Naked Raygun was a very influential Chicago-based punk band of the 1980s an… Read Full Bio ↴Naked Raygun was a very influential Chicago-based punk band of the 1980s and early 1990s. All incarnations featured Jeff Pezzati on vocals. Members over time include Jim Colao and Eric Spicer on drums, Pierre Kezdy and Camilio Gonzalez on bass, and Santiago Durango. John Haggerty, and Bill Stephans on guitar. Naked Raygun began as a noisy, free-form artist, often trading members with Big Black but later sharpened into a hard pop outfit in a league with the Buzzcocks, Stiff Little Fingers, and The Jam.

The Misfits were known for their sing-along "Whoa-oh-oh" choruses after the 1982 "Walk Among Us" LP -- and although Naked Raygun are often cited as having been influenced by The Misfits in this regard, the reverse is the case.

Haggerty and Kezdy would later join with Larry Damore of the Bhopal Stiffs to form Pegboy. Pezzati fronted The Bomb. A reunion in the late 90s produced the live album Free Shit!. The band reunited for Riot Fest 2006 on November 5, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, and is playing a west coast tour in December, 2007.

Official Site: http://www.nakedraygun.org

Jettison
Naked Raygun Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Six hundred miles an hour
Three inches off the ground
Your feet feel the conclusion
As you pass the speed of sound

A fine preoccupation
Just how fast can you go?
At eight hundred miles an hour

Your blood begins to slow

At an inch and then a half inch
It's the damnedest thing
Blades of grass whip past
They slice they don't sting

Nine hundred miles an hour
A quarter inch off the ground

A small gnat hits you
You explode without a sound

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Naked Raygun's "Jettison" present an intriguing and somewhat chilling scenario of high-speed flight, taking the listener on a journey through the physical sensations and risks involved in pushing the limits of velocity. The opening lines describe a breathtaking speed of six hundred miles an hour, with the perspective of the singer almost touching the ground as they race along. The intensity of the experience is conveyed by the visceral detail of feeling the conclusion underfoot, as if the singer is hurtling towards some inevitable fate.

From there, the lyrics delve deeper into the physics of speed, pondering the question of just how fast one can go. The number eight hundred miles an hour is given as a point at which the body begins to feel the effects of deceleration, the blood slowing its flow. The imagery is both scientific and eerie, suggesting a disorienting and potentially deadly experience for anyone attempting to test their limits.

The final verse takes things to an even more extreme level, describing a speed of nine hundred miles an hour and an altitude of just a quarter of an inch off the ground. In this heightened state of risk, even the smallest obstacle can be catastrophic, as demonstrated by the fatal collision with a tiny gnat. The fact that the singer notes an explosion without sound only adds to the unnerving nature of the scene, leaving the listener with a sense of awe and apprehension at what the human body is capable of enduring.

Line by Line Meaning

Six hundred miles an hour
The song starts by referring to the high speed at which one is traveling.

Three inches off the ground
The singer is trying to convey the fact that one is almost touching the ground and could easily hit it if not careful.

Your feet feel the conclusion
At this speed, one can almost feel the end result or the consequences of their actions.

As you pass the speed of sound
At this level of speed, the sound barrier is broken and one enters a whole new dimension.

A fine preoccupation
Traveling at high speeds can be a great hobby and the allure of pushing oneself to the limit is very strong.

Just how fast can you go?
The singer questions the motives behind seeking higher and higher speeds and whether it is really necessary.

At eight hundred miles an hour
The singer indicates that even at high speeds, there may be a limit to how fast one can go.

Your blood begins to slow
When the body is subjected to high speeds, it starts to react and change course to adapt to these conditions.

At an inch and then a half inch
The distance between the ground and the object traveling at high speeds is very small and the slightest changes can have a huge effect.

It's the damnedest thing
The singer is in awe of the fact that something so small can have such a big impact.

Blades of grass whip past
The song refers to the objects that one encounters when traveling at high speeds.

They slice they don't sting
The objects may not affect one physically but they do make an impression on the senses and the mind.

Nine hundred miles an hour
The singer emphasizes the idea of speed and how fast one can go.

A quarter inch off the ground
This line repeats the earlier point about how close one is to the ground when traveling at high speeds.

A small gnat hits you
Once again, the objects one encounters when traveling at high speeds are highlighted.

You explode without a sound
The consequences of traveling at high speeds can be catastrophic and sometimes even deadly.

Contributed by John F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS