Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come in 2002. The tracks "The Remedy" and "You And I Both" became his first big hits the following year. His second album, Mr. A-Z, released in 2005, peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 200 and sold over one hundred thousand copies in the US. In 2008, Mraz released his third studio album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 was a commercial success worldwide, peaking in the top ten of many international charts.
In April 2012 Mraz released his fourth studio album, Love is a Four Letter Word. The album was received with favourable reviews and debuted at number two on both the Billboard 200 and UK Album Charts. The album sold 102,000 copies in it's first week in the US, his best sales week to date.
Mraz’s international breakthrough came with the release of lead single from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. titled “I’m Yours”. The single peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Mraz his first top ten single. The song was a huge commercial success in the US with it receiving a triple-Platinum certification from the RIAA for sales of over three million. The song was successful internationally and topped the charts in New Zealand and Norway and peaking in the top ten of multiple international charts.
Mraz was engaged to singer/songwriter and long-time close friend Tristan Prettyman. On June 7, 2011, Mraz said in an interview with the Daily Beast that he and Prettyman were no longer engaged.
Mraz lives a health-conscious lifestyle and enjoys eating mostly raw vegan foods. He owns an avocado farm in Bonsall in Northern San Diego County.
Only Human
Jason Mraz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Does he give a damn?
Does he care who I am?
I'm just a man, is that all I am
Are my manners misinterpreted words or only human?
I'm human
Murderous crow, hey what you know
Is that a twig, are you a dove of peace
A black dove undercover, with another puzzle piece
Are you a riddle to solve all along?
Or am I over thinking thoughts of human after all
Only human
Made of flesh, made of sand, made of you and me
The planet's talking about a revolution
The natural laws ain't got no constitution
They've got a right to live their own life
But we keep paving over paradise
Cause we're only human
Yes we are, only human
If it's our only excuse do you think we'll keep on being only human
Yes we are, yes we are
Only human, only human, only human
So far...
Up in the major's tree, the one he planted back when he was just a boy
Thinking 1923
Thirty meters and a foot, take a look, take a climb
What you'll find is the product of a seed
The seed is sown, all alone
It grows above, with a heart of love
Sharp and shelter of the animals of land and cold weather breathing
We're all breathing in
The planet's talking about a revolution
The natural laws ain't got no constitution
They've got a right to live their own life
But we keep paving over paradise
Cause we're only human
Yes we are, only human
If it's our only excuse do you think we'll keep on being only human
Yes we are, only human, only human, so far, so far
And this place it will outlive me
Before I get to heaven I'll climb that tree
And I will have to give my thanks
For giving me the branch to swing on
If I ever fall in love
I'll have to give myself a baby
I will let my children have their way
Cause we're only human, yes we are
Only human, so far, so far
Jason Mraz’s song Only Human is a commentary on the human condition and our role in the natural world. Through his interaction with different animals and nature, he questions whether our actions are truly reflective of our humanity or just the instincts we share with other creatures. The first verse brings up the image of a squirrel in a tree, making him question whether the animal even cares about his presence, and if his actions and mannerisms are uniquely human or if they are just a product of the creature he is. Similarly, he questions the motivations of a crow he sees, wondering if it’s just trying to survive like any other animal, or if it is representative of something deeper.
The chorus of the song shifts to a larger commentary on the state of the world and the way humans have systematically destroyed the environment around them without regard for the natural world’s intrinsic right to exist. This includes the underlying message that behind our ability to reason and make decisions, we too, are only human and capable of making mistakes. This is highlighted in the repetition of the phrase “only human” and the admission that it may be our only excuse, questioning how much responsibility we truly hold for our actions.
The final verse is a hopeful reflection on the cyclical nature of life, something that is reflective of the natural world around us. He describes the majestic tree that still stands after so many years, and the profound sense of gratitude he feels just to be alive in the face of that amazing growth. He sees hope in this overwhelming presence, and that if there is any silver lining to our actions, it's that there is still time to make things right.
Line by Line Meaning
A squirrel in the tree is he watching me
The singer is questioning if a squirrel is observing him and whether the squirrel cares about who he is.
Does he give a damn?
The singer wonders if the squirrel even cares.
Does he care who I am?
The singer is contemplating whether the squirrel is judging him and if it matters.
I'm just a man, is that all I am?
The artist is questioning if being a human is all he is and if that defines his worth.
Are my manners misinterpreted words or only human?
The artist is wondering if people misunderstand his behavior or if it's just a result of being human.
I'm human
The singer acknowledges his humanity.
Murderous crow, hey what you know
The singer addresses a crow and wonders what it knows.
What you reading about, what you hold in your toes
The artist questions what the crow is carrying and what it's focusing on.
Is that a twig, are you a dove of peace
The artist is unsure if the crow is carrying a twig or if it's a peaceful dove in disguise.
A black dove undercover, with another puzzle piece
The artist sees the crow as a mysterious character with another piece of the puzzle to uncover.
Are you a riddle to solve all along?
The singer ponders if the crow is a metaphorical riddle he's trying to solve.
Or am I over thinking thoughts of human after all
The artist questions if he's overthinking things and projecting human qualities onto an animal.
Made of flesh, made of sand, made of you and me
The singer acknowledges that humans are made of the same elements as everything else on earth.
The planet's talking about a revolution
The singer believes that the earth is experiencing a revolution.
The natural laws ain't got no constitution
Natural laws don't follow human rules and regulations.
They've got a right to live their own life
Animals and nature deserve to exist independently from human influence.
But we keep paving over paradise
The artist is criticizing humans for destroying nature and the earth.
Up in the major's tree, the one he planted back when he was just a boy
The singer tells the story of a tree that a boy had planted and has now become tall.
Thinking 1923
The singer mentions the year that the tree was planted
The seed is sown, all alone
The artist describes how the seed planted alone has now grown into a tree.
It grows above, with a heart of love
The artist describes the tree as having a loving and nurturing soul.
Sharp and shelter of the animals of land and cold weather breathing
The tree provides a safe haven for animals in harsh conditions.
And this place it will outlive me
The singer acknowledges that the environment will outlast his own life.
Before I get to heaven I'll climb that tree
The artist hopes to climb the tree before he dies.
And I will have to give my thanks
The singer wants to express gratitude for the tree.
For giving me the branch to swing on
The singer is thankful for the good times and memories he has experienced under the tree.
If I ever fall in love
The singer introduces the idea of being in love.
I'll have to give myself a baby
The artist contemplates having a child someday.
I will let my children have their way
The artist plans to give his future children the freedom to be themselves.
Cause we're only human, yes we are
The singer recognizes that humans are imperfect.
If it's our only excuse do you think we'll keep on being only human
The singer questions if using human nature as an excuse for our actions is acceptable.
Only human, so far, so far
The artist is acknowledging that humans are flawed but there's always room for growth.
Yes we are, only human, only human, so far
The artist reiterates that humans are flawed and there's still progress to be made.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Word Collections Publishing, Goo-Eyed Music
Written by: Jason Thomas Mraz, Sacha Skarbek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind