In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.
Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.
Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.
Crackerjack Box
Joseph Arthur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We almost died
On our way to Toronto
The plane was shaking all around
I put my teeth in my heart
And my dreams
Back on the ground
We almost lived
In love
With each other
My heart was shaking all around
I put my teeth in a plane and i prayed
It would never
Come back down
Hey
My daddy said
"One thing you can count on
Is things will change."
And he was right
Though i never realized
It would be
The light fading from your eyes
And if we could re-live
All those wonderful times
Maybe i would appreciate you more
Babe
That's how it goes
Liking a tattoo
Put it on the wrist
And wish it was LSD
So I would melt myself into infinity
And recapture this lost humanity
Or even
Maybe turn into a crocodile
See ya later alligator
The song "Crackerjack Box" by Joseph Arthur is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and love. The first verse recounts a harrowing experience on a plane ride to Toronto, where the singer's teeth were rattled by turbulence, therefore putting them back on the ground. The second verse imagines what could have been if the two lovers had stayed together, with the singer's heart shaking all around, and this time putting their teeth in a plane and praying it would never crash-land.
The final verse recalls a piece of advice the singer's father had given him, that things will change in life, and he was right as the light eventually faded from the eyes of his loved one, leading to a deep sense of regret. The bridge dives into the realm of wishes and fantasy, with the singer suggesting that they should have wished for LSD instead of a tattoo to melt themselves into infinity and recapture lost humanity, or even turn into a crocodile.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey
Beginning of song, sets the tone for what is to come
We almost died
The singer and someone else, likely a lover, were in a plane that experienced turbulence that could have potentially killed them
On our way to Toronto
The intended destination of the singer and their companion
The plane was shaking all around
Describes the turbulence experienced during the flight
I put my teeth in my heart
A metaphor for fear and anxiety felt during the turbulent flight
And my dreams
Hopefulness or aspirations for the intended trip
Back on the ground
Relief upon landing safely
Hey
Repetition of beginning of the song
We almost lived
The artist and their lover almost created a life together
In love
The state of their relationship
With each other
The companion of the singer in question
My heart was shaking all around
The artist was experiencing intense emotions as they were almost living in love with their companion
I put my teeth in a plane and i prayed
The singer was anxious about starting a new life with their lover
It would never
Continuation of above thought
Come back down
The singer's fear was about the imagined consequences of starting a new life
Hey
Repetition of beginning of the song
My daddy said
The artist introduces a quote from their father
"One thing you can count on
The singer starts reciting the quote
Is things will change."
The quote is completed, setting up the theme of impermanence
And he was right
The artist acknowledges the truth in their father's words
Though i never realized
The artist did not fully internalize or understand the quote
It would be
The revelation of impermanence and change coming through a specific event
The light fading from your eyes
The event which reveals the quote's relevance is someone's death or departure, represented as the light in their eyes fading
And if we could re-live
Reflecting on the past and the failure to appreciate what was had when it was had
All those wonderful times
Thoughts of how good those times now seem in retrospect
Maybe i would appreciate you more
The hindsight regret of not appreciating what was had
Babe
Affectionate term of address
That's how it goes
A reflection on the inevitability of change
Liking a tattoo
Metaphor for desires or longings
Put it on the wrist
Acting on these desires or longings, by getting a tattoo on the wrist
And wish it was LSD
Escapism, longing for another form of experience and altered reality
So I would melt myself into infinity
The longing for an experience that would take the artist away from the mundanity of their reality
And recapture this lost humanity
The pursuit of something to bring meaning and reconnect with humanity
Or even
Continuation of previous statement
Maybe turn into a crocodile
An absurd thought and an extreme form of escapism from reality
See ya later alligator
A playful way of ending the song, turning away from the heavier themes of change and reflection.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOSEPH LYBURN ARTHUR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind