Went and saw the Stones at the Meadowlands last night. Good show - Jagger was in fine voice, they played a lot of good songs and paced them well - not to fast or too slow. And they had Bobby Keys their sax player from Exile and Sticky Fingers and other CDs, and he was brilliant. All good.
They played JJF. A bit of an old chestnut, but a good old chestnut. I know the words - heck I’ve played the song in bands for years. But I realized something I didn’t know - who or what IS “Jumping Jack Flash”?
The song is basically - “I was down, but now I’m cool” with metaphors to describe just how down he was - “Schooled with a strap right across my back.” “Crowned with a spike right through my head.” But, we learn “It’s all right now - in fact it’s a gas - JJF it’s a gas gas gas…”
Okay - things that come to mind include:
- He’s JJF now and he’s cool as a result - if so, how did he get that way?
- JJF is just an expression - like “but - Good Gosh! - things are great now”
- JJF is a drug - and because he’s on it, things are a gas - if so, which drug?
I am sure there are others explanations - anyone know the Dope?
PS: I am little bummed that Mick returns to this approach to songs - You Got Me Rockin is basically the exact same “I was down, but now am cool” structure. And they played both last night…ah well, whaddya want? They have great material overall.