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.
Wishful Thinking
Joel Plaskett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a working horse, a postage stamp
Tune up my guitar, turn on my amp
Well I felt so sad when I got off the plane
I don't wanna go to New York City again
Kissin' you goodbye in the pissing rain
Keep on thinkin' wishful thoughts, thinkin' wishful thoughts
I wish you were here, but you're not
No, no, no, but you're not
I feel like a sailor lost on the seas
Catchin' a cold, maybe catchin' a breeze
Standin' on the prairie lookin' for trees
Rock and roll's wrapped 'round me as tight as a noose
And from the front of the train you can't see the caboose
In northern New Brunswick watch out for the moose
But if wishful thinkin' is all I got
Keep on thinkin' wishful thoughts, thinkin' wishful thoughts
I wish you were here, but you're not
No, no, no, but you're not
But you're not
You put your gas in your tank, you put some air in your lungs
'Cause you know that there's a song that's gotta get sung
It's a long, long way to Winnipeg
And I ain't too proud to shake a leg
Sing for my supper, break me an egg
But if wishful thinkin' is all I got
Keep on thinkin' wishful thoughts, thinkin' wishful thoughts
I wish you were here, but you're not
No, no, no, but you're not
No, no, no, but you're not
But you're not
CD's for sale at the back of the hall
Buy one, buy 'em all
Couple bucks cheaper than they are at the mall
Thank you, good night, I'll be back in the fall
Seasons come and season go
Nobody wants to end the rock n' roll show
Look at you, love, you got that golden glow
Goin' down, goin' down, goin' down
Goin' down, goin' down, goin' down
Goin' down, goin' down, goin' down
Goin' down
North of the sun and south of the snow
No particular destination, no particular plant to grow
Buckle up baby, let's rock down the road
Highway white lines are freakin' me out
Wondering what you're doin', are you out and about?
Gettin' lost, gettin' lost, gettin' lost, gettin' lost
Gettin' lost on the paper on my paper route
But if wishful thinkin' is all I got
Keep on thinkin' wishful thoughts, thinkin' wishful thoughts
I wish you were here, but you're not
No, no, no, but you're not
No, no, no, but you're not
Guitar's singin' a song for free
Why's everybody always pickin' on me?
Tweedle Dee
Tweedley Dum and Tweedley Dee
But if wishful thinkin' is all I got
Keep on thinkin' wishful thoughts, thinkin' wishful thoughts
I wish you were here, but you're not
No, no, no, but you're not
Where'd you go, 'cause you're not
In "Wishful Thinking," Joel Plaskett uses a mix of musings about life on the road as a traveling musician and a longing for a distant loved one. The first verse sets the scene with the singer in the company of the "king of the camp," perhaps alluding to some sort of music festival or touring camaraderie. He denotes his own position as a "working horse, a postage stamp" - a hard-worker and a small cog in a bigger machine. As he turns on his amp and tunes his guitar, the first hints of the song's recurring themes of nostalgia and wishing for what could be are starting to emerge.
The second verse delves deeper into his thoughts, as he recalls a past experience of departing from New York City while saying goodbye to someone in the rain. Despite feeling sad, he elevates wishful thinking to a point of hope and motivation, stating that if it's all he's got, he'll keep on thinking those wishful thoughts. However, the chorus reveals that his loved one is not there with him, and he repeats the motif several times throughout the song. The final verse ends with a play on a nursery rhyme (Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum) as the guitar plays on, him wishing someone was there with him once again.
Overall, "Wishful Thinking" reflects the emotions of a traveling musician, including the ups and downs of life on the road and longing for meaningful connections. Joel Plaskett deftly captures the nuances of these feelings and expresses them with a catchy melody and clever lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm holding court with the king of the camp
I am in a position of power surrounded by my peers
I'm a working horse, a postage stamp
I am hard-working and reliable, like a horse or a postage stamp
Tune up my guitar, turn on my amp
I am preparing to play music and need to tune my guitar and turn on my amplifier
Well I felt so sad when I got off the plane
I experienced great sadness upon leaving the plane
I don't wanna go to New York City again
I have a strong desire to not return to New York City
Kissin' you goodbye in the pissing rain
I said goodbye to you in a miserable, rainy environment
But if wishful thinkin' is all I got
If all I have is unrealistic desires
Keep on thinkin' wishful thoughts, thinkin' wishful thoughts
I will continue to hold onto these unrealistic desires
I wish you were here, but you're not
I desire your company, but you are not present
No, no, no, but you're not
Despite my desire for your presence, it is not a reality
I feel like a sailor lost on the seas
I feel lost and aimless, like a sailor lost at sea
Catchin' a cold, maybe catchin' a breeze
I might be getting sick or I might be getting a gust of wind
Standin' on the prairie lookin' for trees
I find myself in a barren area searching for something that is not there
Rock and roll's wrapped 'round me as tight as a noose
The music industry has me tightly bound, like a noose
And from the front of the train you can't see the caboose
When you are at the front of the train, you can't see the end of it
In northern New Brunswick watch out for the moose
It is important to be aware of moose while in northern New Brunswick
You put your gas in your tank, you put some air in your lungs
Before setting out on a journey, you need to fuel up and breathe deeply
'Cause you know that there's a song that's gotta get sung
You have a sense of purpose and a task that must be accomplished
It's a long, long way to Winnipeg
Travelling to Winnipeg requires a long journey
And I ain't too proud to shake a leg
I am not too proud to dance or perform with energy
Sing for my supper, break me an egg
I am willing to perform music in order to earn food or money
CD's for sale at the back of the hall
I have CDs available for purchase at the back of the venue
Buy one, buy 'em all
Feel free to purchase one or more CDs
Couple bucks cheaper than they are at the mall
The price of the CDs is a few dollars less than they would be in a shopping mall
Thank you, good night, I'll be back in the fall
I am thanking the audience and indicating that I will return to perform again in the fall
Seasons come and season go
The seasons change with time
Nobody wants to end the rock n' roll show
No one wants the enjoyable rock and roll performance to be over
Look at you, love, you got that golden glow
You have a beautiful, radiant appearance
Goin' down
Descending or losing ground
North of the sun and south of the snow
Somewhere in the vicinity of summer, between the regions of sun and snow
No particular destination, no particular plant to grow
Without a specific goal in mind, nothing in particular is being cultivated
Buckle up baby, let's rock down the road
Prepare yourself, let's go and rock out on this journey
Highway white lines are freakin' me out
The white lines on the highway are causing me to feel unnerved or anxious
Wondering what you're doin', are you out and about?
I am curious about your activities and if you are currently occupied
Gettin' lost, gettin' lost, gettin' lost, gettin' lost
Feeling lost or directionless
Gettin' lost on the paper on my paper route
Having difficulty finding my way while delivering newspapers
Guitar's singin' a song for free
The guitar is playing music without any payment required
Why's everybody always pickin' on me?
I feel as though others are consistently targeting or singling me out
Tweedle Dee
An expression often used to signify a lack of concern or carefree attitude
Tweedley Dum and Tweedley Dee
A reference to the characters Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum from Lewis Carroll's novel "Through the Looking-Glass"
Where'd you go, 'cause you're not
I am questioning your whereabouts because you are not present
Contributed by Molly J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.