His well documented personal life away from music, plagued by drug addiction, has seen him leave the lead vocal roles in Emarosa, and also Dance Gavin Dance twice, where he was a founding member. His other projects include a former stint in Ghost Runner On Third, and providing vocal duties in the supergroup Isles & Glaciers. His solo material is the first and only act of its kind to have been signed to Rise Records, to which he is no longer signed to.
His official album releases so far include his debut, A Dream is a Question You Don’t Know How to Answer was released on August 18, 2009 through Rise Records, and a live album, Live at Bamboozle 2010. Early 2013 has seen him formally release 3 singles, entitled Rhythm In My Soul, Nobody Ever Will and House of War.
In November 2012, somebody hacked Craig's personal e-mail that contained some demos that circulated on the internet; Craig stated the leaked material will not be on his upcoming solo EP. From Craig's personal twitter page: "Don’t trip the songs that leaked are not what my album is going to sound like. That was me just fucking around with some stuff."
He has recently set up an account on Indiegogo where fans can donate money to produce his new album, tentatively titled The Blue Print for Going in Circles. Craig has also confirmed in a recent interview that he bought out his previous contract with Rise Records.
Children Of Divorce
Jonny Craig Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wishing I'd never come across your face
Laying by the memories of things unspoken
Scared by thoughts of your father
Made me look over the flaws of your nature
Laying on your back became your only escape
You feel so old, used, but not yet broken
Not to think you have it all together
But this child was a mistake
I knew from the moment I stepped off that plane,
We had no future
How come your dreams are always so bitter?
And who knows,
Maybe one day,
She will know my name
You still return to the same skylines,
That leave you broken
Cheap talks with even cheaper company
Keeps the days turning into nights
You lay awake crying cause your child,
Carries my name,
While I regret ever making you apart of my life.
Sadly enough,
This song's not to hurt you,
Just to show the world that I'm free.
I knew from the moment I stepped off that plane,
We had no future.
How come your dreams are always so bitter?
And who knows,
Maybe one day,
She will know my name.
She'll know.
She will know.
The lyrics of Jonny Craig's "Children of Divorce" tell a heartbreaking story of a failed relationship and the emotional toll it has taken on both parties. It is clear from the lyrics that the singer: a man, deeply regrets his involvement with a woman, and the child they have together, whom they both seem to consider a mistake. The man is living in the cold, dark days of Portland and can't escape his memories of the woman, even though he wishes he never laid eyes on her. The man confesses that he ignored the flaws in the woman's nature when they were together, and now, his only escape is lying on his back. He feels old, used, but not quite broken.
The woman, on the other hand, is portrayed as broken, returning to the same skylines that symbolize her pain. She spends her days with cheap talks and cheaper company, and spends her nights crying for her child who carries the man's name. The man knows that the woman resents him, and he regretfully acknowledges that she is bitter about her dreams not coming true. The only hope he sees is that maybe one day, their child will know his name. In the end, the man assures the woman that his song is not meant to hurt her, but to show that he is finally free.
Overall, the lyrics of "Children of Divorce" paint a picture of a failed relationship and the strain it puts on both parties, as well as their child. It's a song about regret and a cautionary tale about the consequences of not working through issues in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
And back to these cold shitty days in Portland
Returning to the unpleasant memories of being in Portland
Wishing I'd never come across your face
Regretting ever meeting the person being addressed
Laying by the memories of things unspoken
Reflecting on unresolved issues and feelings
Scared by thoughts of your father
Feeling intimidated by the person's father
Made me look over the flaws of your nature
Overlooking the person's shortcomings and imperfections
Laying on your back became your only escape
Using sex as a coping mechanism
You feel so old, used, but not yet broken
Feeling worn out and damaged but not completely ruined
Not to think you have it all together
Realizing that the person is not as put-together as they seem
I never planned to carry your burdens
Not intending to take on the person's problems
But this child was a mistake
Acknowledging the unintended consequences of their actions
I knew from the moment I stepped off that plane
Realizing early on that the relationship was not meant to be
We had no future
Understanding that there was no potential for a long-term relationship
How come your dreams are always so bitter?
Questioning why the person's aspirations are always negative or unfulfilling
And who knows, maybe one day, she will know my name
Leaving room for the possibility that the child will eventually learn of their existence
You still return to the same skylines, that leave you broken
Continuing to revisit places that trigger emotional pain
Cheap talks with even cheaper company
Engaging in shallow conversations with low-quality people
Keeps the days turning into nights
Letting time slip away due to unfulfilling interactions
You lay awake crying cause your child, carries my name
Feeling upset and guilty about the child being tied to someone they no longer want in their life
While I regret ever making you apart of my life
Feeling remorseful for involving themselves with the person being addressed
Sadly enough, this song's not to hurt you
Clarifying that the song is not intended to cause pain or harm
Just to show the world that I'm free
Asserting their independence and liberation
She'll know.
Ending on the note that the child will eventually learn of their existence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALBERT CRAIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anime Kitten
And back to these cold, shitty days in Portland
Wishing I'd never come across your face
Plauged by the memories of things unspoken
Scared by thoughts of your father
Made me look over the flaws of your nature
Laying on your back became your only escape
You feel so old, used, but not yet broken enough to think you have it all together
I never planned to carry your burdens
But this child was a mistake
I knew from the moment I stepped off that plane,
we had no future
How come your dreams are always so bitter?
And who knows?
Maybe one day
she will know my name
You still return to the same skylines
that leave you broken
Cheap talks with even cheaper company,
keeps the days turning into nights
You lay awake crying because your child
carries my name,
while I regret ever making you apart of my life
Sadly enough, this song's not to hurt you
Just to show the world that I'm free
I knew from the moment I stepped off that plane,
we had no future
How come your dreams are always so bitter?
And who knows?
And maybe one day
she will know my name
She'll know
She will know
ianpannepacker
12 years later and I listen to this song regularly. This song has gotten me through so many shitty times. So many horrible thoughts. Craig's voice is so soothing, calming. I'm so glad this song exists. Ps. If you're a dude, even if you think nobody will listen, reach out for help if you need it. There's someone out there that will listen. Even if you don't think there is.
poisenbery
If you're here 12 years later, and are still able to relate to Jonny Craig's heroin induced "I hate my ex-girlfriend" songs, then I think it means you have problems that you are not dealing with.
C F
@poisenberyI am a female and never have done any drugs but this was a bop back when I was a teenager in 2010 and it's still good ngl. Idc about the meaning behind it.
Alyssa Korten
Hope you're doing okay <3
Cody Wagner
This song hits hard. My ex and I were about to have a kid, and she lost it in a car accident. 10 years later and I'm not over it. The part where he talks about stepping off the plane related to me coming home from the Navy to losing our relationship and my child.
OutnumberedCo
Sorry for your loss, wish you the best.
Cody Wagner
@k1xnt _ eh I'd say it's due to us both being in a rough situation. She's not a bad person. Just both of us were hurt and didn't do well with it.
Force Kin
Song hits hard for my own reasons. Prayers brother.
Richard Miller
I feel for you bro, crazy similar story here... STS3 on the USS West Virginia (13-17)
Alexander Hutchings
still the best piece Jonny's written. So genuine. You rarely hear him admit how sad he is. But this song shows that. That and the Pact, by Slaves.