My Name Is Jonas
Weezer Lyrics


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My name is Jonas
I'm carryin' the wheel
Thanks for all you've shown us
But this is how we feel

Come sit next to me
Pour yourself some tea
Just like grandma made
When we couldn't find sleep
Things were better then
Once but never again
We've all left the den
Let me tell you 'bout it

The choo-choo train left right on time
A ticket costs only your mind
The driver said, "Hey man, we go all the way"
Of course we were willing to pay

My name is Wepeel
Got a box full of your toys
They're fresh out of batteries
But they're still making noise, making noise

Tell me what to do
Now the tank is dry
Now this wheel is flat
And you know what else?
Guess what I received
In the mail today
Words of deep concern
From my little brother

The building's not going as he planned
The foreman has injured his hand
The dozer will not clear a path
The driver swears he learned his math

The workers are going home
The workers are going home
The workers are going home
The workers are going home
Yeah

The workers are going home
The workers are going home
The workers are going home
Yeah, yeah, yeah





My name is Jonas

Overall Meaning

The song "My Name Is Jonas" by Weezer was released as the second single from their 1994 self-titled debut album. It is believed to be written by frontman Rivers Cuomo as a tribute to his brother-in-law, Jonas, who had given him a guitar on his eighteenth birthday that led him to form Weezer. The lyrics of the song can be interpreted in different ways, but the general theme seems to be about unexpected life changes and the nostalgia for the past.


The opening lines of the song, "My name is Jonas, I'm carryin' the wheel, thanks for all you've shown us, but this is how we feel," can be seen as a declaration of independence or rebellion against authority figures or societal norms. It could also symbolize a shift in the band's musical direction, separate from and a reaction to their influences. The reference to "grandma's tea" and "the den" could represent a longing for a simpler time when things were less complicated and the world seemed less chaotic.


The second verse of "My Name Is Jonas" describes a train journey that could have a deeper meaning. The "choo-choo train" could be a metaphor for life or time, and the ticket being the cost of one's mind could mean the price of maturing or growing up. The willingness to pay could imply the inevitability of change, no matter how much one wants to resist it. The song's chorus ("My name is Wepeel, I've got a box full of your toys, they're fresh out of batteries but they're still making noise") could symbolize the disillusionment of adulthood, where the things that once were exciting have lost their luster but still linger.


The bridge of the song, with its repetition of "The workers are going home," could be interpreted as the end of an era, the closing of a chapter, or the acceptance of a new normal. It may hint at Rivers Cuomo's reluctance to let go of his childhood and his fear of facing the harsh realities of adulthood.


Line by Line Meaning

My name is Jonas
The singer is introducing himself to the listener


I'm carryin' the wheel
The singer is taking control and leading the way


Thanks for all you've shown us
The singer is expressing gratitude for what they've learned so far


But this is how we feel
The artist is asserting their own feelings and opinions


Come sit next to me
The artist is inviting the listener to join them


Pour yourself some tea
The singer is offering hospitality to the listener


Just like grandma made
The singer is trying to create a feeling of comfort and nostalgia


When we couldn't find sleep
The artist sets the scene of a time when they couldn't sleep


Things were better then
The artist is nostalgic for a time when things were easier or more enjoyable


Once but never again
The artist recognizes that they can never fully relive that time period


We've all left the den
The singer has moved on from that time and place


Let me tell you 'bout it
The artist is ready to share their story


The choo-choo train left right on time
The singer is using a train metaphor to describe an experience they had


A ticket costs only your mind
The singer is emphasizing that this experience was not material or tangible, but mental


The driver said, "Hey man, we go all the way"
The singer is recounting the words of someone who was leading them on this journey


Of course we were willing to pay
The artist and others were eager and ready to take this journey


My name is Wepeel
The artist changes their name, which may represent a change in perspective or character


Got a box full of your toys
The singer has inherited possessions or experiences from someone else


They're fresh out of batteries
The singer's inherited possessions no longer have the energy they once did


But they're still making noise, making noise
The artist's inherited possessions still have an impact or influence


Tell me what to do
The artist is seeking advice or guidance


Now the tank is dry
The artist has run out of resources or energy


Now this wheel is flat
The singer has encountered a problem or obstacle in their path


And you know what else?
The artist is adding one more thing to the list of obstacles or challenges


Guess what I received
The singer has recently received something significant


In the mail today
The singer specifies how they received this item


Words of deep concern
The singer has received a message that is troubling or alarming


From my little brother
The artist reveals who sent this message


The building's not going as he planned
The artist describes a situation where someone has encountered unexpected setbacks


The foreman has injured his hand
The singer adds one more obstacle to the situation


The dozer will not clear a path
The singer recounts another problem in the situation


The driver swears he learned his math
The artist includes a detail about one of the people involved


The workers are going home
The artist reveals that the situation has reached a breaking point and people are leaving


Yeah
The artist ends the song with an affirming sound, but the meaning behind it is not clear




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Jason Rosanoff Cropper, Patrick Wilson, Rivers Cuomo

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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