They first joined forces in 1946. Jackie and Roy's stint with Charlie Ventura's band in 1948 and 1949 brought them a great deal of recognition; Lou Stein's "East of Suez" was an unusual feature for their voices. Shortly after leaving Ventura in June 1949, they were married and worked together on a regular basis thereafter. Jackie and Roy had their own television show in Chicago in the early 1950s, worked in Las Vegas from 1957 to 1960, settled in New York in 1963, and appeared on some television commercials. They recorded many spirited jazz performances for a variety of labels through the decades, and performed into the 2000s until Kral's death in August 2002. Fairly early in their career, Jackie and Roy were befriended by composer Alec Wilder, who wrote the liner notes for one of their earliest albums, Jackie Cain and Roy Kral (1955). They had always favored Wilder's songs and, ten years after his death, paid tribute by recording an entire album of them, An Alec Wilder Collection.
Mine
Jackie & Roy Lyrics
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Unplugging myself permanently because I don't like you
I've been digging here all day
Trying to find something that redeems
Something shiny, something gleams
Nothing to find, I might leave
Digging up nothing in the mines
I thought I might find
But I feel like I'm dying
Digging up nothing in the mines
I thought I might find
Something about you, I tried
But nothing comes to light, ugh
Crumbling, tumbling down
I see you all over this town
Don't wanna see your face anymore
These gems are old
An onyx I can't hold
A mess, impressed, stressed, blessed
Eyes in the mines watching me undress
Eyes in the mines with some real unrest
Eyes in the mines watching me do less
These are the people I would never caress
They told me I was quite congenial
Offering Nothing Yet Xenial, ugh
Crumbling, tumbling down
I see you all over this town
Don't wanna see your face anymore
Digging up nothing in the mines
I thought I might find
Something about you I like
But nothing comes to light
Digging up nothing in the mines
I thought I might find
Something about you I like
But nothing comes to light
To light
To light
To light
A rock of coal inside the soles of my feet, oh oh
Pickaxe to my heart but somehow I still feel clean
Right the wrongs before and enter my dreams
See behind my lies, try to make me scream
Crumbling, tumbling down
I see you all over this town
Don't wanna see your face anymore
Digging up nothing in the mines
I thought I might find
Something about you I like
But nothing comes to light
Digging up nothing in the mines
I thought I might find
Something about you I like
But nothing comes to light
To light
To light
To light
You're so nasty I think I might puke
Unplugging myself permanently because I don't like you
I've been digging here all day
Trying to find something that redeems
Something shiny, something gleams
Nothing to find, I might leave
The lyrics of "Mine" by Jackie & Roy depict the process of a person trying to find something redeeming about someone they dislike, but ultimately failing to do so. The use of the metaphor of mining reflects the emotional labor that one must put in to try and evaluate the value and worth of someone. However, the repeated phrase "digging up nothing in the mines" emphasizes the fruitlessness of this task, as the person is unable to find any positive qualities that can change their opinion of the individual.
The song expresses the exhaustion and frustration that comes from trying to give someone a chance, only to be disappointed. The lyrics "Eyes in the mines watching me undress / Eyes in the mines with some real unrest / Eyes in the mines watching me do less / These are the people I would never caress" suggest that the person being evaluated is someone who is watching the singer closely and judging them, but despite this scrutiny, there is nothing that can be found to appreciate about them.
The repetition of the phrase "to light" in the final chorus before the song ends implies the lack of any positive qualities or redeeming features that the singer was hoping to find. The inclusion of phrases like "a rock of coal inside the soles of my feet" and "pickaxe to my heart but somehow I still feel clean" reflect the emotional toll that this process has taken on the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
You're so nasty I think I might puke
The person being sung about is so unpleasant that it makes the singer feel sick to their stomach.
Unplugging myself permanently because I don't like you
The singer is disconnecting from the person being sung about completely, as they do not enjoy their company.
I've been digging here all day
The singer has been searching for something within the person they do like, but has not yet found it.
Trying to find something that redeems
The singer is hoping to discover something that will offset or make up for the negative aspects of the person they dislike.
Something shiny, something gleams
The singer is looking for something positive or admirable within the person, like a 'gem' or 'treasure' that is bright and eye-catching.
Nothing to find, I might leave
The singer has not found any redeeming qualities within the person they are searching, so they may decide to cut ties and walk away from the relationship.
Digging up nothing in the mines, I thought I might find something about you I like but I feel like I'm dying
Despite the singer's efforts, they have found nothing but disappointment in the person they are trying to connect with. It feels draining and hopeless.
Crumbling, tumbling down, I see you all over this town, Don't wanna see your face anymore
The negative aspects of the person being sung about are becoming more apparent and all-consuming, and the singer wants to distance themselves completely from them.
Eyes in the mines watching me undress, Eyes in the mines with some real unrest, Eyes in the mines watching me do less, These are the people I would never caress
The singer feels like they are being scrutinized and judged by others around them, especially those who are negative or unpleasant. They want nothing to do with these kinds of people.
They told me I was quite congenial, Offering Nothing Yet Xenial, ugh
Others may have complimented the singer for being friendly, open, or kind, but they realize that the person they are currently dealing with is offering nothing in return and may even be hostile.
A rock of coal inside the soles of my feet, oh oh, Pickaxe to my heart but somehow I still feel clean, Right the wrongs before and enter my dreams, See behind my lies, try to make me scream
The singer feels weighed down and burdened by the negativity surrounding them, but they still strive to be honest and true to themselves. They hope to overcome the obstacles they face and move forward with a clear conscience.
Digging up nothing in the mines, I thought I might find something about you I like but nothing comes to light, To light, To light, To light
The singer is lamenting their lack of success in finding anything redeeming or positive within the person they are dealing with. Despite their efforts, they are left in the dark and alone.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: JACKIE EXTREME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind