Jandek plays a very strange and frequently atonal form of folk and blues music, often using an open and unconventional chord structure. Jandek's music is unique, but his lyrics closely mirror the country blues and folk traditions of Eastern Texas.
Barely a handful of people claim to have contacted Jandek, whose steadfastness in anonymity is legendary. Without any conventional attempts at promotion, he releases albums through his own record label Corwood Industries, which is addressed at a Houston post office box. Fans can write to Corwood for a typewritten catalogue and order Jandek’s albums, usually at inexpensive prices. Jandek’s work has been available on vinyl and on compact discs. Many of his albums feature pictures of the same young man (seen above) at various ages; in light of Jandek's live performances it is almost entirely certain that the person featured on the album covers is Jandek himself.
Jandek’s first album, Ready for the House (1978), was first accredited to a band called “The Units” but it was obviously a solo work. Jandek presumably plays acoustic guitar and has recorded much of his work apparently unaccompanied (assuming that the person singing is also the person playing guitar). However many other songs feature female vocals and/or different male vocalists. Others feature bass guitar, electric guitar and/or drums, presumably played by collaborators. No proper credits list has ever appeared on an album, but song titles have included "Nancy Sings" and "John Plays Drums".
Some of Jandek’s allure stems from his small but devoted fan base which has included Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore, Kurt Cobain, Indian Jewelry, and K Records founder Calvin Johnson.
The mystery of Jandek's identity was partially resolved in October 2004 when Jandek performed live in Scotland, at the Instal 04 music festival in Glasgow. This was Jandek's first known live appearance and performed with Richard Youngs (bass) and Alex Neilson (drums). The man on stage was obviously the same man who appears on the album covers. Corwood stipulated that the performance was not publicized in advance. Since then, "The Representative of Corwood Industries" (as Jandek sometimes insists on being called) has played a lot of concerts and recorded all of them for future releases. The last years have seen an even higher release frequency, even for Jandek.
For more information, you may go here:
www.tisue.net/jandek
www.jandekoncorwood.com
One Last Chance
Jandek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need one last chance
I've looked at myself
I don't like what I see
I need another chance
To try to do it right
I can do it right
If I have the strength
If I direct my body
I can do it right
I need another chance
Because I looked at myself
And I'm goin wrong
But I can do it right
You can show me how
Like you did before
When I really needed to do it right
I was in a fix before
I was really in trouble
It was sharp and quick
It took me by surprise
And you helped me then
It was a matter of time
But this time it's different
It's been a growing thing
It wasn't sharp and quick
No no no no
It didn't take me by surprise
It came along slow and soft
It crept and I saw it all along the way
It came on bit by bit
And I knew it all along
The only difference is now
It's gone too far
It's gone too far
It almost seems irreversible
I need another chance
I wanna do it right
Cause when I looked at myself
It was going all wrong
I've got to change my style
I've got to do something different
I've got to be in my world
I've got to see what I see
I've got to hear what I hear
I've got to move through time
With me on my mind
You can forget the rest
Because if I think about it I'm gonna lose myself
And it'll be too late
Don't let it be too late now
Don't let it be too late now
I need another chance
Cause it's gone too far
I hope it's not irreversible
Let me stem the tide
Let me reverse this thing
Let me put my hand up and say â??Stopâ??
Even â??Turn around, go back where you cameâ??
Give me another chance
Because I can do it right
I can do it right
I've got to do it right
Because if I don't I'm gone
I'm real gone
And I don't want to lose
All of my control
I wanna be the driver
The one ridin' in the trunk
With the rope around my feet and my hand
And a gag in my mouth
Don't wanna be kidnapped by
What? Who? Where?
I wanna move through time
With me on my mind
I wanna be the driver
I wanna say to my selves,
Â??Move like you should, assemble yourselves
And do right for this body, this mind,
This soul, this spirit, this beingâ??
I wanna live right
I wanna live so right
I don't wanna go wrong
And I see myself goin wrong
So I've got to stop
I've got to summon my powers
I've got to drop off all the dead and dying
I got to cauterize my wounds
I got to stem the tide of the bad
I got to say
Â??Stop, turn around
Go back to from where you cameâ??
I wanna be right, you bad go back
Go back to from where you came
Bad bad, go back, bad bad, go back
I wanna be right
I wanna be right
I wanna control my body my soul my mind my spirit
I wanna be in charge
I wanna say it's like this
I wanna say it's like that
I don't wanna be told
Don't wanna be told
Â??You gotta be like that
You gotta be like thisâ??
Cause it don't help none
I know why I know where I know how
I know when I wanna be
I know what I wanna be
I know how I wanna be
I know when I wanna be
I know where I wanna be
I wanna be right in my own mind
If I can't be right
I'm gonna be gone
I don't wanna be gone
I just wanna be, me, here, now
Give me another chance
Give one more chance
And let me do right
Once and for all
All time eternally
I wanna be right eternally
I don't have to be alone
I can be alone
I don't have to be alone
But I can be alone
But I don't have to be alone
It doesn't matter
Right is right
It comes from outside, not from the outside
I wanna be right from the inside out
I want you to see
I want them to see
I want to be right for everyone to see
I wanna be right
For me, for you, for them, for the elements
For space, for time
Please give me another chance
Don't let it be gone
Don't it be the end of being right
I saw myself right
I let it go, give it back
Give me another chance, give it back
I let it go, give it back
Give me another chance
I wanna live right
I wanna live right
I wanna be in charge of my life
My death, my eternity
I wanna be right
And I'll do anything
I gotta summon my powers
I gotta be myself
I gotta have my will
I gotta be myself
I gotta get my strength
I gotta conquer these foes
I gotta beat up on bad
I gotta elevate the good
It's so easy to see
Bad and good, I can see
I can see what's bad and good
I can look I can tell I can judge
I can point my finger
And say â??That's bad, that's goodâ??
And deep inside I know
I can't be wrong
If I'm right, give me another chance
I wanna be right
I wanna be right
I wanna be right
Give me another chance
Give me another chance
Give me another chance
Cause I looked at myself
And I saw bad
I looked at myself and I said
Â??Oh, is it too late?â??
Is it too late?
Oh, please don't let it be too late
Don't let it be too late
Help me reverse this trend
Help me stem this tide
Help me put my hand down and say
Â??Stop, turn around,
Go back to from where you cameâ??
Let me take the good
Let me put it in myself
Let me digest the good
Let me emanate the good
Let me be in control
Don't let this sickness take me over
Don't let these things get me down
Don't let these things take effect
Don't let em change me
And I don't mind if I change
But let it be good
Let me change to the good
Every time I change
Every second I move
Every time
I turn around
Kill the bad, kill em
Kill the bad
Kill the bad
Generate the good in me
Kill the bad things I got inside me
Let them die
They don't deserve, let em die
Just kill em
It ain't like killin' no
It's annihilation, extermination,
Elimination elimination
Eliminate the bad
Cast the bad
Eliminate the bad
I want to be good
I wanna be right
There's only one judge of that
I know I wanna be right
I gotta see myself right
I got to see myself
If I'm not right, why not?
Cause I did bad
Yeah, I did bad
And I'll tell you this
Bad is different for everyone that is different
And that's everyone and everything
So your bad's not my bad
But I got bad and you bad
Unless I don't know you like I know me
But I know me, and I got bad, and I got wrong
And I don't like it
And I want to eliminate it
I want it gone before I'm gone
I want bad to be gone before I'm gone
I don't want to be gone
I want bad to be gone so I can be
I don't be right
I wanna be right
Give me another chance
Give me another chance
I won't let you down, not this time
Three strikes and you're out
And I had one
And I hit a home run
But I stopped after first base
And hey, they,
They pushed me, they
They pushed and pulled
But they couldn't pull me any farther than that
Must of been fear
I think it was fear
Cause I had it made
I had the whole home run
But I missed it
Second time up
I hardly even swung
I didn't even try
I quit trying
I knew what I should be doin
Every once in a while
I'd touch my little toe in the water
But I never did jump in
I never did dive in to that water
And that's what I know I gotta do now
Cause if I don't do it now I'm gone
Because wrong is at the point
It's at the point of smothering me
Smoldering me, drowning me,
Putting me out
And I need to burn my flame
I need to ignite
I need to spark
I need to beam
I need to shine my light
Give me another chance to shine my light
I don't want to go down
I don't have to go down
Not if I got some will
And I got some power
And I got some strength
And I got some control
And I'm the driver
And I'm in charge
I can do it
I can do it
Hey, I got to do it
If I don't do it, I'm done
It's either do or be done
I'm not over yet
I'm not over
I'm never gonna be over
I'm never gonna end
I shall not end
I'm not gonna be gone
I'm gonna be forever
Eternally I shall be
And I'm not saying
That I always was
I'm saying I shall always be
And I make this decision now
I shall be
I want to do right
And there is no eye in this universe
That can tell me
What right is, because I know what right is
And I know what wrong is
By this time I know
Give me another chance
Give me another chance
I surely need your help
I surely need your help
To conquer death
To conquer evil
To conquer bad
I wanna be in charge
I wanna control my destiny
I wanna live up to my standards
I know it can be done
It came sharp and quick
And you helped me
And I conquered all
Now it's come slow and soft
And I need your help
For the last time
Cause if it's not this time
I believe it's never
And I can't face that
I don't have to face that
I demand your assistance
It only takes one word
And that word is yes
Give me your yes
And I'll give you mine
I gave you mine
I forgot it, and I'm sorry
But you hit me hard
The song "One Last Chance" by Jandek is a plea for a second chance to make things right. The singer of the song, who is not explicitly identified, admits to having made mistakes and being in danger of losing control over his life. He asks for assistance from an unidentified person or entity, likely symbolic rather than a literal figure, to help him turn things around.
Throughout the lyrics, the singer emphasizes his desire to be in control of his life and to make decisions that align with his values. He acknowledges the presence of "bad" within himself, but he wants to eliminate it in order to be "right" and to shine his light. The song suggests a struggle between the singer's desire for agency and the potential overwhelming force of negative tendencies within himself.
The use of baseball metaphors in the lyrics, such as "I had the whole home run / But I missed it," reinforces the theme of control and failure. The plea for "one last chance" shows the singer's acknowledgement of the finality of life and the importance of making the most of the time one has.
Overall, "One Last Chance" is a moving and universal song that asks for help in overcoming one's weaknesses and emphasizes the importance of taking control of one's life and decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
I need another chance
The singer desires an opportunity to correct their recent failures.
I need one last chance
The singer realizes that their recent failures have left them with little time left to correct themselves and seeks a final opportunity.
I've looked at myself
The singer has taken a close, critical look at themselves and identified areas where they need to improve.
I don't like what I see
The artist has identified shortcomings and faults within themselves that displease them.
To try to do it right
The artist wishes to make amends for their recent mistakes and become a better person.
I can do it right
The singer is confident that they are capable of correcting their behavior and making positive changes.
If I have the strength
The singer recognizes that self-improvement requires effort and determination.
If I keep my will
The artist understands that maintaining their conviction and motivation is essential to making positive changes.
If I direct my body
The artist acknowledges that personal action and effort are necessary to correct their behavior and make positive changes in their life.
Because I looked at myself
The artist realizes that their recent mistakes were caused by their own personal shortcomings and faults.
And I'm goin wrong
The singer recognizes that their current behavior is flawed and needs to change in order for them to live a better life.
You can show me how
The artist is seeking guidance and help from someone who has previously helped them overcome personal struggles.
Like you did before
The singer is referring to a past experience in which someone helped them overcome personal struggles.
When I really needed to do it right
The singer is referring to a past time when they were in a difficult situation and needed to make positive changes in their life.
But this time it's different
The singer acknowledges that their current struggle is different than ones they have faced in the past.
It wasn't sharp and quick
The current struggle the artist is facing is not a sudden, abrupt change, but rather a gradual and slow process.
It came along slow and soft
The artist is describing how their current struggle slowly crept up on them over time and gradually worsened.
And I knew it all along
The singer is admitting that they were aware of the changes happening within themselves but failed to take action to correct them.
Because if I think about it I'm gonna lose myself
The singer recognizes that excessive introspection can be a detriment to personal growth and is actively avoiding overanalyzing their personal situation.
I hope it's not irreversible
The artist is concerned that their current behavior is damaging their life irreversibly and is hoping that it is still possible to make a change.
I've got to be in my world
The artist realizes that personal growth and change must come from within and cannot be imposed upon them by others.
And I don't want to lose
The artist wants to be successful in making positive changes in their life and is highly motivated to continue trying.
With the rope around my feet and my hand
The singer is using an analogy to describe their feelings of being tied up and restricted in their personal growth and development.
Let me stem the tide
The artist is seeking to stop the negative impact that their behavior is having on their life and hopes to prevent it from getting worse.
Give me another chance
The singer is pleading for a second opportunity to make positive changes in their life and correct their recent failures.
Three strikes and you're out
The singer is using a baseball analogy to describe their past failures and how they are running out of opportunities to correct their behavior.
It only takes one word
The singer is emphasizing how a single positive response from someone else can help them make positive changes in their life.
I demand your assistance
The artist is making a strong appeal for external assistance in correcting their behavior and making positive changes in their life.
Give me your yes
The artist is looking for external validation and support to make positive changes in their life and is seeking encouragement from someone else.
Must of been fear
The singer is reflecting on past failures and believes that fear may have been a contributing factor to their lack of success.
I make this decision now
The singer is making a conscious decision to take action and make positive changes in their life.
Not if I got some will
The artist believes that their willpower and determination is essential to making positive changes and they believe they possess those qualities.
It came sharp and quick
The artist is describing a past experience when they were able to overcome a personal struggle quickly and decisively.
It's at the point of smothering me
The current negative behavior the artist is experiencing is overwhelming and suffocating them and they must make changes before it's too late.
Give me another chance to shine my light
The singer is asking for another opportunity to show the positive aspects of their personality and character.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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