In going solo, Ryan Adams, an old friend, was impressed by Malin's songs and offered to produce a record for him, in spite of having never done it before. Malin's debut, "The Fine Art of Self Destruction," was made in just under a week, and was released in January, 2003. He toured both the US and the UK in support of the album.
Malin's follow-up, "The Heat," was released in June, 2004. He released his third solo album, "Glitter in the Gutter," in March, 2007.
In 2010, Malin formed a band called Jesse Malin & the St. Mark's Social and released an album called Love It To Life; the title comes from a quote by Joe Strummer (the title was previously used on a 2007 UK release of live material on the One Little Indian label.) Featuring a more rockier approach, the album's first single was "Burning The Bowery" and next single was "All The Way From Moscow." Love It To Life was referred to as "the best album of his career" by Paste Magazine.
In December 2010, Malin, along members of Green Day, formed the band 'Rodeo Queens'. They released one song, along with a video, called 'Depression Times'. D Generation reunited in 2011 and continue to play live.
In 2019, Jesse Malin released the critically acclaimed album "Sunset Kids," in collaboration with American roots icon Lucinda Williams and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.
About You
Jesse Malin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We asked for God but all they had left was church
We took the high road and they brought us down
But we kept right on we were bound
Me and you go a long time too
We've been through hell and survived high school
We played the records and we played the fool
Paris to Holland on a supersonic electric train
So many women but somehow it's all the same
Tell those Nazis that we're doing fine
And put Chet Baker on the line
Me and you go a long time too
We've been through hell and kept goin' on through
I'd like to love you baby so taboo
But no one even knows and no one I have told
About you
The bottles are empty and I guess you could do the math
I never told you cause I figured you'd probably laugh
With your brown eyes sparkle
You're waking in the midday sun
I once kissed a teller but I never played ring and run
Me and you go a long time too
We've been through hell and
Those stinkin' public schools
All your dreams may they all be true
And no one even knows
No one I have chose
No one even knows about you
The song "About You" by Jesse Malin is a nostalgic and introspective reflection on the past. The lyrics are personal, yet relatable as they touch upon universal themes of growing up and the struggles and triumphs that come with it.
The opening lines suggest a longing for something more than just the mundane routine of life, perhaps a dream or faith that has been lost along the way. The reference to the church could signify the loss of innocence or disillusionment with religion. However, the singer and his friend, referred to as "you," seem to have persevered despite the obstacles they faced. The lines "We took the high road and they brought us down, but we kept right on, we were bound" demonstrate their resilience and determination.
The second stanza describes the friendship between the singer and "you" and the many experiences they shared, from high school to traveling across Europe. The reference to Chet Baker, a famous jazz trumpeter, adds an element of sophistication to the lyrics and suggests a love for music. The lines "Tell those Nazis that we're doing fine" are a nod to history and perhaps suggest a rebellious spirit that refuses to be crushed by adversity.
The final stanza seems to reveal a secret or unspoken love between the singer and "you." The reference to the "bottles" being empty hints at a wild, perhaps drunken night, and the fear of rejection that comes with revealing one's true feelings. The line "I once kissed a teller but I never played ring and run" could be interpreted as a past mistake that the singer regrets. The song ends with a sense of longing and the realization that sometimes, no matter how much we want to, we can never completely reveal our true selves to others.
Line by Line Meaning
We were the children who need those dreams the worst
We were kids who had the strongest need to dream and to hope for the future.
We asked for God but all they had left was church
We sought spiritual guidance, but found only the institution of religion.
We took the high road and they brought us down
We tried to do the right thing, but were held back by those who wanted to bring us down.
But we kept right on we were bound
In spite of the challenges, we persevered and kept going on.
Me and you go a long time too
You and I have known each other for a long time.
We've been through hell and survived high school
We've been through some tough times, including making it through high school.
We played the records and we played the fool
We enjoyed music together and made some foolish decisions along the way.
Paris to Holland on a supersonic electric train
We've travelled together to various places, including Paris and Holland, in a fast electric train.
So many women but somehow it's all the same
Despite seeing many women, they all seem to be the same and don't compare to you.
Tell those Nazis that we're doing fine
We're doing well and not affected by the troubles associated with Nazis.
And put Chet Baker on the line
Let's listen to the jazz music of Chet Baker.
I'd like to love you baby so taboo
I want to love you in a way that might not be socially acceptable.
But no one even knows and no one I have told
I'm keeping my feelings for you a secret and haven't told anyone.
The bottles are empty and I guess you could do the math
The empty bottles suggest that we've been drinking and it's clear what has happened.
I never told you cause I figured you'd probably laugh
I didn't tell you what happened because I was afraid you might make fun of me.
With your brown eyes sparkle
Your eyes sparkle beautifully with their brown color.
You're waking in the midday sun
You're waking up at noon when the sun is high in the sky.
We've been through hell and kept goin' on through
We've persevered through tough times and kept moving forward.
Those stinkin' public schools
We didn't like the public schools we attended.
All your dreams may they all be true
I hope that all your dreams and aspirations come true.
No one even knows
No one is aware of what we think or feel.
No one I have chose
I haven't chosen a person to share my thoughts with.
No one even knows about you
No one knows that I have feelings for you.
Contributed by Lucy S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
James Chen
Yep The Clapper is pretty good. Give me hope that even kind of geek people like us get also open up and find someone just can appreciate us
Dávid Lévai
Very nice! :D
Trisha Flores
The Clapper brought me here. Nice movie though. ❤️❤️❤️
Rob Hall
While I was pretty disappointed with "The Clapper", it did turn me on to this song.... I'd like to see the lyrics.
Rob Hall
@John O'Rourke Thanks so much!
John O'Rourke
Your favorite film opened up
the year that I was born
I didn't know what to say to you
but I knew we'd get along
Get on, get on, get on
They say it's all about the chase
Get on, get on, get on
Some things you just can't escape
Bye, bye, bye
When all your life goes by
Bye, bye, bye and bye
I didn't want to let you down
but I thing I might have spoke too soon
I never said I could be friend
with everybody in the room
Get on, get on, get on
See the lines on my face
Come on, come on, come on
You know the night is getting late
Bye, bye, bye
When all your life goes by
Bye, bye, bye and bye
Monday, another whistle blows
Tuesday, I'm going to a show
Friday, I'm a working stiff
You don't know how I live
Living hard with the elements
and we're trying to make it last
Your parents worked and they bled a lot
and they never really took a chance
Bye, bye, bye
When all your life goes by
Thinking about you
Jeff Johnson
The Clapper brought me here
Ben Bowes
Clapper brought me