His 2015 album "Joel Plaskett and the Park Avenue Sobriety Test" touches on his solo acoustic side, his guitar rock work with Joel Plaskett Emergency, his happy-go-lucky rhyming talents, carefree memories of growing up in Nova Scotia, and a little bit of anger at the forces that make life tougher these days. There are references to his salad days, like “On A Dime,” which starts with a blast of downhome Celtic fiddle from Cape Breton great J.P. Cormier. Then there’s Plaskett riffing on memories of playing road hockey in the liquor store parking lot, and later, traveling to Memphis with his band Thrush Hermit to make their first album. The album. also refers to the cast of characters that helped make the album, with Joel Plaskett Emergency appearing on more than half the tracks. It’s more like the Emergency-Plus, as lots of familiar faces from previous Plaskett discs are aboard. Longtime Emergency cohorts Dave Marsh – drums and Chris Pennell – bass anchor the rhythm section. Previous group members Tim Brennan and Peter Elkas play on several songs. From Plaskett’s former band Thrush Hermit is old pal Ian McGettigan. Then there are guests, friends and neighbours, such as Cormier, Halifax singer-songwriter Mo Kenney, singer Erin Costelo, and pedal steel player Dale Murray (Christina Martin, Cuff the Duke).
He released the album Solidarity, a collaboration with his father Bill, in 2017.
Gone Gone Gone
Joel Plaskett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That′s what it looks like from here
Gone, gone, gone
You've been packing your bags for a year
Watchin′ your taillights fade
That's all I ever do
Watchin' you complicate a love so true
Gone, gone, gone
What′s the big idea?
Where do we go from here, my love?
Always gone, always right, never wrong
Await the light, chase the dawn
Through the night, but the night's so long
Gone, gone, gone
That′s your middle name
Every night's the same
My love, count ′em down
3, 2, 1, you're back around
You close the door, you don′t make a sound
But 1, 2, 3 and you're leavin' town
In the middle of a lonely night
Got caught in the hallway light
For a minute you were gettin′ close
I suspect I′ve seen a ghost
In the middle of a highway dream
You got caught in the headlight beam
Down the road with your tired eyes
Good old boys with your old goodbyes
Bye bye
That's your only tune
Singin′ April, May and June
My love, you come and go
Seasons change and flowers grow
By and by, the highway glow
You roll fast, but the night rolls slow
Slow, slow
Time is rollin' on
Sing "Two Winters Long"
My love, where you been?
Around the bend and back again
You′re never wrong, you're always right
But you look different in this light
In the middle of a highway dream
You got caught in the headlight beam
Down the road with your tired eyes
Good old boys with your old goodbyes
In the middle of a lonely night
Got caught in the hallway light
For a minute you were gettin′ close
I suspect I've seen a ghost
Make this clear
You disappeared
Left me here
Gone, gone, gone
Never wrong
Sing your song
"Two Winters Long"
Gone, gone, gone
Surely we'll say this again
Gone, gone, gone
In the cold early morning rain
Singin′ someone else′s tune
That's all you ever do
Light on your feet in this room
But I know your shoes
Pretty soon I′ll be gone too
Joel Plaskett's "Gone Gone Gone" portrays a relationship that is slipping away - the subject of the song is watching their partner leaving for an extended period, packing their bags for what seems like ages. They are "watching your tailights fade" and "watching you complicate a love so true." The singer asserts that at some point, they will be leaving too. The partner is always gone, and they never seem to be wrong. The lyrics convey that the relationship has been strained for a long time, and despite the singer's love, the other partners seem to be set in their ways, determined to maintain their current status.
The chorus repeats a few times, emphasizing the increasing sense of loss and frustration: "Gone, gone, gone / That’s what it sounds like from here / Gone, gone, gone / You’ve been packing your bags for a year," "Gone, gone, gone / What’s the big idea? / Where do we go from here, my love?" This depicts the singer's longing for some clarity, desperate for a solution to the problem. The song also employs metaphors like "In the middle of a highway dream / You got caught in the headlight beam," which symbolize being unable to control the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Gone, gone, gone
The person being addressed is gone and has been gone for a while.
That′s what it looks like from here
The singer is observing the evidence of the person leaving and believes they are gone.
You've been packing your bags for a year
The person being addressed has been preparing to leave for a long time.
Watchin′ your taillights fade
The artist watches the person leaving drive away into the distance.
That's all I ever do
The artist is fixated on watching the person leaving and nothing else.
Watchin' you complicate a love so true
The singer feels that the person leaving is unnecessarily complicating a true love they once shared.
Pretty soon I′ll be gone too
The singer realizes that they will soon leave as well, possibly out of necessity or as a result of the other person leaving.
What′s the big idea?
The artist wants to know the reason behind the person leaving.
Where do we go from here, my love?
The artist is questioning the future direction of their relationship now that the other person is leaving.
Always gone, always right, never wrong
This is a description of the person being addressed, who always leaves and is always satisfied with their decision.
Await the light, chase the dawn
The person being addressed is always looking for new opportunities and experiences, never content to stay in one place.
Through the night, but the night's so long
The person being addressed is willing to endure the difficulties of pursuing their goals and making changes, even if it takes a long time.
That′s your middle name
The singer is saying that the person leaving is always gone and has been for a long time.
Every night's the same
The singer is emphasizing the repetitive nature of the other person's leaving and coming back.
Count ′em down
The singer is suggesting that the other person's comings and goings can be counted like a measure of time.
3, 2, 1, you're back around
The artist is so used to the other person's leaving and returning that they can anticipate when it will happen.
You close the door, you don′t make a sound
The other person leaves quietly, without making a fuss.
But 1, 2, 3 and you're leavin' town
The singer is emphasizing how predictably the other person leaves town.
In the middle of a lonely night
The singer is describing a time when they were alone and the other person was gone.
Got caught in the hallway light
The artist saw the other person briefly in a state of surprise or confusion.
For a minute you were gettin′ close
The other person briefly seemed like they were getting closer to the artist, but soon left again.
I suspect I′ve seen a ghost
The artist is questioning whether the other person is even really there or if they have left for good.
You got caught in the headlight beam
The other person was briefly visible, but is soon to leave again.
Down the road with your tired eyes
The artist is describing the other person's appearance as they leave wearily down a long road.
Good old boys with your old goodbyes
The singer is lamenting how the other person seems to feel comfortable in always leaving and saying goodbye.
Bye bye
The singer is repeating the phrase that the other person always uses to say goodbye.
Singin′ April, May and June
The singer is emphasizing how the other person is gone for long periods of time throughout the year.
Seasons change and flowers grow
The artist is symbolizing the cyclical, natural changes that occur with the passage of time, which the other person always seems to be out of sync with.
By and by, the highway glow
The artist is describing the allure of traveling and experiencing new things, which the other person is always pursuing.
You roll fast, but the night rolls slow
The other person is moving quickly through their life, but the singer feels that time moves slowly when they are apart.
Slow, slow
The singer is emphasizing the slowness and difficulty of the passage of time without the other person present.
Time is rollin' on
The artist is acknowledging that time continues to pass, even though the other person is gone.
Sing "Two Winters Long"
The artist is suggesting that they will continue to endure the cold, lonely winters without the other person present.
My love, where you been?
The artist is questioning the other person's whereabouts and choices.
Around the bend and back again
The other person is always making a full circle, leaving and then returning again.
You′re never wrong, you're always right
The artist is saying that the other person always seems confident in their decisions, even if they hurt the artist.
But you look different in this light
The singer is seeing the other person in a new way, perhaps with more clarity.
Make this clear
The singer wants to understand the other person's intentions and direction better.
You disappeared
The singer is both acknowledging that the other person is gone and possibly accusing them of disappearing without warning or discussion.
Left me here
The artist feels abandoned and alone after the other person has left.
Surely we'll say this again
The artist acknowledges that they will be repeating these questions and difficult emotions again in the future.
In the cold early morning rain
The singer is picturing a forlorn, rainy day after the other person has left.
Singin′ someone else′s tune
The singer is suggesting that the other person is simply following another path or agenda without considering the singer's feelings or needs.
That's all you ever do
The artist is saying that the other person is always following their own desires and plans, never considering the impact on the artist.
Light on your feet in this room
The artist is contrasting the other person's quick movements and lightness with their own sense of heaviness or stagnation in the current moment.
But I know your shoes
Despite the other person's ability to move quickly and unpredictably, the artist knows them well and can anticipate their behavior to some degree.
Pretty soon I′ll be gone too
The singer is acknowledging that they may have to leave as well, and that the other person's actions are contributing to this outcome.
Writer(s): Joel Plaskett
Contributed by Chase M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zachary
Great song Nova Scotia is proud of you Joel
pocketchange
I love this man.
Michael Shaw
Great Artist underrated have a listen you will not be disappointed!
Tim Irvine
Huge thanks Joel.
Angus Cameron
wicked tune
Blake Unruh
@TheWackyAntics listen to his music, listen to a whole album, preferably just after you got dumped or someone you know died or was killed. Elliott smith is incredible, and so is Joel Plaskett. Joel keeps you sane day to day, Elliott helps you when youve gone over the edge.
Blake Unruh
yeah elliott smith is amazing, But joel plaskett is happier. Completely different. Joel plaskett is almost like, a newer better version of Tom Petty. Its the whole 3 thing
Angus Cameron
sounds like my X...
luke tracey
Angus Cameron 🍀
geedee176
@BinAlaDiN Progression goes: G, Em, C, D. Simple stuff. Good luck and have fun