The "classic" lineup of Jefferson Airplane, from October 1966 to February 1970, was Marty Balin (vocals), Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), Grace Slick (vocals), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Casady (bass), and Spencer Dryden (drums). Marty Balin left the band in 1971. After 1972, Jefferson Airplane effectively split into two groups. Kaukonen and Casady moved on full time to their own band, Hot Tuna. Slick, Kantner, and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane recruited new members and regrouped as Jefferson Starship in 1974, with Marty Balin eventually joining them. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and was presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Spencer Dryden died on January 11, 2005.
Both Signe Anderson and Paul Kantner died on January 28, 2016.
Marty Balin died on September 27, 2018
A Small Package of Value Will Come To You Shortly
Jefferson Airplane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Really wanna make it, I wanna make it man
Straight ahead all the way you guys
I don't care how dirty you guys get
It doesn't make any difference
Oh fudge, ah well, fudge
Ah Barnum gee whiz rag mop
You know gosh all whillickers
Finger finger hoo hah hoo hah are you married
Fu fu fudge, hyuh hyuh hyuh rag mop
Hoo wha hoo you do it, I do it, who do it, where do it
Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it
Folks we've been in the business for 20 years
And I've never had a heart attack
You're my friends I want you to know that
Stick it stick it time time time
Take your money sign to clarify that
Ahhh! Ahh! Er ahhh!
Would you believe New York is an island rragh!
(instrumental break)
The Honorable Hawaii sinking
Shi fah fah shuh-hoo-oo-whiss!
Yes what is it
I've been at school you see try try try
Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii
Bok! Bok! Bok! Bok!
The difference to get in though
Not that it makes any difference fah shoo
Uh New York's uh sinking
How old are you little girl
Fudge fudge ay yi the thing is
Nay nay uh! Ca-no-no yes but
Uh-uh-uh Ca-nay-nay ba-no-no
Fah-oo ah Going! Going!
Goh! Goh! Goh! Goh!
No man is an island! Do it do it do it do it
No man is an island!
He's a peninsula
The lyrics to Jefferson Airplane's A Small Package of Value Will Come To You Shortly are notoriously difficult to interpret, as they appear to be mostly nonsense phrases and fragments strung together randomly. However, many fans and critics have attempted to make sense of the song, often interpreting it as a commentary on the music industry and the pressure to produce commercial hits. The repeated phrases "really want to make it" and "stick it stick it" could be seen as references to the drive to succeed at all costs, while the line "take your money sign to clarify that" could suggest a focus on profits over artistic integrity.
Other lines in the song seem to have no clear meaning at all, such as "under the wedding ring I feel a what's that" and "the Honorable Hawaii sinking." Some fans have suggested that the song is simply a stream-of-consciousness ramble or a parody of other psychedelic rock songs of the time.
Despite its seeming lack of coherence, A Small Package of Value Will Come To You Shortly is widely regarded as a classic of the psychedelic rock genre, showcasing Jefferson Airplane's unique sound and experimental approach to music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well if we really wanna make it
If we truly desire to achieve something
Really wanna make it, I wanna make it man
I am serious about achieving success
Straight ahead all the way you guys
Let's remain focused and dedicated
I don't care how dirty you guys get
I am not concerned about the difficulties we may face
It doesn't make any difference
It's irrelevant
Oh fudge, ah well, fudge
Expression of frustration or disappointment
Ah Barnum gee whiz rag mop
Exclamation of surprise or disbelief
You know gosh all whillickers
Expression of amazement
Under the wedding ring I feel a what's that
Curiosity about an unknown object
Finger finger hoo hah hoo hah are you married
Playful questioning about someone's marital status
Fu fu fudge, hyuh hyuh hyuh rag mop
Expressions of frustration, disbelief, and amusement
Hoo wha hoo you do it, I do it, who do it, where do it
Questioning who will perform a task and how it will be done
Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it
Urging someone to take action
Folks we've been in the business for 20 years
We have decades of experience
And I've never had a heart attack
My health is good despite the stress of our work
You're my friends I want you to know that
Emphasizing camaraderie and loyalty
Stick it stick it time time time
Persist in our effort over an extended period
Take your money sign to clarify that
Use financial resources to reinforce the message
Ahhh! Ahh! Er ahhh!
Expression of excitement or surprise
Would you believe New York is an island rragh!
Exclamation of incredulity
(instrumental break)
No lyrics
The Honorable Hawaii sinking
Hawaii is experiencing a serious issue
Shi fah fah shuh-hoo-oo-whiss!
Non-meaningful sounds
Yes what is it
Request for information
I've been at school you see try try try
I've been working hard to improve my education
Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii
Repetition of Hawaii as a reference to its crisis
Bok! Bok! Bok! Bok!
Non-meaningful sounds
The difference to get in though
The requirements to enter may differ
Not that it makes any difference fah shoo
Even if there are differences, they may not matter
Uh New York's uh sinking
New York is experiencing a serious issue
How old are you little girl
Questioning a child's age
Fudge fudge ay yi the thing is
Exclamation of frustration and desire for resolution
Nay nay uh! Ca-no-no yes but
Expression of disagreement and negotiation
Uh-uh-uh Ca-nay-nay ba-no-no
Fewer options available after discussion
Fah-oo ah Going! Going!
Expression of excitement and anticipation
Goh! Goh! Goh! Goh!
Chant to intensify excitement
No man is an island! Do it do it do it do it
Importance of interconnectedness and taking action
No man is an island!
We need others to succeed
He's a peninsula
We are partially independent but still connected to others
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY ALFRED BLACKMAN, SPENCER DRYDEN, WILLIAM CARL THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind