The Jerk
The Id Feat. Jeff St. John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When she gets up in the morning
It's enough to wake the dead
Oh, she turning on the radio
And dancing on my head

It's no good living in the sun
Playing guitar all day
Boogalooing with my friends

In that erotic way

Come on, Jamaica
In Jamaica all day
Dancing with your darling
Do Jamaica jerk-off that way

Come on, Jamaica
Everybody say
We're all happy in Jamaica
Do Jamaica Jerk-off that way

Let the ladies and the gentlemen
Be as rude as they like
On, the beaches, oh, in the jungle
Where the people feel all right

So do it, Jamaica
Got plenty for you and me

Honky tonking with my baby
In that deep blue sea

Overall Meaning

The Jerk by The Id Feat. Jeff St. John is a fun, upbeat song with Caribbean influences. The first verse establishes the image of a woman who is full of energy and life, and her actions are so vivacious that they could wake the dead. The phrase "dancing on my head" could allude to how the woman's actions are so exuberant that they are overwhelming and overwhelming to those around her. The second verse hints towards the singer's sense of escapism, where he is tired of living in the sunshine state (California) and playing his guitar all day. The word "boogalooing" was a dance craze that originated in New York City during the 1950s and was popular in African American and Latinx communities. Consequently, the author suggests that he's been consumed by this dance craze along with his friends, and it's getting tiresome.

The chorus features an invitation to Jamaica where everything is joyful, and the people are free to "Jamaica Jerk-off that way" without fear of judgment. Even though the phrase "Jamaica Jerk-off" may sound offensive, it is a reference to a dance move that was popular during the '60s in Jamaica, much similar to the twist or the mashed potato. The song's overall message is simple, suggesting that Jamaica is a land of freedom, and anything goes when you're there.

Line by Line Meaning

When she gets up in the morning
As soon as she wakes up in the morning

It's enough to wake the dead
Her actions are loud and energetic

Oh, she turning on the radio
She's putting on some music

And dancing on my head
She's dancing around me in a playful manner

It's no good living in the sun
Living a life without responsibility is not productive

Playing guitar all day
Spending time pursuing hobbies isn't enough to live on

Boogalooing with my friends
Having fun with friends

In that erotic way
In a flirtatious way

Come on, Jamaica
Let's go to Jamaica

In Jamaica all day
Spending the day in Jamaica

Dancing with your darling
Dancing with a loved one