Griffin's wit and formal education help him to inject complexity and humor into his work as MC 900 Ft. Jesus. Deriving his MC name from a sermon by Oral Roberts, Griffin's first album, Hell with the Lid Off (1990) was released under the name MC 900 Ft. Jesus With DJ Zero, but the MC has sole billing on Welcome to My Dream (1991) and One Step Ahead of the Spider (1994). According to a Chicago Tribune article dated November 8, 1991, DJ Zero appears on Dream under his real name, Patrick Rollins, because of uncertainty about whether he would have been able to tour in support of the album. Rollins/Zero is not listed in the credits for Spider.
MC 900 Ft. Jesus' music is influenced by hip-hop, incorporating many samples, but the lyrics are often quite off-kilter and mordant. "Hell with the Lid Off" included the cult single "Truth is Out of Style," a satire of postmodern man's self indulgence. His next hit was "The City Sleeps," which explores the mind of a serial arsonist. His last cult hit, "If I Only Had a Brain," created a splash thanks to a video directed by a young Spike Jonze as well as exposure on MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head and heavy national tour support.
Griffin's use of rap, electronica, and cool jazz (Griffin is a trumpeter, and between lyrics and beats he often plays like Miles Davis) is perhaps the reason he never achieved wide success. MC 900 Ft. Jesus is difficult to define, being utterly "danceable," thought provoking, humorous, disturbing, and genuinely musical all at the same time. Each one of his albums is unique, and as a result, the hodge-podge of styles can be off-putting to a casual listener.
Where are they now? (Jan 2008): http://www.dallasobserver.com/2008-01-31/music/900-ft-jesus-lives/full
Shut Up
MC 900 Ft Jesus Lyrics
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The conversation ended right, I know what you're about to say
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up why don't ya
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up why don't ya
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up
I'll go ahead and leave you here, argue with yourself all night
I got a lot of things to do, I just want you to get out of sight
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up why don't ya
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up
The lyrics of MC 900 Ft Jesus's "Shut Up" convey a sense of frustration and annoyance at a conversation that has already ended but is still being strenuously rehearsed in the mind of the singer. He impatiently dismisses the other person and urges them to "shut up" so that he can be left alone with his thoughts. The repetition of the phrase "shut up" serves as a stark reminder of the singer's desire to silence the other person's voice and the insistent drumbeat drives home the urgency of his need for solitude.
The lyrics also suggest a need for personal space and independence. The singer is intent on leaving the other person behind and is eager to pursue his own priorities. The line "I've got a lot of things to do" suggests that he has a goal in mind and needs to concentrate on achieving it. The tone is one of irritation, but also of determination, as the singer refuses to be held back by the opinions or expectations of others.
Overall, "Shut Up" is a thought-provoking track that captures the tension and unease of a difficult conversation that refuses to be resolved. It speaks to the human need for personal space and independence, but also highlights the difficulty of achieving these things in a world that is full of competing demands and pressures.
Line by Line Meaning
Driving down the road at night, I didn't want to listen anyway
I do not want to have this conversation with you, I am avoiding it by driving down the road at night
The conversation ended right, I know what you're about to say
I know where this conversation is going, so I ended it before it went any further
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up why don't ya
I want you to be quiet and stop talking, I do not want to hear what you have to say
I'll go ahead and leave you here, argue with yourself all night
I am leaving you here to argue with yourself because I am not interested in hearing your arguments
I got a lot of things to do, I just want you to get out of sight
I am busy and have other things to do, and I want you to leave my sight
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up why don't ya
I am still not interested in what you have to say, please stop talking
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up why don't ya
I will keep telling you to be quiet until you actually stop talking
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up
I am fed up with listening to you, so just be quiet already
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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