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.
Suicide Blonde
Jack's Mannequin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a view from the valley
Living well but we're dying young
To bankrupt a blue sky
I saw the post office from the book
On my way to the west side
Going broke but I'm feeling good
She's a suicide blonde
Dyed by her own hand, ooh.
Suicide blonde.
She's part of the big plan,
She's part of the big plan
Got a job at the DMV
And a call from my father
Got my news from the CNN
Like sheep to the slaughter
Watched the planes landing from the roof
Of my tree house in Burbank
I had that dream I was taking off
I brought my girl to keep me with it
She's a suicide blonde.
Dyed by her own hand, ooh.
Suicide blonde.
Part of the big plan,
She's part of the big plan.
Oh, la la la la
Yeah yeah yeah
I got a girl, got a girl, got a girl
To keep me with it
Got a girl, got a girl, got a girl
To keep me with it
Got a girl, got a girl, got a girl
Gotta keep me with it
She's a suicide blonde
Dyed by her own hand, ooh.
Suicide blonde.
She's part of the big plan,
She's part of the big plan, yeah.
Oh, oh
She's part of the big plan
Oh, oh
She's part of the big plan
The lyrics to "Suicide Blonde" by Jack's Mannequin describe a person who is living in the present moment and enjoying life, despite the looming threat of mortality. The opening lines, "And there is no world wrapping me up / I've got a view from the valley," suggest that the singer is not insulated from the harsh realities of life, but is fully aware of them. The lines "Living well but we're dying young / To bankrupt a blue sky" reflect a sense of ambivalence about life, as well as a concern for the planet.
The singer goes on to recount a number of experiences, including a trip to the post office and a job at the DMV. Throughout these experiences, he finds solace in the companionship of his girlfriend, who he describes as a "suicide blonde." The reference to dying one's own hair is symbolic of the desire to take control of one's own life, while the reference to suicide suggests a willingness to take risks.
The final lines of the song, "She's part of the big plan," suggest that the singer sees his own life as part of a larger, cosmic plan. Overall, the lyrics to "Suicide Blonde" are complex and nuanced, conveying a range of emotions and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
And there is no world wrapping me up
Feeling unsatisfied and disconnected from the world around him.
I've got a view from the valley
Acknowledging his unique perspective and observing the world from a different point of view.
Living well but we're dying young
Despite enjoying the good things in life, they still seem to struggle with existential problems and are aware of their own mortality.
To bankrupt a blue sky
Reflecting the negative impact of human activities on the natural world that we have taken for granted.
I saw the post office from the book
Experiencing déjà vu and the feeling of being detached from reality.
On my way to the west side
Traveling to a new place and encountering different aspects of life and the world.
Going broke but I'm feeling good
Acknowledging financial struggles but still maintaining hope and an optimistic attitude.
I brought my girl to keep me with it
Having a supportive partner to help him navigate through life's challenges.
She's a suicide blonde
Referring to his girlfriend's dyed hair color and also acknowledging her inner struggles and emotional turmoil.
Dyed by her own hand, ooh.
Highlighting his girlfriend's independence and preference for doing things on her own.
Suicide blonde.
Repeating the title of the song to emphasize the significance of his girlfriend's inner struggles and possibly the risk of self-harm.
She's part of the big plan,
Acknowledging the randomness of life and believing that his girlfriend's presence in his life is meant to be.
Got a job at the DMV
Describing his mundane job and the monotony of everyday life.
And a call from my father
Receiving news from his family and the sense of obligation and responsibility that comes with it.
Got my news from the CNN
Being informed about current events through external media sources and feeling overwhelmed by the constant flow of information.
Like sheep to the slaughter
Feeling helpless and powerless in a world where people follow orders blindly and without question.
Watched the planes landing from the roof
Observing the usual and mundane things in life from a different perspective and finding beauty in unexpected places.
Of my tree house in Burbank
Referencing a specific memory and place that holds significance for him.
I had that dream I was taking off
Reflecting his desire for personal growth and moving towards a better future.
Oh, la la la la
A transition line, simply serving as a filler for the song.
Yeah yeah yeah
A repetition of the previous line, adding energy to the song.
I got a girl, got a girl, got a girl
Acknowledging his girlfriend's importance in his life and reinforcing the idea that she is an integral part of his future.
To keep me with it
Implying that his girlfriend is a source of motivation and helps him stay on track.
Gotta keep me with it
The repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the importance of his girlfriend in his life.
She's part of the big plan
Repeating the theme of fate and destiny, suggesting that his girlfriend's presence in his life is necessary and predetermined.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDREW ROSS MCMAHON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Osagie E. Guobadia
The best song, I ever listened to since this year! : )
Annah van
If you listen to the older live versions (and there's even an old studio recording), the lyrics at the beginning go "we're alive so let's drive, she says we'll bankrupt the blue skies", & on the album version it's different.
April7739
My favorite song on the album! I think. -April
Ole Kristian Kongelf Hansejordet
A great song
Irene J.
I love this blonde... I meant song! I love this song! ;))
25HPFreak
It should be funny when I'm humming this at school and someone asks me what it is, or what my favorite song and I say Suicide Blonde. I would probably get a worried look since I'm blonde...
thisisnoise144
jacks mannequin totally cahnged. they used to be so good. their lyrics are so different now.
Gigi8657
I heart this song first time... Wow :D
Annah van
I adore this song but I hate that the lyrics changed from "and we're alive so let's drive, she says we'll bankrupt the blue skies" to "Livin' well but we're dying young to bankrupt the blue sky". It just doesn't as good =(
Sara Spilde
I noticed it, too... Weird. O.o