Jukebox the Ghost is a Washington, D.C.-born, Brooklyn-based three-piece rock band. The band consists of Ben Thornewill (vocals & piano), Tommy Siegel (vocals & guitar) and Jesse Kristin (drums). Since 2006, Jukebox the Ghost has toured extensively.
In 2003, Ben, Tommy, and Jesse met while attending George Washington University. Shortly after, they formed a band called The Sunday Mail. They took a semester's break to study abroad, and re-formed upon returning as Jukebox the Ghost. They came up with the name after combining lyrics from a Captain Beefheart song and a line from the book Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov.
In 2008, they released their first album "Let Live & Let Ghosts", and began playing new songs in concerts.
Jukebox the Ghost recorded a cover of Ace of Base's "Beautiful Life" for Engine Room Recordings' compilation album Guilt by Association Vol. 2, which was released in November 2008.
Following their tour with Ben Folds in early April 2009, they began their headlining tour in the UK with Nightmare of You. They began their headlining tour with Jenny Owen Youngs back in the United States on April 30 in Chicago, IL. This tour lasted into June, at which point they temporarily stopped touring to concentrate on their next album, "Everything Under the Sun." The band began recording for the new album on September 29th, 2009 at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
In February 2010, Jukebox the Ghost toured across Europe with Adam Green of The Moldy Peaches. This was followed by a separate tour in the United States with bands Tally Hall and Skybox. They will begin touring once again in late May 2010 with the band Free Energy, and will be playing at Lollapalooza in Chicago this August.
"The Popular Thing," a song from their upcoming album, is featured in the movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Everybody Knows
Jukebox the Ghost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were never a prize
You were never a song in my eyes
Yeah, you were childhood
Twisted and disguised
Oh, I am drowning
In a world that's always been dry
Yeah, it is midnight but my day
Only just arrived
I never breathe the air without you
Somehow entering my mind
I only breathe the air to keep you inside
So you would always be mine
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
You were never a stranger
You were never unkind
But I had fiction on my side
Yeah, I had fiction
Strongly on my side
I never kept you like a secret
I never tried to make you hide
I only ever meant to keep you inside
So you would always be mine
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let go
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let go
The lyrics of Jukebox the Ghost's “Everybody Knows” tells a melancholic story of a relationship that ended too soon. The opening lines, “You were never a soldier, you were never a prize, you were never a song in my eyes” sets the tone of the song as the singer admits that he didn't think very highly of his partner in the beginning. The song explores the theme of regret as the singer realizes that the person he let go was someone he truly loved but didn't realize at the time.
The singer's lover is described as being someone who had a tough childhood that was camouflaged and misunderstood by others, and even by the singer at first. The line “Yeah, I had fiction, strongly on my side” suggests that the singer invented a version of their partner that they believed in, rather than reality. The chorus repeats the line “Should have never let you go, everybody knows, everybody knows” which highlights the regret the singer holds for letting their loved one go.
The verse “I never kept you like a secret, I never tried to make you hide, I only ever meant to keep you inside so you would always be mine” portrays the singer as a possessive partner with the need to control their partner's freedom. The song ends on a note of acceptance with the realization that it's time to move on from the past and let go of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You were never a soldier
You never fought for me or protected me like a soldier would.
You were never a prize
You weren't something to be won or coveted like a prize.
You were never a song in my eyes
You never inspired me or made me feel the way a beautiful song would.
Yeah, you were childhood
Instead, you represented my childhood - a time that was complex and confusing.
Twisted and disguised
You were a twisted and obscure representation of my childhood.
Oh, I am drowning
I feel overwhelmed and suffocated by my feelings.
In a world that's always been dry
Despite living in a world with so much potential, I haven't found what I'm looking for.
You're the sun I never see rise
You're the source of light and warmth that I can never experience in my life.
Yeah, it is midnight but my day
Although it's late at night, I am just beginning to face my feelings head on.
Only just arrived
I'm starting down a new path with new challenges to explore.
I never breathe the air without you
I can't exist without thinking of you.
Somehow entering my mind
You invade my thoughts and feelings even when I don't want you to.
I only breathe the air to keep you inside
Breathing in is a reminder of the feelings I have for you and I need to hold onto that.
So you would always be mine
I want to never lose the connection we have.
Should have never let you go
I regret letting you go and wish things had turned out differently.
Everybody knows, everybody knows
It is a commonly held belief that I should not have let you go.
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's been three years and I can't let go of my feelings for you.
It's time to let it go
It's time to move on and accept that we can't be together.
You were never a stranger
You were never someone unfamiliar to me.
You were never unkind
You were never cruel or harsh towards me.
But I had fiction on my side
I had constructed a narrative in my mind that was not entirely true.
Yeah, I had fiction
The false story I told myself was my reality.
Strongly on my side
I believed the fiction so strongly that it influenced every aspect of my life.
I never kept you like a secret
I never tried to hide my feelings for you from others.
I never tried to make you hide
I never asked you to keep your feelings for me a secret.
I only ever meant to keep you inside
I wanted to hold onto my feelings for you and not let them fade away.
Should have never let you go
I regret letting you go and wish things turned out differently.
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's been three years and I still can't let go of my feelings for you.
It's time to let it go
I need to accept that we can't be together and move on.
Should have never let you go
I regret the decision I made to let you go and wish things were different.
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Everyone is aware of my regret and struggles to let go of you.
Three years and, baby, don't you know
After three years, I still can't let go of my feelings for you.
It's time to let go
It's time to accept reality and let go of my feelings for you.
Contributed by Josiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
maggie dorr
You were never a soldier
You were never a prize
You were never a song in my eyes
Yeah, you were childhood
Twisted and disguised
Oh, I am drowning
In a world that's always been dry
You're the sun I never see rise
Yeah, it is midnight but my day
Only just arrived
I never breathe the air without you
Somehow entering my mind
I only breathe the air to keep you inside
So you would always be mine
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
You were never a stranger
You were never unkind
But I had fiction on my side
Yeah, I had fiction
Strongly on my side
I never kept you like a secret
I never tried to make you hide
I only ever meant to keep you inside
So you would always be mine
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let go
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let go
K1ttyB0nez
Use the Textarchial Formula to develop a Main Idea for each passage below; offer a title for each as well.
Use a different color for your response.
Interpret or offer a meaning for each passage after you identify the Main Idea
Write out passages 1-4 first on your own paper and then write the passage, the interpretation and the Main Idea in the submission box in Canvas.
In Canvas, submit each passage below with the interpretation and Main Idea.
In Canvas, submit assignment in the area labeled, “Interpretation Passage and Textarchial Formula.”
For passage five, do not rewrite it; rather, write a title for it and write the interpretation in Canvas in the “Interpretation Passage and Textarchial Formula: 6” section.
The Passages: For Interpretations and Textarchial Formula Main Idea
We are what our thoughts have made us; so, take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.
Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.
If you talk to a man in a language, he understands… that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language… that goes to his heart.
I only debate my equals, all others I teach.
5. I happened to notice the girl, in a light shade of blue. I happened to see her the sight of her leaves me confused. She may not be you
but she looks just like you. You should've seen the way she wore her dress and her white stiletto shoes. You should've seen the way they looked on her, just like the ones that I bought you. I searched for days on end to no avail 'til I found them in Peru
She must've been to Lima just as well because she had them too. You should've seen her eyes, her lips, her face she looked as sweet as honeydew. You should've seen the way she walked away oh, she swayed her hips like you. I was only several steps from her, but she never noticed me I took another sip of fine liqueur... it was quite a sight to see. I happened to notice the girl in the light shade of blue. I happened to see her the sight of her leaves me confused. She may not be you, but she looks just like you. Oh, you should've seen the way he stroked her hair and the smile that lit her face. You should've seen the way he kissed her lips did they have the same sweet taste? Though my mind it might be running wild in constant search of you. It's funny how my eyes keep seeing things, my heart would not believe are true. I happened to notice a girl, in a light shade of blue. I happened to see her the sight of her leaves me confused. She may not be you but she looks just like you.
TheWarnerSister
This is one of those songs where I can't imagine someone not liking it. Normally I try to remember everyone has different taste in music etc. - but I genuinely do not understand why Jukebox the Ghost isn't world famous. I mean, come on.
Hannah Burke
I legit share them with all of my friends. They’re just so amazing ❤️
Kyle Bueche
yessss
Kelsey Townsend
I KNOW!!!!
maggie dorr
You were never a soldier
You were never a prize
You were never a song in my eyes
Yeah, you were childhood
Twisted and disguised
Oh, I am drowning
In a world that's always been dry
You're the sun I never see rise
Yeah, it is midnight but my day
Only just arrived
I never breathe the air without you
Somehow entering my mind
I only breathe the air to keep you inside
So you would always be mine
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
You were never a stranger
You were never unkind
But I had fiction on my side
Yeah, I had fiction
Strongly on my side
I never kept you like a secret
I never tried to make you hide
I only ever meant to keep you inside
So you would always be mine
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let it go
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let go
Should have never let you go
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Three years and, baby, don't you know
It's time to let go
Laura Kowalski
Why don't more people know jukebox the ghost I love them
Jean-Luc Thomas
NOBODY has a piano sound like this, LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Geneva Convention
Sonatina rock
degasdancer19
"I am drowning in a world that's always been dry" Ben, you are a genius. JUKEBOX THE GHOST YOU ARE WONDROUS!!!!!!!!!!!
darwinia55
Billy Joel meets Queen. Amazing. And those guitar licks of Tommy's, as good as Brian May's!