Jeffrey Lewis is an American singer/songwriter and comic-book artist, part of the Anti-folk movement. Several of his musical influences have been acknowledged in his songs such as The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song, concerning the song by Leonard Cohen, and The History of The Fall. Like Cohen, Lewis' lyrics are complex and literate, often combining a depressing world-view with a hopeful message and sharp wit. Born in New York City and growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan Island his songs are also highly informed by his home surroundings, with songs namechecking places such as Williamsburg, the FDR Drive and the East River.
Jeffrey Lewis was born in New York in November 1975. He attended State University of New York at Purchase College and graduated in 1997; his final thesis was on the Alan Moore graphic novel "Watchmen".
After being signed by the British record label Rough Trade in 2001, Lewis released his first official album The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane, and in 2003 he released the album It's the Ones Who've Cracked That the Light Shines Through. Lewis later released the album City & Eastern Songs, in the U.K. in November 2005. All three albums also include his brother, Jack Lewis, who wrote and sang a number of the songs. He has also performed and collaborated with fellow New York Anti-folk singers Kimya Dawson and Diane Cluck.
His latest album, 12 Crass Songs was released on Rough Trade in Europe in September of 2007. As the title suggests, it is 12 covers of the British anarchist punk band Crass. It features vocals, keyboard and recorder from Helen Shriner, bass by both John Kessel and brother Jack Lewis, drums by David Beachamp (live drummer/The Bloodugars) and Raphi Gottesman (who often plays with Jack Lewis). Shwervon's Nan Turner also contributes vocals to various tracks.
Jeffrey Lewis is a Welsh composer. After graduating from University College, Cardiff, he studied composition with Stockhausen, Ligeti, and Boguslaw Schaffer, and electronic composition with Don Banks. His early career was spent as a pianist with the Paris Chamber Ensemble; after his return to the U.K, in 1973 he joined the Department of Music at the University College of North Wales, Bangor.
I Ain't Thick It's Just a Trick
Jeffrey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well they think they got it all out there, see
Well they can fuck off, cos they ain't got me,
and they can't buy my dignity,
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Let me tell you, I got it up here see.
They tried to get me with the TV show,
But I wouldn't have none of it, no, no, no.
Sarah Jessie Parker acting mean.
She's got it all, that's what they want you to think,
But if you read between the lines, you'll see the missing link.
She's just a puppet in their indoctrination plan,
"Be like me girls and become a real man,"
Live to the full, always act flash,
Don't use your brain when your body makes a splash.
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well I got it all up here, see
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well they think they got it all out there, see
Well they can fuck off, cos they ain't got me,
and they can't buy my dignity,
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Let me tell you, I got it up here see.
They tried to get me in the supermarket store,
Bought what I wanted, and they said "buy more."
Gallons of crap that nobody really needs,
Bright coloured wrappers to suit assorted greeds.
They know it all, that's what they want you to think,
But if you read between the lines, you'll see the missing link.
Buy this product, pay for the crap,
One quarter for the product, three quarters for the wrap.
Be a happy family, like the people on the pack,
Pay up to the profit, and you'll never look back.
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well I got it all up here, see
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well they think they got it all out there, see
Well they can fuck off, cos they ain't got me,
and they can't buy my dignity,
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Let me tell you, I got it up here see.
They tried to get me with their learning and their books,
Their deep understanding and intelligent looks,
All of the time, they never ever saw me,
They were just looking for what they wanted to see.
They know it all, that's what they want you to think,
But if you read between the lines, you'll see the missing link.
Books are easy back ups for what they do to you,
They'll bind you up as slaves for the privileged few,
Proof lies in history, say "that's how it always was,
Slavery and mastery - be one of us."
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well I got it all up here, see
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well they think they got it all out there, see
Well they can fuck off, cos they ain't got me,
and they can't buy my dignity,
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Let me tell you, I got it up here see.
Tried to get me with religion and their Christ,
Said I'd get to heaven if I acted real nice,
But they were just preparing a crucifix for me,
A life of guilt and pain, of holy misery.
They know it all, that's what they want you to think,
But if you read between the lines, you'll see the missing link.
The bible's just a blueprint for their morality scam,
Another load of shit about how it's never been.
They stand there in the pulpit, doling out their lies,
Offering forgiveness, then they talk of eyes for eyes.
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well I got it all up here, see
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well they think they got it all out there, see
Well they can fuck off, cos they ain't got me,
and they can't buy my dignity,
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Let me tell you, I got it up here see.
They tried to get me, but I won't be got,
They say I'm a misfit but I say I'm not,
I never set out to exploit another,
Those smarmy bastards would steal from their mother.
They got it all, that's what they want you to think,
But if you read between the lines, you'll see the missing link.
They plundered and slaughtered in the name of truth,
Acceptance of normality is what they want from you as proof,
They think they got the answers, but there's something that they missed,
Their cup which overfloweth, is just filled up with piss.
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well I got it all up here, see
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well they think they got it all out there, see
Well they can fuck off, cos they ain't got me,
and they can't buy my dignity,
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Let me tell you, I got it up here see.
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well I got it all up here, see
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well they think they got it all out there, see
Well they can fuck off, cos they ain't got me,
and they can't buy my dignity,
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Let me tell you, I got it up here see.
