The Bay Area native has influences that range from Danny Elfman to Björk to Chopin, and as a child, whether he was listening to his father playing Bill Evans tunes on the piano or his mother singing old Cole Porter standards, Jack found himself immersed in sound. His live show springs from this diverse spectrum of styles, and it involves multiple keyboards, guitars, jerry-rigged drum pads, and an occasional accordion, all glued together with thumping beats and in-your-face electronics.
As a member of one of the first generations to grow up with computers on demand, Jack comments, "This is a music revolution, and it's everyone that's making it happen. It's the fans, it's the musicians, it's the blogging sites, it's the programmers who make the blogging sites, it's everyone."
Jack is also one half of Pomplamoose.
Jack is also one half of Scary Pockets.
Jack is also founder and CEO of a small company called Patreon
Push
Jack Conte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just balanced.
Too bad you have to.
Too bad you're lonely.
Too bad you need someone to push around.
Don't look at me, man.
I'm not your servant.
Please, please! I beg you! Fade, fade away to dust.
We're dust, and death just sets it all straight and gives us purpose.
It scares me shitless every waking day.
Too bad you're so small, too bad you're pointless.
Can't let the turkeys get me down.
In Jack Conte's song Push, the lyrics portray the artist's defiance and refusal to be pushed around or dictated by someone who sees him as inferior. The opening line "Don't push me. I just balanced" indicates a sense of balance, stability and perhaps confidence in the singer's position, in contrast to the antagonist who is attempting to push him/her around. The antagonist is then criticized for being lonely and needing someone to push around, indicating a sense of insecurity or lack of control.
The lyrics take a darker turn with the line "I'm just a worm inside your rotten head". This line suggests that the antagonist's mind might be corrupt or diseased, and the singer is aware of this. The following lines evoke a sense of existential dread and fear of mortality. The statement "We're dust, and death just sets it all straight and gives us purpose" seems to suggest that death is inevitable and, in some ways, necessary.
The song concludes with the singer's refusal to let the "turkeys" get him down, which could be interpreted in different ways. It might mean that the singer refuses to let negativity or obstacles affect his progress or creativity, or it might suggest that the singer refuses to be made to feel inferior by others.
Overall, Jack Conte's Push is a defiant, thought-provoking song that challenges listeners to stand up for themselves and reject toxic or abusive relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't push me.
I don't want you to pressure or force me into anything.
I just balanced.
I'm currently in a state of equilibrium and don't need any interference.
Too bad you have to.
It's unfortunate that you feel compelled or obligated to do something.
Too bad you're lonely.
It's a pity that you're alone and feel isolated.
Too bad you need someone to push around.
It's unfortunate that you have the need to assert dominance over others.
Don't look at me, man.
Don't expect me to comply with your requests or submit to your authority.
I'm not your servant.
I don't owe you any subservience or obedience.
I'm just a worm inside your rotten head.
I'm merely an insignificant presence in your corrupted consciousness.
Please, please! I beg you! Fade, fade away to dust.
I implore you to disappear and disintegrate into the void.
We're dust, and death just sets it all straight and gives us purpose.
We're all insignificant beings that will eventually perish, and the inevitability of death provides meaning to our existence.
It scares me shitless every waking day.
The thought of death terrifies me to the point where I'm constantly anxious and afraid.
Too bad you're so small, too bad you're pointless.
It's regrettable that you're insignificant and add no value to anything.
Can't let the turkeys get me down.
I can't allow negative people or circumstances to bring me down.
Contributed by Dominic C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Jackconte
hey, well, if you look at the strings of the piano, you'll notice that there's something that looks like a curved red stripe laying across them. it's a long piece of felt that I've wedged in between each string, which dampens the sound and makes it more percussive. This piano was also made in the 1890s, so it has an old broken quality to it that I really like. Thanks for the question!
@kaikarden
I've always felt that your older stuff deserves more attention, You were just as amazing back then as you are now. Hope to see some now solo stuff soon =D. Probably me just wishing though haha.
@hasatum
Just wanted you to know that I love the concept of a VideoSong. I'm a teacher an I want to get my students excited about the idea of really making music for themselves (or anything else for that matter). It reminds me of the original Modernist movement in architecture, beauty as form reflecting function. There's a kind of honesty and integrity in that that I admire.
@himl994
Weird.. I was looking for your older videos and it says that they have 0 views and here it doesn't show anything. Maybe I fucked it up cuz I watch you every hour lol
@3gTrioMusic
jack conte wouldn't be jack conte if his room is clean:D
@Gabardinemars
absolutely......love Jacks voice and style. Do it,,,do it.....do it.....JACK!
@TheDeliciousComputer
My favorite song by you, Mr. Conte. Makes me feel better when I've had an unfortunate encounter.
@nerdyouare1
OH MY GOSH!!!!!! As soon as I heard it, I had goosebumps! This is exactly what I want to do with my music. I want to be so experimental that some people get it but that a lot of people don't... I am blown away! Thank you so much for sharing this! You are amazing
@vrevis
I can't believe I didn't post a comment for this one, as much as it brought me to my knees when I first heard it on myspace! I'm getting the two sites mixed up, I think, because I know I commented over there! When I first heard this, I was reeeally hoping you'd consider a series. I look forward to the weekly updates on myspace. And this song moved me. It fuckin' MOVED me. 5 stars and fave'd. Your originals are art, dude. I'm dying to know what inspires you.
@LeoVader
I've liked your songs for a year now, and about every month or so I spend a couple days doing nothing but watching your videosongs. Because they're awesome. And I love you.