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.
New World Order
Jesse Malin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another strip mall opens on Route 4
Call it love baby on your cyber screen
Mother Nature is trying to get clean
Put the lawyers on the phone
When you tell me there's a new world order
And I feel like I'm the only one
In this generation
She dances slowly totally exposed
He hides his anger in thousand dollar clothes
And they'll always be alone
People tell me there's a new world order
Get your freedom baby on the run
A new addiction for the sons and daughters now
In this generation
And I just can't be happy anymore
Tired of the weekends
And the girl next store
Just can't be happy anymore
And I just can't be happy anymore
Tired of the weekends
And the boys next store
Just can't be happy anymore
Keep repeating
New world order
The lyrics of Jesse Malin's song "New World Order" are a commentary on the state of modern society and the disillusionment and frustration that many people feel. The first verse sets the stage with references to the "cocaine cowboy" (perhaps an allusion to the excesses and recklessness of the 1980s), the endless expansion of consumerism (as represented by the opening of yet another strip mall), and the strange way that relationships are formed and conducted in the digital age (with the phrase "call it love baby on your cyber screen"). Despite all of this, there is a sense that something fundamental is wrong: "Mother Nature is trying to get clean." The call to "put the lawyers on the phone" suggests the need for some kind of intervention, but it is not clear what kind.
The chorus of the song focuses on the idea of a "new world order," which can be interpreted in a number of different ways. On one level, it may refer to the political and economic changes that have taken place in recent decades, with globalization and the rise of multinational corporations affecting the lives of people all over the world. On another level, the phrase could be used to describe the sense of chaos and confusion that many people feel, with traditional values and structures breaking down and nothing stable or certain to replace them. The repeated refrain of "new world order" reinforces this sense of unease and anxiety.
The second verse of the song shifts the focus to the personal, with references to two individuals who are struggling to find connection and meaning in their lives. The description of the woman "dancing slowly totally exposed" suggests a vulnerability and openness that is not reciprocated by the man, who "hides his anger in thousand dollar clothes." The phrase "they'll always be alone" is a bleak and pessimistic statement, reinforcing the sense that something is deeply wrong with the way that people relate to one another in the modern world.
Overall, Jesse Malin's "New World Order" is a powerful commentary on the state of society in the 21st century. The song touches on a number of different themes, including consumerism, technology, and the breakdown of traditional structures and values. At the same time, it speaks to the sense of frustration and disillusionment that many people feel, as they struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that often seems chaotic and purposeless.
Line by Line Meaning
The cocaine cowboy is going back to war
The drug dealer is returning to the battlefield
Another strip mall opens on Route 4
More corporate businesses are taking over the highway
Call it love baby on your cyber screen
Emotions on the internet are not real love
Mother Nature is trying to get clean
The environment needs to be protected and restored
Put the lawyers on the phone
Legal action is necessary for resolution
When you tell me there's a new world order
When people talk about a global government takeover
And I feel like I'm the only one
I feel like I'm one of the few who's aware of this issue
Take a picture of the sons and daughters now
Document this moment in time for future generations
In this generation
The people living right now
She dances slowly totally exposed
She dances provocatively while being vulnerable
He hides his anger in thousand dollar clothes
He covers up his emotions with luxury items
And they'll always be alone
Despite their attempts to fit in, they'll still be lonely
Get your freedom baby on the run
Escape to freedom while you can
A new addiction for the sons and daughters now
The younger generation has new issues to deal with
And I just can't be happy anymore
I am no longer content with the status quo
Tired of the weekends
Sick of the repetitive cycle of life
And the girl/boys next store
Bored with the mundane, everyday people around me
Keep repeating
Continuing to emphasize
New world order
The idea of a global government takeover
Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.