In Jeffrey Lewis's song, "I Ain't Thick It's Just A Trick," the lyrics are a criticism of various institutions of society, such as the media, consumerism, education, religion, and authority. Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes that he has his own mind and won't be "got" by those who try to manipulate or control him. In the first verse, he celebrates his own intelligence and refuses to let others define him. In the second verse, he critiques the influence of television on people's values and behavior. In the third verse, he critiques the consumer culture that encourages people to buy more than they need. In the fourth verse, he critiques the education system for being narrow-minded and indoctrinating students. In the fifth verse, he critiques organized religion for imposing guilt and pain on its followers. And in the final verse, he critiques those in power for exploiting others and claiming to have all the answers.
The overall message of the song is that individuals should think for themselves and not allow others to control or manipulate them. The song is a reminder that people have power over their own lives and that they can resist the pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations. It encourages listeners to question authority and to maintain their own sense of dignity and independence.
Overall, the song is a powerful critique of some of the most powerful institutions in modern society. It challenges listeners to think critically about the ways in which these institutions seek to control and manipulate individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well I got it all up here, see
I may not have material possessions, but I possess intelligence and dignity.
Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well they think they got it all out there, see
The outside world may seem to have answers, but they are missing crucial information.
Well they can fuck off, cos they ain't got me,
The singer refuses to conform to societal norms and expectations.
and they can't buy my dignity,
The artist values their self-respect over material possessions.
Let me tell you, I got it up here see.
The artist reiterates their possession of intelligence and sense of self.
They tried to get me with the TV show,
The media attempted to influence the singer's beliefs and behaviors.
But I wouldn't have none of it, no, no, no.
The singer resisted the pressure to conform and rejected the media's message.
Standards and values on the living room screen,
The media presents societal expectations through television programming.
Sarah Jessie Parker acting mean.
The artist references a specific example of unrealistic media portrayal.
She's just a puppet in their indoctrination plan,
Celebrities are used as tools to influence and control the masses.
"Be like me girls and become a real man,"
Media messages reinforce gender norms and stereotypes.
Live to the full, always act flash,
Consumeristic messages suggest that material possessions lead to a fulfilling life.
Don't use your brain when your body makes a splash.
The media encourages impulsivity and discourages critical thinking.
They tried to get me in the supermarket store,
Consumer culture attempts to sway individuals through advertising and sales tactics.
Bought what I wanted, and they said "buy more."
The consumer industry seeks to maximize profits by encouraging overconsumption.
Bright colored wrappers to suit assorted greeds.
Packaging is designed to attract consumers and entice them to make purchases.
Buy this product, pay for the crap,
The product packaging and advertising do not necessarily reflect the quality of the product.
One quarter for the product, three quarters for the wrap.
The majority of the cost of a product is not the actual item, but the packaging and advertising that accompanies it.
Be a happy family, like the people on the pack,
Advertising often presents unrealistic, idyllic images of family life that are designed to sell products.
They tried to get me with their learning and their books,
The education system may be designed to reinforce societal norms and expectations.
Their deep understanding and intelligent looks,
The education system may prioritize the appearance of intelligence over the actual acquisition of knowledge.
All of the time, they never ever saw me,
The education system may fail to fully recognize or accommodate individual differences and learning styles.
They were just looking for what they wanted to see.
The education system may be more focused on conformity and compliance than individuality and creativity.
Books are easy back ups for what they do to you,
The education system may be used to reinforce societal norms and expectations, rather than truly educating and empowering individuals.
They'll bind you up as slaves for the privileged few,
The education system may limit opportunities for social mobility and favor the already privileged few.
Proof lies in history, say "that's how it always was,
History education may present a biased and selective view of the past.
Slavery and mastery - be one of us."
History education may reinforce oppressive power structures and encourage conformity to societal norms and expectations.
Tried to get me with religion and their Christ,
The organized religion may be used to control individuals and reinforce societal norms and expectations.
Said I'd get to heaven if I acted real nice,
Religion may be used to enforce obedience and conformity, often in the name of reward or punishment in the afterlife.
But they were just preparing a crucifix for me,
Religion may inflict mental and emotional suffering on believers, often in the name of conforming to societal norms and expectations.
A life of guilt and pain, of holy misery.
Religious doctrine may create feelings of guilt in individuals and encourage conformity rather than personal empowerment and freedom.
The bible's just a blueprint for their morality scam,
Religion may be used to reinforce societal norms and expectations and control individuals, rather than truly promoting morality and ethical behavior.
Another load of shit about how it's never been.
Religious institutions may promote a biased and selective view of history and may use religion to silence dissenting voices.
They stand there in the pulpit, doling out their lies,
Religious figures may use their position of power to control, manipulate, and exploit individuals for their own gain.
Offering forgiveness, then they talk of eyes for eyes.
Religious figures may use the idea of forgiveness as a tool of control and punishment, rather than compassion and empathy.
They tried to get me, but I won't be got,
The artist resists attempts to control and manipulate them to conform to societal norms and expectations.
They say I'm a misfit but I say I'm not,
The singer rejects labels and categories that limit individuality and creativity.
I never set out to exploit another,
The singer values empathy and compassion over personal gain or conformity.
Those smarmy bastards would steal from their mother.
Individuals who seek to control others and enforce societal norms and expectations may act in hypocritical and unethical ways.
They plundered and slaughtered in the name of truth,
Those who seek to reinforce societal norms and expectations may engage in oppressive and violent behavior, often in the name of 'truth' or righteousness.
Acceptance of normality is what they want from you as proof,
The pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations is often used to maintain power and control over individuals.
They think they got the answers, but there's something that they missed,
Those who seek to control and manipulate individuals may overlook important aspects of humanity and individuality.
Their cup which overfloweth, is just filled up with piss.
Those who seek to control and manipulate individuals possess nothing of real value or worth, despite their claims of authority and power.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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