Early in their recording and airwave career, Lovin' Spoonful members termed their approach "good-time music". Unlike many pop groups of the day, the Lovin' Spoonful played all the instruments on their records, and aside from a few covers, wrote all their own material.
His group The Lovin' Spoonful played a major role in the mid-'60s rock revolution, but what leader, singer and songwriter Sebastian had in mind was actually a counter-revolution. "We were grateful to the Beatles for reminding us our rock & roll roots," John explains, "but we wanted to cut out the English middlemen, so to speak, and get down to making this new music as an 'American' band."
This the Lovin' Spoonful did like nobody before or since, putting their first seven singles into the Top 10. This was unprecedented, and utterly unthinkable at the height of Beatlemania. At first they'd taken older material from blues, country, folk and jug band sources - what we now term "roots music" - and made it sound modern. Then, in a series of original songs composed and sung by John Sebastian, they did the reverse, creating thoroughly modern music that sounded like it contained the entire history of American music. Which it did.
He embarked on a moderately successful solo career after leaving the Lovin' Spoonful in 1968. Sebastian was popular among the rock festival circuits. He had a memorable, albeit unscheduled appearance at Woodstock, appearing after Country Joe McDonald's set, playing songs such as "I Had A Dream," "Rainbows All Over Your Blues" and "Younger Generation" which he dedicated to a newborn baby at the festival. Documentary remarks by festival organizers revealed that Sebastian was under the influence at the time, hence his spontaneity and casual, unplanned set. Sebastian also returned for Woodstock '94, playing harmonica for Crosby, Stills and Nash. Sebastian released his eponymous LP John B. Sebastian in 1970, which featured him accompanied by various L.A. musicians.
Sebastian played harmonica with The Doors on the song Roadhouse Blues under the pseudonym G. Puglese to avoid problems with his contract, which was featured on Morrison Hotel album, also played on "Little Red Rooster" on the live album Alive, She Cried and on seven songs on Live In Detroit. He is also credited with playing harmonica on Crosby Stills Nash & Young's "Déjà Vu" from the album of the same name.
He had been involved in music for films (most notably Francis Ford Coppola's "You're A Big Boy Now" and Woody Allen's "What's Up Tiger Lily") and Broadway, but when producers of a TV show called "Welcome Back Kotter" commissioned a theme song in 1976, Sebastian's "Welcome Back" became a chart-topping solo record.
Thankfully John's induction into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 hasn't slowed him down. Whether the stage is at Carnegie Hall or a folk festival in some far-flung locale, John is still out there spreading his gospel of American roots music. He is the subject of the current PBS special "Do You Believe In Magic: The Music of John Sebastian," and a new album of duets with David Grisman was released in 2007. He has also lent his music in support of social, environmental and animal rights causes. Recently he joined a delegation of songwriters (including Lamont Dozier, Allen and Marilyn Bergman, and Mike Stoller) in Washington, DC to campaign on behalf of the National Music Publisher's Association.
Perhaps because it has been the product of heart and soul and history, the oldest song in the Sebastian catalog is as fresh and vital as the song he's about to write tomorrow. That's why you still hear his music everywhere - in movies, on television, in cover versions and samples - and why it's always welcome. John is also a welcome media presence; his commentary, insights and anecdotes and stories are regularly featured in print, radio, TV and film documentary projects. John Sebastian is not only a master musician, writer and performer, he remains one of the best ambassadors American music has ever had.
What She Thinks About
John Sebastian Lyrics
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To help him do his thing
Amazing moon shot rockets
And little wheels that sing
The way his hands will sweat to get that daily bread
It's hard to believe he can't get it through his head
Just what she thinks about
And he still can't figure out
Just what she thinks about
All the themes of man's illusions
Already here and gone
Somehow amidst confusion
Oh, how he gets it on
But he still can't figure out
Just what she thinks about
And he still can't figure out
Just what she thinks about
Well you say you been around and you got it all together
And you're diggin'where it's at and you really feel groovy, well
That's not quite true, but nice to meet you
Heard you spent time tryin'to figure out a reason
Why you couldn't get along but now the pain's easin'
It's alright there
Is nothing frightening
Just be mine tonight
Dream on, my man
You'll understand
What you do, what you say
Her world turns another way
But you still can't figure out
Just what she thinks about
And you still can't figure out
Just what she thinks about
The lyrics to John Sebastian's song What She Thinks About seem to be exploring the complexities of human nature and relationships. The song highlights how humans have devised various technological advancements to help them accomplish their goals, yet they are often unable to comprehend the thoughts and emotions of those closest to them. Sebastian uses the metaphor of the moon shot rockets and little wheels that sing to represent the impressive and intricate creations of man, but he juxtaposes them with the simple struggle of earning a living. Even though man has devised all these amazing inventions, he still can't seem to understand what the woman in the song is thinking about. This idea is further reinforced by the lyric "All the themes of man's illusions, already here and gone, somehow amidst confusion, oh, how he gets it on."
The song then addresses the listeners directly, suggesting that despite their claims of having it all together, they still have not figured out what women are thinking. Sebastian seems to be reminding his listeners that no matter how advanced technology becomes or how wise we believe ourselves to be, our understanding of human emotion is still limited. The song is essentially a cautionary tale, warning us that we should not be too confident in our abilities to decipher the thoughts and feelings of others.
Line by Line Meaning
All the things that man devises
Everything that mankind invents and creates
To help him do his thing
For the purpose of aiding his actions
Amazing moon shot rockets
Incredible spaceships launched to the moon
And little wheels that sing
Small, musical toys or gadgets
The way his hands will sweat to get that daily bread
The effort and sweat that a man puts into earning his living
It's hard to believe he can't get it through his head
It's difficult to understand why he can't comprehend things
But he still can't figure out
However, he still cannot understand
Just what she thinks about
What goes through her mind and her thought process
All the themes of man's illusions
All the imaginary concepts and ideas created by mankind
Already here and gone
They arrive and pass quickly
Somehow amidst confusion
Amid the chaos and disarray
Oh, how he gets it on
He still manages to make it work
Well you say you been around and you got it all together
You claim to have experience and be put together
And you're diggin'where it's at and you really feel groovy, well
You're enjoying where you're at and feel great
That's not quite true, but nice to meet you
That's not entirely accurate, but it's nice to make your acquaintance
Heard you spent time tryin'to figure out a reason
I heard you spent time pondering and searching for a reason
Why you couldn't get along but now the pain's easin'
Why you two had problems getting along, but now it's getting easier
It's alright there
Everything is okay
Is nothing frightening
There is nothing to be scared of
Just be mine tonight
Just spend the night with me
Dream on, my man
Have fantasies, my friend
You'll understand
You will comprehend eventually
What you do, what you say
Your actions and words
Her world turns another way
Her perspective and views differ from yours
But you still can't figure out
Despite everything, you are still unable to understand
Just what she thinks about
What goes through her mind and her thought process
And you still can't figure out
Even now, you cannot comprehend
Just what she thinks about
What goes through her mind and her thought process
Writer(s): John Sebastian Copyright: Alley Music Corp., Faithful Virtue Music Co. Inc.
Contributed by Jayden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.