1996 they released an album which is regarded as their masterpiece, "Now I Got Worry". An unwieldy mess of an album, Now I Got Worry, starts with a series of piercing screams and never stops confounding until the end. Featuring the legendary Rufus Thomas howling and barking on Chicken Dog, and The Dub Narcotic Sound System on Fuck Shit Up, Now I Got Worry was a glorious celebration of what an open mind(s) could do with white trash rock and roll.
Touring endlessly, JSBX gained a small but enthusiastic global audience. Subsequent albums were "Acme" (1998), "Xtra Acme USA" (1999), "Plastic Fang" (2002), "Damage" (2004) and the earlier "Crypt Style" (1992) and "Jon Spencer Blues Explosion" (1992).
Jon Spencer as well as the other members of the band had several side-projects. They recorded an album together with The Dub Narcotic Sound System. Jon Spencer played together with R.L. Burnside ("A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey"), David Holmes ("Bow Down to the Exit Sign"), The Honeymoon Killers ("Hung Far Low") and other artists. He is also a member of Boss Hog, along with his wife Cristina Martinez. Together with Matt Verta-Ray of Speedball Baby Spencer formed a rockabilly revival band called Heavy Trash which has released three albums. The band has also been associated in various ways with The Beastie Boys, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and others.
On the Blues Explosion's album "Damage" (2004) they left out the "Jon Spencer" prefix of the band's name to show that they are a genuine band.
Firefly Child
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
??...
Before nearly confused
Baby, I wanna...
Firefly child
Catch them all alright
Present together somewhere
Thought about honky tonks but you ain't there
Firefly
Firefly child
Got to get along
Well I get to talk about April
Get it, get it, get it, get it, get it on, child!
Think about March, December
Honey quickly, you gonna try
Hey, I'm goin' through the fall and winter
Light up and turn on
Outta the clear and beyond
Come on, you got to get it on
Damn!
As long you got to try it
As long you got to try it
As long you got to try it
As long you got to try it
The opening lines of Firefly Child, "Sunrise, sunset, ??..." introduces the theme of time and how it can be perceived or experienced differently depending on one's perspective. The singer seems to be in a state of confusion or bewilderment as he tries to make sense of his thoughts and feelings. He wants to connect with someone or something - "Baby, I wanna... Firefly child" - but is unsure of how to do so.
The chorus, "Catch them all alright, Present together somewhere, Thought about you but you lied, Thought about honky tonks but you ain't there, Firefly, Firefly child, Got to get along" reinforces the idea of seeking connection or belonging. The singer wants to catch all the fireflies, which could symbolize momentary joys or experiences in life, but acknowledges that it's not always easy. He contemplates the people or places he's thought about, but they're not where he expected them to be. He repeats "Firefly child" as a reminder of what he's searching for and ends with the statement, "Got to get along," suggesting he knows he must keep moving forward.
The verses are more stream of consciousness, with seemingly random references to months, the changing seasons, and the command to "get it on." These lines might be interpreted as the singer's attempt to ground himself as he searches for connection. He thinks about different times and places, trying to find something familiar or comforting, and repeats "as long you got to try it" as a reminder to keep chasing after what you want.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunrise, sunset
The passing of time, from dawn to dusk
??...
Unclear or ambiguous
Before nearly confused
About to lose control or direction
Baby, I wanna...
Expressing desire or want
Firefly child
A free-spirited individual who illuminates the darkness like a firefly
Catch them all alright
To capture and possess all one desires
Present together somewhere
Being in the same place at the same time
Thought about you but you lied
Recollecting a past deception
Thought about honky tonks but you ain't there
Reflecting upon a place or time that is no longer accessible
Firefly
A reminder of the free spirit and illumination of the firefly
Firefly child
A free-spirited individual who illuminates the darkness like a firefly
Got to get along
The need to continue on despite obstacles
Well I get to talk about April
Reflecting on a specific month, perhaps with fondness
Get it, get it, get it, get it, get it on, child!
Urging someone to take action, to start doing something now
Think about March, December
Reflecting on different times of the year
Honey quickly, you gonna try
Encouraging someone to take action, to start doing something now
Hey, I'm goin' through the fall and winter
Experiencing difficult times
Light up and turn on
To brighten up and start doing something now
Outta the clear and beyond
Unexpected, from a place not immediately noticeable
Come on, you got to get it on
Encouraging someone to take action, to start doing something now
Damn!
An expression of exasperation or frustration
As long you got to try it
The importance of trying and taking action to achieve one's goals
As long you got to try it
The importance of trying and taking action to achieve one's goals
As long you got to try it
The importance of trying and taking action to achieve one's goals
As long you got to try it
The importance of trying and taking action to achieve one's goals
Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.