Jet Set
Stephen Stills & Manassas Lyrics


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If you do grow
Then you must know
When you get so jive
You only half alive
Show me right now
That you know how
You can stand up
Look in a mirror and sigh

Get your feet wet
Run with the jet set
Be a good girl
Go around the world
But the longer it goes on
The harder you hang on
Til you stand up
Look in a mirror and sigh

Tryin' to be cool
You just be the fool
Let it be known
You ain't full grown
And its all right
Don't put up such a fight




You can stand up
Look in a mirror and sigh

Overall Meaning

The song "Jet Set" by Stephen Stills & Manassas is a reflective piece about growing up and trying to fit into a lifestyle that is not necessarily natural or suitable for one's true self. The lyrics suggest that as one grows older, they begin to realize the emptiness of superficial pursuits and the importance of being true to one's inner being. The opening lines, "If you do grow, then you must know, when you get so jive, you only half alive" convey the idea that trying to be someone you are not or engaging in behavior that is inauthentic to your true self will only lead to a superficial existence. The line "Show me right now that you know how you can stand up, look in a mirror and sigh" serves as a call to action for individuals to take stock of their lives and make a change towards being more authentic.


The song encourages the listener to "get your feet wet, run with the jet set, be a good girl, go around the world" but warns that the longer one engages in this lifestyle, the harder it is to let it go. The chorus reminds the listener that it is okay to not fit in with the crowd and that letting go of preconceived notions of success and fitting in is necessary for personal growth. The line "trying to be cool, you just be a fool, let it be known you ain't full grown" reinforces the idea that trying to fit into societal expectations of what is deemed cool or popular can lead to a stunted emotional and personal growth.


Overall, "Jet Set" is a song that encourages listeners to take a deeper look at themselves and to embrace their true selves. It is a song about personal growth, authenticity, and the dangers of succumbing to societal pressures.


Line by Line Meaning

If you do grow
If you do mature


Then you must know
You must be aware


When you get so jive
When you become overly confident


You only half alive
You are only partially living


Show me right now
Demonstrate immediately


That you know how
That you are capable


You can stand up
You can rise


Look in a mirror and sigh
Look at yourself and express disappointment


Get your feet wet
Become involved


Run with the jet set
Spend time with wealthy people who travel frequently


Be a good girl
Behave well


Go around the world
Travel globally


But the longer it goes on
However, the more time passes


The harder you hang on
The more you try to hold onto something


Til you stand up
Until you rise


Look in a mirror and sigh
Look at yourself and express disappointment


Tryin' to be cool
Attempting to appear composed


You just be the fool
You are actually foolish


Let it be known
Make it public


You ain't full grown
You are not yet fully mature


And its all right
And that is okay


Don't put up such a fight
Do not resist so much


You can stand up
You can rise


Look in a mirror and sigh
Look at yourself and express disappointment




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: STILLS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@sunroy1

Been listening to this album since it came out
Never have gotten tired of it
My best friend and I constantly listened to it in the 70’s always singing with it driving in my 71 VW bus.

@jamesbarnhart4395

Damn, this is good. Manassas should be considered one of the great albums ever. Why, because it is.

@andrewSUN17

Manassas was one of the best double albums ever! Steven Stills in his prime. He is a national treasure!

@rubyramone

Holy shit. This is like a Christmas miracle. I've been a Stills/Manassas fanatic since 1972, and I have never seen these videos. Musta dozed off or something...
Anyhow, THANK YOU! This makes me unreasonably happy. Miracles DO happen! BELIEVE!

@Boylieboyle

Haha Merry Christmas!

@iutf69

Brilliant. Happy Christmas to you tooooo

@christianhaskins995

Merry Christmas!

@andrewgoldbergs4474

Kids of today should look at Stills and his masterful playing..doesn't over emphasise but just lets the notes bleed from his fretwork. Great all round player in his best form here.

@robinbrown4706

The maestro at work - Stills living the dream..

@mikebinns9209

Saw them in 72.They were great@

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