MCA
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(J. Rotten/S. Jones/G. Matlock/P. Cook)

It's in unlimited supply
And there is no reason why
I tell you it was all a frame
They only did it 'cos of fame
Who?
MCA MCA MCA

Too many people had the suss
Too many people support us
An unlimited amount
Too many outlets in and out
Who?

MCA MCA MCA

You saw them crucified
A day they wished that you had died
We are an addition
We are ruled by none
Never ever never

Don't worry about it

Don't worry

They just thought that we were faking
That we were all just money making
You do not believe we're for real
Or you would lose your cheap appeal?

Don't judge a book just by the cover
Unless you cover just another
And blind acceptance is a sign
Of stupid fools who stand in line like

MCA MCA MCA

Unlimited edition
With an unlimited supply
That was the only reason
We all had to say goodbye

Unlimited supply
There is no reason why
I tell you if was all a frame
They only did it 'cos of fame
I do not need the pressure
I cannot teach a fool's




Unlimited supply
Hell MCA goodbye

Overall Meaning

The song "MCA" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts is an ode to their former label, the now-defunct MCA Records. The lyrics are a commentary on the music industry and the power dynamics between artists and record labels. The song suggests that MCA was only interested in the fame and fortune that Joan Jett and the Blackhearts could bring them and that they didn't care about the authenticity or quality of their music. The lyrics suggest that the band was seen as a commodity rather than individual artists with something genuine to offer. The repeated chant of "MCA MCA MCA" serves to highlight the idea that the label was a powerful force that ultimately controlled the band's career.


Throughout the song, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts express their frustration with the music industry and the expectations that are placed on them as musicians. The line "Unlimited supply, there is no reason why. I tell you it was all a frame, they only did it 'cos of fame" suggests that there is a pressure to continually produce music and that the label only cares about the resulting profits. The repeated line "Don't worry" is a message to the band's fans not to be swayed by the pressures of the industry and to stay true to themselves as artists.


Line by Line Meaning

It's in unlimited supply
The resource being discussed is present in an unlimited amount


And there is no reason why
There is no apparent reason or explanation for the abundance of the resource


I tell you it was all a frame
The singer believes that some aspect of the situation was false or created for show


They only did it 'cos of fame
The action or decision being criticized was motivated solely by the desire for attention or notoriety


Who?
The artist is questioning the identity of those being criticized or the reason for their actions


Too many people had the suss
There were too many people who were aware of a hidden truth or secret information


Too many people support us
The singer and their group have a large number of supporters


An unlimited amount
There is an inexhaustible supply or quantity of something


Too many outlets in and out
There are too many possible ways for information or resources to come and go


You saw them crucified
The people being discussed were subjected to public criticism or scorn


A day they wished that you had died
The singer believes that those who criticized the group would have preferred them to fail or not exist


We are an addition
The artist's group is something extra, new, or different compared to what already exists


We are ruled by none
The singer's group is independent and not controlled by anyone else


Never ever never
The singer will never do something, likely related to conforming to someone else's expectations


Don't worry about it
The listener should not be concerned about something the singer mentioned earlier


They just thought that we were faking
Those who criticized the group believed that they were not genuine, but acting or pretending


That we were all just money making
Those who criticized the group believed that their motivation was purely financial gain


You do not believe we're for real
The singer believes that the listener or those being criticized do not believe that the group is authentic


Or you would lose your cheap appeal?
If those being criticized believed that the singer's group was real, it would result in a loss of something low-quality or unimpressive


Don't judge a book just by the cover
One should not make assumptions about something based purely on its outward appearance


Unless you cover just another
Exceptions to the previous line can be made if the thing being judged is not different or unique, but just another version of something else


And blind acceptance is a sign
The acceptance of something without question or examination is a clear indication of something negative


Of stupid fools who stand in line like
The people who blindly accept something are like foolish individuals queuing up or following others without thinking


MCA MCA MCA
A repeated reference to the person or people being criticized


Unlimited edition
Something that is available in an infinite amount or is not limited


With an unlimited supply
The resource being discussed exists in an infinite amount


That was the only reason
The singer views the motivation being discussed as the sole reason for something happening


We all had to say goodbye
The situation being discussed led to an ending, likely related to the artist's group or involvement with the people being criticized


I do not need the pressure
The artist does not require the stress or expectations of someone else


I cannot teach a fool's
The singer cannot educate someone who is foolish or cannot understand


Hell MCA goodbye
A final parting statement directed at the person or people being criticized




Contributed by Alice B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions