Where does “Jonesin’” come from? The term is hip-hop slang, and usually refers to “really wanting something”. Like so:
Needing a drug fix
Hopelessly infatuated with somebody (He’s got a jones for her!)
Best I can come up with is that it’s a reference to “Keeping up with the Joneses”.
I first heard it in the 70’s after a song called “Basketball Jones” became popular.
Upon further research, “Basketball Jones”, released by Cheech & Chong in 1973, was a parody of “Love Jones”, released by The Brighter Side of Darkness in 1972, which rose to the top ten of the R&B charts that year. Prior to that, I suspect ‘jones’ and ‘jonesin’ were pretty obscure urban slang.
You can hear a sample of “Basketball Jones” here.
Here is what The Word Detective says.
Thanks, y’all!
Huh. Interesting links. I always assumed it was a derivation of “the Joneses” - up with whom you are expected to keep. Therefore “Jones” as a noun = a craving, or something you want to possess (like the Jonses have), and “Jones” as a verb means wanting to possess something…
Ummm, but now I’ve typed the word “Jones” too many times and it looks like a non-word.
Carry on.
Here is what the Word Maven’s say. Nothing new there though. Basically another vote for undetermined.
I have no idea.