Plaskett and The Emergency have been nominated for two Juno Awards and won two East Coast Music Awards. The Emergency won in the Rock Recording of the Year category for the album Truthfully, Truthfully.
In 2007, their first album to include their new bassist, Chris Pennell, was released. The album, Ashtray Rock, is described by the band as a concept album. The album was on the shortlist for the 2007 Polaris Music Prize.
In 2012, the band released the album Scrappy Happiness.
Penny For Your Thoughts
Joel Plaskett Emergency Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like heavy metal songs
Tell me why I got to choose
Which side of your fence I'm on
Are you with me? Or are you leaving?
Are you argumentative?
You all want some true believing
Don't you act so sentimental
Kid, you got some nerve
The reason I like the instrumentals
Is cause they haven't got any words!
Doo wop bop bop bop
Penny for your thoughts, music for your money
Doo wop bop bop bop
Show me what you got, play it for me honey
I Johnny Walker Red
I like being juxtaposed
I like seeing Johnny's dad
Wearing Johnny's mother's clothes
I the prince and you like the king
We both like the way Freddie Mercury sings
We're into deep to call this thing a fling
Which one of you is gonna let me swing?
Don't you act so sentimental
Kid, you got some nerve
The reason I like the instrumentals
Is cause they haven't got any words
Doo wop bop bop bop
Penny for your thoughts, music for your money
Doo wop bop bop bop
Show me what you got, play it for me honey
Doo wop bop bop bop
Penny for your thoughts, music for your money
Doo wop bop bop bop
Show me what you got, play it for me honey
I'd like to take this opportunity to say...
You can be a man of faith
Or you can be a hired gun
You be 1988 and I'll be 1941
Quit acting like a mama's boy
Instead of your father's son?
Doo wop bop bop bop
Penny for your thoughts, music for your money
Doo wop bop bop bop
Show me what you got, play it for me honey
Doo wop bop bop bop
Penny for your thoughts, music for your money
Doo wop bop bop bop
Show me what you got, play it for me honey
The lyrics to Joel Plaskett Emergency's song "Penny For Your Thoughts" touch on the idea of individuality and not conforming to societal expectations. The opening lines express the love for different genres of music, showing that one can appreciate and enjoy various aspects of life. He then questions why people feel the need to choose a side or conform to a certain group. The chorus is a plea for musicians to showcase their talents and for people to appreciate their art by paying for it.
The second verse talks about the enjoyment of juxtaposition and not conforming to a particular label or category. The lines, "We're into deep to call this thing a fling / Which one of you is gonna let me swing?" express the desire for freedom and not being afraid to experiment or take risks. The bridge mentions the choice to be a man of faith or a hired gun, which can be interpreted as choosing to follow one's own beliefs or blindly following what others tell you to do. The song ends on the same plea for musicians to showcase their talents and for people to appreciate their art by paying for it.
Line by Line Meaning
I like doo wop and the blues
I appreciate different genres of music such as doo wop and blues.
I like heavy metal songs
I also enjoy heavy metal music.
Tell me why I got to choose
Why do I have to pick one side or the other?
Which side of your fence I'm on
Which side of the argument do you want me to take?
Are you with me? Or are you leaving?
Are you on my side, or are you abandoning me?
Are you argumentative?
Are you willing to have a disagreement?
You all want some true believing
Everyone wants to have something to believe in.
Why'd you act so t-t-tentative?
Why are you acting so hesitant?
Don't you act so sentimental
Don't be overly emotional about this.
Kid, you got some nerve
You're being audacious, youngster.
The reason I like the instrumentals
I enjoy the musical backing without lyrics.
Is cause they haven't got any words!
This is because there are no lyrics to distract from the music.
I Johnny Walker Red
I prefer Johnny Walker Red Label whisky.
I like being juxtaposed
I appreciate being contrasted with different things.
I like seeing Johnny's dad
I find amusement in seeing Johnny's father.
Wearing Johnny's mother's clothes
Dressed up in Johnny's mother's attire.
I the prince and you like the king
I'm the prince, and you're the king.
We both like the way Freddie Mercury sings
We both appreciate Freddie Mercury's singing style.
We're into deep to call this thing a fling
We're too involved to consider this a fling or casual relationship.
Which one of you is gonna let me swing?
Who among you is going to let me join in on the fun?
You can be a man of faith
You can be a person who has faith in something.
Or you can be a hired gun
Alternatively, you could be someone who does things for money.
You be 1988 and I'll be 1941
You can be from the future, and I'll be from the past.
Quit acting like a mama's boy
Stop behaving like a mamma's boy.
Instead of your father's son?
Start behaving like your father's son.
Penny for your thoughts, music for your money
Tell me what you're thinking, play some music for me.
Show me what you got, play it for me honey
Show me your talents and play some music for me.
Contributed by Alexis P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.