After releasing two independent albums (Boxing Nostalgic and Projector Head) under the name Josh Joplin Band, the group signed to Artemis Records and released Useful Music in 2000. Produced largely by Shawn Mullins, the album received strong reviews but failed to make much commercial impact. It did, however, spawn a mild hit in "Camera One," a thoughtful exploration of depression and superficiality. Featuring a more rock-edged, radio-friendly sound than most of the material on Useful Music, the song peaked at #22 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart in 2001, and was featured in an episode of the comedy series Scrubs (season 1, episode 7, "My Super Ego").
In September 2002, Josh Joplin Group released its second major-label album, The Future That Was. On this record, Joplin's lyrics were noticeably more clever and playful than on Useful Music, with subject matter including the nature of popularity ("The Wonderful Ones"), the absurdity of snobbery among music lovers ("It's Only Entertainment"), and the uselessness of trying to predict the future ("The Future That Was"). The musical styles were similarly varied, ranging from slow piano- and acoustic guitar-driven pop to upbeat keyboard- and electric guitar-based rock.
Like its predecessor, The Future That Was received critical acclaim but sold poorly. Artemis released two singles from the album, "I Am Not the Only Cowboy" and "Wonder Wheel," but neither one took off. In the fall of 2003 the band announced that it was breaking up and would play its final two shows in Atlanta in December of that year.
On August 23, 2005, Joplin released a solo album, Jaywalker, on Eleven Thirty Records.
Undone
Josh Joplin Lyrics
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And I want to get up
And I want to lay low
And I want to be loved
But a dream makes noise,
you better check your head
Ambition is mine and it's heavy as lead
The sum of any outcome
And I want find peace
And I want to get through
And I want come clean
And I want to be true
As I turn a page on a life less lived
All I have I would gladly give
The sum of any outcome
Undone
[CHORUS]
I am mine, I am mine again
I recognize who it is that I am
I am mine, I am mine again
Can any one tell me where I've been?
I am mine, I am mine again
All we've lost is time in the end
Waiting for the sum of any outcome
Undone
And I want to find faith
And I want to be sure
And I want to say less
And I want to know more
I am not alone, I never have been
We are all one, we divide within
The sum of any outcome
Undone
[CHORUS]
In Josh Joplin's song "Undone," he expresses his desires to be loved, find peace, and true to himself. He acknowledges that having dreams can be noisy and that ambition can weigh heavily on a person. Joplin realizes that despite whatever outcomes may come from his choices and actions, they are all ultimately undone. He wants to find faith in himself and others, be sure of his decisions, and speak less while learning more. The chorus repeats the phrase "I am mine, I am mine again" to assert his individuality and recognize who he truly is.
One interpretation of the song is that Joplin is reflecting on his own journey of self-discovery and acceptance. He expresses his struggles with identity and finding his place in the world. He acknowledges that he is not alone in feeling this way and that all people are connected in the same struggle for self-realization. The line "The sum of any outcome undone" suggests that despite achievements or failures, they ultimately do not define a person's worth or identity.
Interestingly, the song was originally released on the soundtrack for the movie "American Beauty" in 1999 but gained popularity in 2001 when it was included on the album "The Future That Was." Josh Joplin is known for his introspective and poetic lyrics, often exploring themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. He has been compared to musicians like Elliott Smith and Paul Simon.
Line by Line Meaning
And I want to be down
I feel lost and down, and I want to find a way to feel better.
And I want to get up
I want to get up and overcome my struggles.
And I want to lay low
I want to take a break from the chaos and stress in my life.
And I want to be loved
I want to feel loved and accepted by others.
But a dream makes noise, you better check your head
I need to be careful about the dreams and ambitions I pursue, as they can distract me from other important aspects of my life.
Ambition is mine and it's heavy as lead
My ambitions and desires can be overwhelming and weigh me down with their importance.
The sum of any outcome Undone
Despite my goals and aspirations, the unpredictable nature of life means any outcome could happen and undo my plans.
And I want find peace
I want to find peace and stability in my life.
And I want to get through
I want to get through the tough times and come out stronger on the other side.
And I want come clean
I want to be honest with myself and others, and not hide behind a facade.
And I want to be true
I want to be true to my values and beliefs.
As I turn a page on a life less lived
I want to start fresh and move on from a past where I didn't fully live my life.
All I have I would gladly give
My material possessions and achievements are not as important to me as finding true happiness.
I am mine, I am mine again
I am taking control of my life and my decisions.
I recognize who it is that I am
I am acknowledging and accepting my true self.
Can any one tell me where I've been?
I have lost my way and am unsure of how I got to this point in my life.
All we've lost is time in the end
In the grand scheme of things, time is the most valuable thing we have, and we shouldn't waste it on things that don't matter.
Waiting for the sum of any outcome Undone
Despite my uncertainties, I am waiting to see what the future holds and how it will undo my plans and expectations.
And I want to find faith
I want to find faith in something greater than myself.
And I want to be sure
I want to have confidence and certainty in my decisions and beliefs.
And I want to say less
I want to be more mindful about what I say and how it affects others.
And I want to know more
I want to learn more about myself and the world around me.
I am not alone, I never have been
Even when I feel alone, I am reminded that there are people who care about me and are going through similar experiences.
We are all one, we divide within
Despite our similarities, we often focus on our differences and allow them to divide us.
The sum of any outcome Undone
No matter how much we plan or prepare, anything can happen and undo our expectations for the future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSHUA DAVID JOPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind