McLaughlin was born on September 27, 1982 in Anderson, Indiana. Playing piano since early childhood, he was always finding ways to get out of piano lessons. While attending Highland High School, he shattered both wrists in an accident that interrupted his musical education. Nevertheless, McLaughlin attended Anderson University to study music. He released an independent album entitled Up until Now in 2003. This quickly led to McLaughlin becoming the first artist to sign on with the school's record label, Orangehaus Records. His self-titled album was released in 2004 to local and regional praise. He began touring, travelling throughout the U.S. Midwest, and working up a grassroots following.
He released Indiana in 2007, preceded earlier in the same year by the EP Industry, also known as Jon McL. In 2008, McLaughlin returned with lead single "Beating My Heart" from his album OK Now released in the same year. He gained fame with his cameo appearance in Disney's Enchanted. Released in early September 2011 in the U.S. Forever If Ever was McLaughlin's third major-label release. 2012's lead single "Summer Is Over" featured fellow singer-songwriter-pianist Sara Bareilles from Promising Promises which was a slightly reworked version of his 2011 album. There were no other singles released from the album. Jon released Holding My Breath on his website and iTunes on September 24, 2013. The mp3 version of the album is also available at Amazon.
You Can Never Go Back
Jon McLaughlin Lyrics
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Well Jackie you can be anything you want
Well that's what they said when you were young
But you never been good at moving on
Are you still at the corner restaurant
Meeting Jamie McKay when you get off
Don't you know that it's all a sad mirage
And you can never go back to Xanadu
Running with the young and the restless
Nothing better to do
Nothing yet to lose
And you can never go back
To Avalon
Stolen with the bold and the beautiful
Those days are gone
Don't you know those days are gone
And you can never go back
Whoa Whoa Whoa
You can never go back
Whoa Whoa
Jackie didn't you say you'd be a star
Maybe it was the world that made it hard
Or maybe you've just forgotten who you are
Can't you see that you're living in the past
Maybe this is the time for me to ask
Are you ready to move on, it's been too long
And you can never go back to Xanadu
Running with the young and the restless
Nothing better to do
And nothing yet to lose
And you can never go back
To Avalon
Stolen with the bold and the beautiful
Those days are gone
Don't you know those days are gone
And you can never go back
And you can never go
And you can never go
Back to Xanadu
Running with the young and restless
Nothing better to do
Nothing yet to lose
And you can never go back
To Avalon
Stolen with the bold and the beautiful
Those days are gone
Don't you know those days are gone
And you can never go back
Whoa Whoa Whoa
Go back.
And you can never go back.
Whoa Whoa Whoa
You can never go back
You can never go, no you can never go, and you can never go back.
The song "You Can Never Go Back" by Jon McLaughlin is about the idea that once we move on from a certain time in our lives, we can never fully go back to it. It tells the story of a person named Jackie who, despite being told she could be anything she wanted as a child, has struggled with moving on from her past. The lyrics sing to Jackie, asking if she's still doing the same things and seeing the same people as she did before. The song suggests that Jackie is living in the past and that it's time for her to move on.
The lyrics use two historical and mythical places – Xanadu and Avalon – as examples of how we can never go back. In Coleridge's famous poem "Kubla Khan," Xanadu is described as a beautiful paradise, filled with delight and sensuality. The song refers to Xanadu as a place where Jackie used to run with the young and restless, with nothing better to do and nothing yet to lose. And, similarly, the song refers to Avalon as a beautiful place that has become unattainable – a time when Jackie was stolen with the bold and the beautiful. In both cases, the song suggests that these times are gone, and Jackie must learn to accept the realities of the present.
One of the essential takeaways from this song is that we all need to move on from our past and look towards the future. The harm done in the past can only be rectified through change, and we must learn to put the past behind us in the face of this changing world. The song encourages us to let go of the past and embrace the present and the future.
Line by Line Meaning
And you can never go back
The past cannot be undone, you cannot change it.
Well Jackie you can be anything you want
People say that Jackie has the potential to achieve great things.
Well that's what they said when you were young
People have always told Jackie that she can do anything she sets her mind to.
But you never been good at moving on
Jackie finds it difficult to let go of her past and move forward.
Are you still at the corner restaurant
Jackie may be stuck in her comfort zone and not exploring new opportunities.
Meeting Jamie McKay when you get off
Jackie may still be holding on to past relationships.
Don't you know that it's all a sad mirage
Jackie's attachment to the past and unfulfilled dreams may be causing her to falsely perceive her present reality.
And you can never go back to Xanadu
Jackie cannot return to a place or time where she was once happy and carefree.
Running with the young and the restless
Jackie once had a sense of adventure and lived without worry or responsibility.
Nothing better to do
Jackie's life was not yet weighed down by the duties and obligations of adulthood.
Nothing yet to lose
Jackie had yet to experience significant hardships or failures.
To Avalon
Avalon represents a time and place where Jackie was once happy and content.
Stolen with the bold and the beautiful
The beauty and excitement of Jackie's past life was taken from her by time and change.
Those days are gone
Jackie cannot recreate her past and must accept that her life has changed.
Jackie didn't you say you'd be a star
Jackie once had dreams of achieving greatness and success.
Maybe it was the world that made it hard
The world may have been unforgiving or difficult for Jackie to navigate as she pursued her goals.
Or maybe you've just forgotten who you are
Jackie may have lost sight of her own ambition and sense of purpose.
Can't you see that you're living in the past
Jackie's attachment to the past is hindering her from enjoying the present and looking towards the future.
Maybe this is the time for me to ask
This may be the moment for someone to challenge Jackie to make a change and move on with her life.
Are you ready to move on, it's been too long
It has been a significant amount of time since Jackie has experienced happiness or accomplished one of her goals. She may be ready to move on.
Go back.
This is an invitation for Jackie to confront her past and make peace with it, so that she can move forward.
You can never go, no you can never go, and you can never go back.
The past cannot be erased or forgotten, but one must keep moving forward to find happiness and success.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JONATHAN MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN, WILLIAM JAMES III MCAULEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind