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.
Sweet N Sour
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Howling at the moon
I find some milk baby, up on the shelf
Got to get it up, mama, got to get down soon
I'm a sweet and sour
Kinda sorta minute and hour, yeah
Well, I'm hot and cold
I gonna get you honey baby
Sally go round the roses
Papa, pick up the fuzz
I get out a guitar
Pick up an amp
Come on everybody
Get it like done was
I'm a sweet and sour
I'm kinda sorta minute an hour, yeah
Well, I'm hot and cold
I gonna get you honey baby
Get out with ya rock ‘n' roll
Have you ever spent the night in jail?
Ever get down closet
Put on a wig, picked up a fag
Get a five-dollar bill
Come on, get with it, go
I'm a sweet and sour
I'm kinda sorta minute an hour, yeah
Well, I'm hot and cold
I gonna get you honey baby
Get out with ya rock and roll
I got to pull out of town, got to get up, do it
Mississippi and Brooklyn Bridge
Going up the mountain and the dead of night
Sold my soul all alone the me, all right
I'm a sweet and sour
Kinda sorta minute an hour, yeah
Well, I'm hot and cold
I gonna get you honey baby
Get out
Rock and roll
I'm gon' get it, I'm gon' get it
I gon' well
Yeah
Do you know how to dance?
Well, said I wish I could
Oh, come on now, baby
We gonna get ‘em real good, oh
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's song Sweet N Sour is a blend of rock and punk, a mix that perfectly suits the lyrics. The song starts with the vocalist inviting the listeners to join him, howling at the moon. He then talks about finding milk on a shelf and how he needs to hurry up and get down, creating a sense of urgency. The lyrics are then followed by a chorus that describes the singer's personality as "sweet and sour", hot and cold. He vows to "get you honey baby/Get out with ya rock and roll," signifying the passion and desire for the genre.
The second verse follows up on the first, mentioning a few more topics that could be considered taboo, such as spending the night in jail and trying on a wig. This adds to the rebellious attitude of the song. The vocalist then asks if the listener knows how to dance, after which they vow to "get 'em real good," encouraging the audience to let loose and enjoy the music.
Overall, Sweet N Sour is a high-energy rock and punk track that encourages listeners to have a good time and let go of their inhibitions.
Line by Line Meaning
Get on in this room
Come inside this room
Howling at the moon
Shouting or yelling loudly
I find some milk baby, up on the shelf
I discover some milk on the shelf
Got to get it up, mama, got to get down soon
I have to obtain it and return quickly
I'm a sweet and sour
I am both pleasant and unpleasant
Kinda sorta minute and hour, yeah
I'm somewhat inconsistent
Well, I'm hot and cold
I have contrasting qualities
I gonna get you honey baby
I will win you over
Get out with ya rock and roll
Let's enjoy rock music
Sally go round the roses
A reference to a popular song
Papa, pick up the fuzz
Dad, pick up the mess
I get out a guitar
I take out a guitar
Pick up an amp
I lift an amplifier
Come on everybody
Everyone participate
Get it like done was
Perform like it's finished
Have you ever spent the night in jail?
Have you been in jail overnight?
Ever get down closet
Ever feel down and trapped
Put on a wig, picked up a fag
Wear a wig, grab a cigarette
Get a five-dollar bill
Receive five dollars
Come on, get with it, go
Get excited and move
I got to pull out of town, got to get up, do it
I have to leave town and complete something
Mississippi and Brooklyn Bridge
A reference to landmarks
Going up the mountain and the dead of night
Climbing up the mountain at night
Sold my soul all alone the me, all right
I traded something valuable alone and I'm okay with it
I gon' get it, I gon' well
I'll try hard and succeed
Do you know how to dance?
Can you dance?
Well, said I wish I could
I wish I could dance
Oh, come on now, baby
Encouraging someone to join in
We gonna get ‘em real good, oh
We will thoroughly enjoy ourselves
Contributed by Samantha N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vinyl Diary666
Pure rock&roll
Fuzz Tone
We rockin baby!! Jon Spencer ain't fuckin around ✌🎸❤
yas291295
サイコーにクール！
Patrick Børset
WWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW
Alpha Lax
W O W
Ricky Fuici
wowwwww
Macho Man
you damn right
Patrick Børset
WWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW