his band mates were exhausted from months of touring. They decided to take a temporary break. During his time off, McMahon started writing songs, knowing they would not see the light of day as Something Corporate songs. These songs were a more therapeutic approach McMahon took, and therefore a more personal and intimate testament of his songwriting.
Over the next couple of months, McMahon began recording the newly written songs with producer Jim Wirt, who would play guitar and bass over sampled drum tracks, while McMahon contributed vocals and piano. They later brought in additional musicians such as Bobby Anderson (formerly of River City High) and Tommy Lee to add to the mix. In March 2005, Jack’s Mannequin (now consisting of McMahon, Jon Sullivan on bass, Anderson and Jacques Brautbar on guitar and Jay McMillan on drums) played their first live show at Molly Malone’s Irish pub in Los Angeles, California.
Their debut album, Everything in Transit, was released on August 23, 2005 debuting at #37 of the Billboard 200 with over 22,000 copies scanned within its first week.
Everything in Transit received a positive response from fans and critics alike. A summer tour was scheduled to support the record release, but was canceled after McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and had a bone marrow transplant. The band began recording their second album in the summer of 2007. In August 2007, McMahon posted the lyrics to the song “Cellular Phone” on his blog,which the band played live at several shows in 2007 and 2008. Also, in February 2008, videos of live performances of two songs off the new record (“Caves” and “Suicide Blonde”) were uploaded onto YouTube for public viewing. McMahon appears on the cover of Alternative Press’s January 2008 issue, which contains an interview with him.
Their second album, The Glass Passenger, was released on September 30th, 2008, and is their first album with Sire Records. Despite numerous delays (the album was originally slated for release in April 2008) it has been well-received, and debuted #8 on the Billboard 200.
Previously, in August of 2008, The Ghost Overground EP was released exclusively on iTunes to promote the album, containing the songs "The Resolution", "Bloodshot", and two live performances of tracks from Everything in Transit. After the release of the EP, "The Resolution" topped the Billboard "Hot Singles Sales" charts.
Songfacts reports that "My Racing Thoughts," the first single from their third album People and Things, was released on August 2, 2011. People and Things was released October 4, 2011.
On the evening of the 24th August 2012, the official Jack's Mannequin website & official Twitter account were changed to www.andrewmcmahon.com & "amslingshots" respectively. A blog post on the official Andrew McMahon website confirmed that Jack's Mannequin were no longer & that Andrew would be working on solo material.
Spinning
Jack's Mannequin Lyrics
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Lately it's been hard to keep the hinges on with all the noise
I'll find my words when there is no one talking
The room is spinning I have got no choice
Be patience I am getting to the point
I can't remember when the earth turned slowly
So I just waited with the lights turned out again
I'll find my way but until then I'm only spinning
I'm keeping quiet till the phone stops ringing
Lately it's hard to disconnect I just want something real
I'll find my words if I could just stop thinking
The room is spinning I have got no choice
Be patience I am getting to the point
I can't remember when the earth turned slowly
So I just waited with the lights turned out again
I lost my place but I can't stop this story
I'll find my way but until then I'm only spinning
Spin beneath the roof top
Hold on, wait until the room stops spinning
I can't remember when the earth turned slowly
So I just waited with the lights turned out again
I lost my place but I can't stop this story
I'll find my way, but in the end were only
I keep forgetting when the earth turned slowly
So I just waited till the lights come on again
I lost my place but I can't stop this story
I'll find my way but until then I'm only spinning
The song "Spinning" by Jack's Mannequin is a poignant and introspective reflection on the various trials and pressures of modern life that can sometimes leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. The opening lines, "I'm keeping quiet 'till there is no more sirens / Lately it's been hard to keep the hinges on with all the noise" set the tone for the song, suggesting a sense of anxiety or unease in the face of external chaos that threatens to overwhelm the singer's internal balance.
This theme is further developed throughout the song, as the singer struggles to find their voice amidst the constant noise and distraction of daily life. Lines like "I'll find my words when there is no one talking / The room is spinning I have got no choice" suggest a certain level of frustration and resignation, as if the singer is resigned to simply spinning in place until they can find their bearings once more.
The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "I can't remember when the Earth turned slowly / So I just waited with the lights turned out again", adds a sense of wistful yearning to the song. It's as if the singer longs for a simpler time when the pace of life was slower and they had more time to reflect and connect with their own inner truth. But for now, all they can do is wait and hope for a moment of clarity amidst the chaos.
Overall, "Spinning" is a heartfelt and relatable song that captures the complex emotions and experiences of modern life with rare honesty and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm keeping quiet 'till there is no more sirens
I will remain silent until everything calms down
Lately it's been hard to keep the hinges on with all the noise
It's been difficult to stay sane in the midst of all the chaos
I'll find my words when there is no one talking
I'll speak up when the moment is right and there is no interruption
The room is spinning I have got no choice
Everything feels overwhelming and confusing and I have no control over it
Be patience I am getting to the point
Please bear with me as I try to express my thoughts
I can't remember when the earth turned slowly
I can't recall when life was simpler and more manageable
So I just waited with the lights turned out again
I retreated and waited in darkness, hoping for clarity
I lost my place but I can't stop this story
I got sidetracked but I can't abandon my journey
I'll find my way but until then I'm only spinning
I'll navigate through my troubles but for now, I feel lost and helpless
I'm keeping quiet till the phone stops ringing
I won't answer any calls until I'm ready to face them
Lately it's hard to disconnect I just want something real
It's challenging to distance myself from distractions, I long for something genuine
Spin beneath the rooftop
Feel the world spin as I look up at the sky
Hold on, wait until the room stops spinning
Stay strong and wait for the chaos to subside before proceeding
I'll find my way, but in the end were only
Eventually, I'll overcome the challenges but in reality, we are all just human
I keep forgetting when the earth turned slowly
I can't seem to remember the peaceful moments of the past
So I just waited till the lights come on again
I waited patiently for a glimmer of hope to return, for the darkness to lift
I'll find my way but until then I'm only spinning
I'll make my way through the hardships but for now, I'm stuck in a cycle of anguish
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDREW ROSS MCMAHON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind