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.
Mean Heart
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's right, this is a sad, true story
Yeah!
My heart will be satisfied
Once upon a time, you know I wanna die
It's a shame, but I was trapped in my game
I was mean and dull and all these so and so
Mean mistreater and genuine faker
But I got struck by lightening
And now I glow
You gotta get right with God
Fill your heart with love
I couldn't sleep at night, I was filled with fright
Everything I've done and everything I ever was
Comin' back tormenting me
Gnawing at my guts like some hungry ghost
I had to go-cat-go, get away from myself
My whole heart ached, I was so sad and low
But one thing changed my life, and now I know
You gotta get right with God
Fill your hearts with love
We ain't got much time
We only got one life
Oh, tangle! Get down!
Do your thang
Yeah, down on the street
Get somebody loving me
They know something has changed
eyes, shining bright
I got the shining light
Yeah!
That wasn't such a sad story
Was a goodbye to mean heart
Goodbye to bad luck
Too much stress and worry
I got to get right with God
You got to get right with God
Fill your heart with love
We ain't got much time
We only got one life
Baby, get right with god
Fill your heart with lvoe
we ain't got much time
We only got one life
Yeah, I said I got love, I got love, baby
I got love if you want it
I said, got love, baby, I got love, baby
I got love if you want it! Yeah!
The lyrics of The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's song Mean Heart tell the story of a person who was trapped in their own negative mindset and behavior. The singer admits to being mean, dull, and a faker. These actions and attitudes have haunted them and caused them to feel lost and sad. The line "I couldn't sleep at night, I was filled with fright" illustrates the internal turmoil that they were experiencing. However, the turning point in the song occurs when the singer declares "But I got struck by lightning and now I glow". This moment can be interpreted in many ways, but it could signify a spiritual awakening or a profound moment of realization that changed the singer's worldview. They then implore the listener to get right with God and fill their heart with love in order to live their best life. By the end of the song, the singer has shed their mean heart, said goodbye to bad luck, and embraced the idea that they have to get right with God and fill their hearts with love.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's do one more
I want to tell one more story
That's right, this is a sad, true story
The story I am about to tell is a true, sad one
My heart will be satisfied
I will feel content and happy
Once upon a time, you know I wanna die
There was a time when I wanted to die
That ain't right
It was not a good thing to feel that way
It's a shame, but I was trapped in my game
I felt trapped in my situation
I was mean and dull and all these so and so, Mean mistreater and genuine faker
I was mean and a liar
But I got struck by lightening, And now I glow
But something happened to change me and now I feel happy and positive
You gotta get right with God, Fill your heart with love
To be happy, you need to find peace in your heart
I couldn't sleep at night, I was filled with fright, Everything I've done and everything I ever was, Comin' back tormenting me, Gnawing at my guts like some hungry ghost
I felt guilty and haunted by my past actions
I had to go-cat-go, get away from myself, My whole heart ached, I was so sad and low
I had to make a change and get away from my old self as I felt sad and unhappy
But one thing changed my life, and now I know, You gotta get right with God, Fill your hearts with love, We ain't got much time, We only got one life
I found peace by filling my heart with love and living each day to the fullest
Oh, tangle! Get down! Do your thang, Yeah, down on the street, Get somebody loving me
Feel good and find someone to love
They know something has changed, eyes, shining bright I got the shining light Yeah!
People notice the change in me and I feel happy and bright
That wasn't such a sad story, Was a goodbye to mean heart, Goodbye to bad luck, Too much stress and worry, I got to get right with God
The story ended well with me finding peace and happiness by living a good life
Baby, get right with god, Fill your heart with love, we ain't got much time, We only got one life, Yeah, I said I got love, I got love, baby, I got love if you want it, I said, got love, baby, I got love, baby, I got love if you want it! Yeah!
It's important to live life to the fullest with love in your heart
Contributed by Leah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rik Van Horn
Probably my favorite JSBX song.