Recordings
The Undertakers Unearthed 1963-65
The Lomax Alliance and CBS Recordings 1966-1967
Is This What You Want? 1968-1969
Heavy Jelly 1970
Home Is In My Head 1971
Three 1972
White Lady /Badger 1974
Livin' For Lovin' 1976
Did You Ever Have That Feeling? 1977
True Voices (Various Artists) 1991
The Ballad of Liverpool Slim 2001 & 2004
No Reason
Jackie Lomax Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Throw my clothes in a bag
'Cause I can't go on forever
My conversation is a drag
Ain't got no reason to be happy
Ain't got no reason to be sad
But I just got reason to be mad
Jump a fast movin' train
For some distant destination
Won't be back this way again
Ain't got no reason to be happy
Ain't got no reason to be sad
But I just got reason to be mad
Ain't got no reason
Ain't got no reason
If I ever get to see her
I won't know what to say
'Cause I still don't wanna leave her
But my wife won't let her stay
Ain't got no reason to be happy
Ain't got no reason to be sad
But I just got reason to be mad
Ain't got no reason
The lyrics to Jackie Lomax's "No Reason" describe a feeling of being stuck in a rut with nothing to look forward to and feeling hopeless. The singer says he needs to get his head together and leave wherever he is, but doesn't have any reason to be happy or sad. However, he does have a reason to be mad, indicated perhaps by his frustrating or unhappy conversation.
The singer decides to catch a cab to the station and jump onto a fast-moving train in pursuit of a distant destination. He won't be back this way again, which could mean he's looking for something new and exciting in his life. The song ends with the singer saying that if he ever gets to see the person he's referring to, he won't know what to say because he still doesn't want to leave her, but his wife won't let her stay. This could speak to the singer's inner turmoil and the lack of control he has over his own life.
Overall, "No Reason" is a song about feeling stuck and helpless, and the need to break out of that cycle and find something new.
Line by Line Meaning
Got to get my head together
I need to clear my mind and focus on what's important
Throw my clothes in a bag
I need to be ready to leave at a moment's notice
'Cause I can't go on forever
I know that I can't keep living like this indefinitely
My conversation is a drag
I know that I've been depressing to be around lately
Ain't got no reason to be happy
I don't have anything in my life that's bringing me joy
Ain't got no reason to be sad
I don't have anything in my life that's causing me grief
But I just got reason to be mad
I'm angry because of my current situation
Catch a cab down to the station
I need to leave this place as soon as possible
Jump a fast movin' train
I need to get as far away as possible, as quickly as possible
For some distant destination
I need to find a new place to start over
Won't be back this way again
I know that I can't come back to this place, at least not anytime soon
If I ever get to see her
If I ever get a chance to talk to her again
I won't know what to say
I'm at a loss for words when it comes to her
'Cause I still don't wanna leave her
I'm still in love with her, even though I know I need to move on
But my wife won't let her stay
I can't be with her, even if I wanted to, because of my current relationship
Ain't got no reason
I don't have a compelling reason to stay in this town, so I need to leave
Ain't got no reason
I don't have anything tying me down, so I can start fresh somewhere else
Contributed by Mila I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.