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.
Where Are All the Scientists Now?
Jukebox the Ghost Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plaster and glasses and earthquake
Came floodin' through my living room
The sky was black with thinkin'
As it began to sink, I thought of you
And as the smoke came floodin' in beneath the doorway
Where inside there's a plan that contains an X Command
Soldiers in the desert and toy soldiers marchin' in the sand
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
I'm innocent, I'm innocent
Keep me out of this
Keep me out of this, keep me out of this
Keep me out of this
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
We survived!
It lit up the inside of the moon
We survived!
(?)
We survived!
Hangin' tinsel in clear view
Record scaffolding and Christmas lights
Dedicated and renovated for you
We survived!
It lit up the inside of the moon
We survived!
Hangin' tinsel in clear view
We survived!
Record scaffolding and Christmas lights
Dedicated and renovated for you
And taking a cue from the animals burrowing down
You dug a hole inside the architecture
A shelter just to be sure
The lyrics of Jukebox the Ghost's song "Where Are All the Scientists Now?" tell the story of a cataclysmic event, possibly a nuclear explosion, that devastates everything in sight. The singer describes the chaos that ensues - the flash and blast, debris flying everywhere, and the smoke and ash choking the air. Amidst all of this, the singer thinks of someone they care about, perhaps a lover or friend. Then, in a surreal twist, the singer sees Satan himself holding a briefcase containing a plan with an "X Command." The plan involves soldiers in the desert, and toy soldiers marching in the sand. The singer seems to be declaring that the end of the world has come, punctuated by the repeated "la da di da da da da da."
As the song progresses, it becomes more hopeful in nature. The singer declares their innocence and their desire to be kept out of the unfolding catastrophe. But then the song takes an unexpected turn. The singer declares that "We survived!" This is followed by a cryptic reference to the inside of the moon lighting up. The song then fades out with images of tinsel, scaffolding, and Christmas lights. Throughout the song, the lyrics are enigmatic and metaphorical, leading the listener to interpret them in their own way.
Line by Line Meaning
It starts with a flash and a blast
The event starts suddenly and explosively
Plaster and glasses and earthquake
Debris and the movement of the earthquake shake the house
Came floodin' through my living room
The earthquake causes destruction and reaches into the home
The sky was black with thinkin'
The event is catastrophic and apocalyptic
As it began to sink, I thought of you
Even though the situation is dire, thoughts turn to a loved one
And as the smoke came floodin' in beneath the doorway
The aftermath of the event is destructive and continues to impact the home
I saw Satan shakin' hands, holdin' a briefcase
Evil, corrupt forces were present and involved in the events
Where inside there's a plan that contains an X Command
The evil plan has devastating and dangerous consequences
Soldiers in the desert and toy soldiers marchin' in the sand
War and violence are involved in the situation
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
The situation feels like the apocalypse
I'm innocent, I'm innocent
Trying to clear one's name and avoid being implicated
Keep me out of this
Wanting to avoid getting involved in the situation
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
The world is falling apart and there is chaos
We survived!
Despite the odds, we made it through
It lit up the inside of the moon
The event had an impact on space itself
(?)
Meaning of this line is unclear
Hangin' tinsel in clear view
Trying to create a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos
Record scaffolding and Christmas lights
Rebuilding and repair efforts are underway
Dedicated and renovated for you
Efforts are made to restore the damaged places for loved ones
And taking a cue from the animals burrowing down
Learning survival techniques from nature
You dug a hole inside the architecture
Creating a safe space within the damaged home
A shelter just to be sure
Taking precautions and making sure to be safe
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOMMY SIEGEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GlonX
It starts with a flash and a blast
Plaster and glasses and earthquake
Came floodin' through my living room
The sky was black with thinkin'
As it began to sink, I thought of you
And as the smoke came floodin' in beneath the doorway
I saw Satan shakin' hands, holdin' a briefcase
Where inside there's a plan that contains an X Command
Soldiers in the desert and toy soldiers marchin' in the sand
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
I'm innocent, I'm innocent
Keep me out of this
Keep me out of this, keep me out of this
Keep me out of this
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
We survived!
It lit up the inside of the moon
We survived!
To remind us that help would be arriving soon
We survived!
Hangin' tinsel in clear view
Record scaffolding and Christmas lights
Dedicated and renovated for you
We survived!
It lit up the inside of the moon
We survived!
Hangin' tinsel in clear view
We survived!
Erected scaffolding and Christmas lights
Dedicated and renovated for you
And taking a cue from the animals burrowing down
You dug a hole inside the architecture
A shelter just to be sure
GlonX
It starts with a flash and a blast
Plaster and glasses and earthquake
Came floodin' through my living room
The sky was black with thinkin'
As it began to sink, I thought of you
And as the smoke came floodin' in beneath the doorway
I saw Satan shakin' hands, holdin' a briefcase
Where inside there's a plan that contains an X Command
Soldiers in the desert and toy soldiers marchin' in the sand
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
I'm innocent, I'm innocent
Keep me out of this
Keep me out of this, keep me out of this
Keep me out of this
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
It's the end of the world, la da di da da da da da
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
Laaa daa daa daa da daa da daa da daa
We survived!
It lit up the inside of the moon
We survived!
To remind us that help would be arriving soon
We survived!
Hangin' tinsel in clear view
Record scaffolding and Christmas lights
Dedicated and renovated for you
We survived!
It lit up the inside of the moon
We survived!
Hangin' tinsel in clear view
We survived!
Erected scaffolding and Christmas lights
Dedicated and renovated for you
And taking a cue from the animals burrowing down
You dug a hole inside the architecture
A shelter just to be sure
Damon Henson
the (?) is "To remind us that help would be arriving soon"
GlonX
@Damon Henson Ah! Thank you! I'll update it. I've been wondering what he said there for a while now!
Damon Henson
@GlonX no problem
JackDaw
It’s erected not record
GlonX
@JackDaw I just copy pasted it man
Price Oksi
The way the previous song transitions to this one 😍
Avery M 🫶
I finally found this song 😫
ItWastheNightRats
This sounds like a musical....
Woodland Creature Feature
this whole album sounds like iDKHOW and Muse had a child and I love it