Born in Hawaii, Jennings moved with his family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at an early age. Jennings learned to play guitar at the age of 13, when he began writing songs. Jennings later dropped out of school and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to pursue his musical career.
Jennings produced his self-titled debut album in 1997 on an analog four-track in the basement of a rented home, manning all instruments himself. In October 1998, after bringing drummer Chris Stock and bassist Robert Skoro on board, he began a weekly gig at Minneapolis' 400 Bar as the Mason Jennings Band. Garnering local praise and a wide fan base, Mason began touring nationally.
His 2000 album Birds Flying Away revealed Jennings' political activism and penchant for singing first-person narratives of imaginary rustic characters. Following the release of this album, Noah Levy took over drumming duties from Stock.
2002 saw the release of two albums: the studio piece Century Spring and a "fans only" collection of acoustic rarities, Simple Life. An EP supporting Century Spring was also released, featuring the album's opening track, "Living In The Moment," two live tracks, and the previously-unreleased "Emperor Ashoka." Jennings released all three discs -- and re-released his earlier albums -- on his homebrewed record label, Architect Records.
In 2003, Skoro and Levy left the band (the former to pursue a solo career), and were replaced by bassist Chris Morrissey (formerly of Bill Mike Band) and drummer Brian Mcleod.
On 10 February 2004, Jennings released Use Your Voice, which notably included the songs "Keepin' It Real," a foot-stomper ostensibly written at the request of Shrek 2 producers (but not used in the film), and "The Ballad of Paul and Sheila," an acoustic dirge for late Minnesota senator Paul Wellstone. On the 30th, September of that year, the band released a DVD entitled Use Your Van, which chronicled the recording of Use Your Voice and part of the promotional tour. The DVD was filmed by Andy Grund.
On June 17, 2005, news broke that Jennings had finally signed with a major label: Glacial Pace, a subsidiary of Sony's Epic Records headed by Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock. Minnesota's Star Tribune broke the story, and credited Brock with convincing Jennings to sign after the Mason Jennings Band had opened for several Modest Mouse shows in 2004. Jennings had long avoided the major labels, citing desires to maintain creative control and dodge big-label politics.
Jennings recorded his sixth album, "Boneclouds," at Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, MN. The album was released on May 16, 2006 by Glacial Pace.
After considerable success on "Boneclouds", Jennings released his seventh full length album "In the Ever" in 2008. The album was released under Jack Johnson's "Brushfire Records".
In September 2009, Blood of Man was released on CD and vinyl format. In late 2010, Live at First Ave., his first ever live album, was released.
Better Than That
Mason Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That it breaks my heart to see you this way
I pass your house and I double back
You know it breaks my heart to see you this way
Listen here
I could treat you better
Baby, light me up
I'd like to shine for you
Yes, I do, yes, I do
I'm a marquee, baby, light me up
I gotta shine for you
Yes, I do, yes, I do
Listen here
I could treat you better
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
So much better than that
Better than that
I'm gonna do to you
All the things you want me to
Touch you in the way that you want to be touched
You don't get it like you should
I'm gonna make you feel good
Make you feel good
I am the prince of a foreign land
Gonna take you there when you take me up
And on that day you will understand
Gonna take you there when you take me up
Listen here
I could treat you better
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
So much better than that
Better than that
I'm gonna do to you
All the things you want me to
Touch you in the way that you want to be touched
You don't get it like you should
I'm gonna make you feel good
Make you feel good, that's right
I am the prince of a foreign land
Gonna take you there when you take me up
And on that day you will understand
When you come with me, when you take me up
And I'm the sign, baby, light me up
I gotta shine for you
Yes, I do, yes, I do
I'm a marquee, baby, light me up
I gotta shine for you
Yes, I do, yes, I do
Listen here
I could treat you better
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
So much better than that
Better than that
The lyrics of Mason Jennings's "Better Than That" are about a person who sees someone they care about in a bad state and wants to help them. The opening lines, "Truth of the matter and the matter is fact, that it breaks my heart to see you this way" reveal the singer's sadness at seeing this person struggling. The chorus expresses the singer's desire to be the person to help them, singing "Listen here, I could treat you better, so much better than that, better than that." The singer wants to touch this person in the way they want to be touched, and make them feel good.
The verses express the singer's longing and anticipation for a future where they can take this person to a better place. The lines "I am the prince of a foreign land, gonna take you there when you take me up, and on that day you will understand, gonna take you there when you take me up" suggest that the singer sees themselves as a savior who can take this person out of their current situation and show them a better life.
Overall, the song is a plea from someone who cares deeply about another person to let them help and to trust that they can make things better. It's a love song that goes beyond romance, expressing a desire to help someone in need and to be their savior.
Line by Line Meaning
Truth of the matter and the matter is fact
The reality is that what I'm about to say is true
That it breaks my heart to see you this way
It pains me to witness you in this state
I pass your house and I double back
I see your dwelling and feel compelled to take a closer look
Listen here
I could treat you better
Pay attention as I have the ability to treat you in a superior way
I'm gonna be a sign
Baby, light me up
I'd like to shine for you
Yes, I do, yes, I do
I'm going to stand out like a glowing sign and shine for you
I'm a marquee, baby, light me up
I gotta shine for you
Yes, I do, yes, I do
I'm a well-lit and prominent display that needs to shine for you
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
I have the capacity to provide much greater service than what you have currently received
I'm gonna do to you
All the things you want me to
I will perform every desired act that you request of me
Touch you in the way that you want to be touched
You don't get it like you should
I'm gonna make you feel good
Make you feel good
I will touch you in the precise way you desire and ensure you feel great as it hasn't been happening for you
I am the prince of a foreign land
Gonna take you there when you take me up
And on that day you will understand
Gonna take you there when you take me up
I'm the royal of an unfamiliar territory, I'll take you there only when you accept me as your partner and once you come, you'll finally know the full extent of my capabilities
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
I really can offer a far more beneficial and satisfying experience than what you've been subject to until now
And I'm the sign, baby, light me up
I gotta shine for you
Yes, I do, yes, I do
Just like a bright and evident sign, I need to be noticeable and brilliant just for your sake
Listen here
I could treat you better
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
Please concentrate here as I can offer you an improved and significantly enhanced way of life
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
So much better than that
Better than that, yes
So much better than that
Better than that
I really can be so extensively superior to what you have been exposed to and I'm confident about it
Contributed by Mila W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.