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.
Mona Lisa
Jesse Malin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uptown to the primadonnas
Medicate the counterculture
9/11 baby boom
Paulie?s waiting to retire
Smoking like a forest fire
Putting on the panties and the lipstick
Nothing to do, nothing to lose
And if you work your life away
We?ll send you flowers every day
And you make your departure baby
And get high, high
Hanging with the local talent
Drinking like you're Shane McGowan
Going through your garbage
Try to turn into gold
Down on the dole, selling your soul
And if you work your life away
They'll keep your picture in a frame
And you make your departure baby
When you die, high
Bobbie joined the military
Jenny went and lost her cherry
Hanging at the commissary
Wants to see the Mona Lisa
If they ever do release her
I don't want to talk too soon
there's nothing to lose
Swimming in booze, selling your shoes
Nothing to lose, nothing to lose, nothing to lose
The lyrics to "Mona Lisa" by Jesse Malin paint a vivid picture of the struggles faced by young people in America. The song is a commentary on the disillusionment and desperation that can come from living in a society that seems to have no place for you. Steven, Paulie, Bobbie, and Jenny are all characters in the story of the song, and each one represents a different aspect of this struggle.
Steven is selling marijuana to "primadonnas" uptown, trying to make a living outside of the system. He's helping "medicate the counterculture," and the "9/11 baby boom" suggests that he's part of a generation that has been shaped by the events of that day. Paulie is a bit older, trying to retire but smoking like a "forest fire" in his mother's room. He puts on panties and lipstick, almost as if he's rebelling against traditional masculinity. The lines "Nothing to do, nothing to lose" suggest that he's reached a point where he's given up on the idea of a better life.
The other characters in the song, Bobbie and Jenny, are similarly disillusioned. Bobbie joins the military, perhaps as a way to escape or make something of himself, while Jenny "goes and loses her cherry." They both hang out at the commissary, dreaming of seeing the Mona Lisa if she's ever released. The repeated line "nothing to lose" suggests that they all feel trapped and hopeless, with nothing left to do but drink and sell their possessions.
Overall, "Mona Lisa" is a powerful commentary on the struggles and frustrations of young people in America. Jesse Malin's lyrics are raw and honest, and the song captures the sense of desperation and despair that can come from feeling like you have no place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Steven's selling Marijuana
Steven is selling marijuana to upscale consumers
Uptown to the primadonnas
He is targeting high-maintenance people who live in affluent regions
Medicate the counterculture
By selling drugs, Steven is helping the non-conformist community to cope with life's expectations
9/11 baby boom
Steven's business is booming due to people turning to drugs for escapism after the 9/11 incident
Paulie's waiting to retire
Paulie is biding his time until he can stop working
Smoking like a forest fire
He is a heavy smoker
Putting on the panties and the lipstick
Paulie is engaging in cross-dressing
In his mother's room
He performs this habit in his mother's private space
Nothing to do, nothing to lose
Paulie is idle and has no responsibilities
And if you work your life away
If you dedicate your entire existence to work
We'll send you flowers every day
Your employers will show you appreciation when you become incapacitated
And you make your departure baby
When you pass away
And get high, high
You will ascend to heaven and experience eternal bliss
Hanging with the local talent
Spending time with people of lesser skills and experience
Drinking like you're Shane McGowan
Drinking heavily like the musician Shane McGowan
Going through your garbage
Rummaging through your trash
Try to turn into gold
Attempting to find value in something that is worthless
Down on the dole, selling your soul
Being jobless and selling your principles for a quick buck
They'll keep your picture in a frame
Your employers will cherish your memory after you die
Bobbie joined the military
Bobbie enlisted in the armed forces
Jenny went and lost her cherry
Jenny lost her virginity
Hanging at the commissary
Spending time at the military store
Wants to see the Mona Lisa
Jenny desires to witness the famous artwork
If they ever do release her
If the painting is ever made available to the public
I don't want to talk too soon
I don't want to jinx it by speaking prematurely
Swimming in booze, selling your shoes
Fishing aimlessly in alcohol consumption and selling one's possessions
Nothing to lose, nothing to lose, nothing to lose
A repeated affirmation of having no commitments or obligations
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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