I was born in a cross-fire hurricane
And I howled at my ma in the driving rain,
But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas!
But it’s all right. Im jumpin jack flash,
Its a gas! gas! gas!I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag,
I was schooled with a strap right across my back,
But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas!
But it’s all right, Im jumpin jack flash,
Its a gas! gas! gas!I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead.
I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled.
I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I was crowned with a spike right thru my head.
But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas!
But it’s all right, Im jumpin jack flash,
Its a gas! gas! gas!Jumping jack flash, it’s a gas
Jumping jack flash, it’s a gas
Jumping jack flash, it’s a gas
Jumping jack flash, it’s a gas
Jumping jack flash
This music really grooves, even though the words don’t mean a whole lot…or at least to me they don’t. Uh, oh the wheels are turning in my head. What do these words mean?
A person identifed as Cake posted:
“Jack Flash is a slang term for heroin. The song is about a guy turning to heroin to forget about the pain he’s suffering in life. He doesn’t really care anymore because the drugs have numbed him.”
Another person called jumpin jack flash posted:
“I can say in relative confidence, that the song jumpin jack flash was when Keith and Mick where in Keith’s Redland’s mansion and Keith’s gardener, Jack Dyer, walked past the window at 6am, squelching loudly with his soaking boots on the path, Mick was startled and Keith explained it was “Jumpin Jack” and that night they laid down the base for the classic song. As regards to a heroin perspective, this perhaps may be a side meaning, at a later stage… but that is how the song was created originally.”
Okay, I can buy this explanation of the song’s meaning. The Stones have the whole drug stigma attached with them, so I can see them writing a song such as this. Drugs are so NOT cool. Excuse for one second…step on soapbox… remember kids: Say, “NO!” to drugs. Step off of soapbox.
*Clear throat* Getting back to my J-assignment. One of the funniest movies if you can put aside the fact Whoopi Goldberg swears worse than a drunken sailor (okay, more stigma and stereotyping here) in the flick. Have you seen it? Take a look at this clip.
We caught this flick at the theatre when it debated in 1986. To this day, this is one of the most memorable and funniest scenes (parents, you may want to ask your small kids to leave the room)…
Whoopi deserves an “F” for her foul mouth, (I hope I get an “A” on this assignment) but you’re sure to LOL throughout this entire movie. It is absolutely chocked full of hilarious stuff. If you haven’t watched it, then catch it on Netflix!
For more “J” posts, be sure to visit …
Thanks Miss Jenny for hosting!
Thanks Amanda!
1. What’s the funniest movie you’ve ever seen? This is really difficult for me to say. Like I said, Jumpin’ Jack Flash really has some rib cracking scenes in it, but when I think of funniest movies then the first one which always pops in my mind is Christmas Vacation.
2. How to do you feel about excess foul language, especially in movies? Honestly, I believe any movie can be produced without a single filthy word and STILL be if not more entertaining. For you potting mouth actors/actresses, “Put a lid on it, buster!” That goes for the rest of population who seems to think trashy talk builds them up somehow. It’s quite the opposite, my friend, unless you’re running with your kind in which case none of you have a clue how bad this makes you look.
Moving right along… have a terrific Thursday. The weekend is almost here. Be sure to come back tomorrow to catch my Friday Sillies post!Save
I’ve never read the words of the lyrics like this…I always wonder if nonsensical ones like this were written specifically to confuse everyone. But I think those guys were so messed up most of the time that who knows what they were thinking!
I’m with you on the swearing in books and movies. I’m not opposed to an occasional word for emphasis (and sometimes they occur in real life – or at least they do for me!) but when there are so many the movie could be edited by a noticeable amount of time, it’s just plain offensive…and redundant…and I’m not twelve anymore to giggle at someone saying…you know…’that’ word!
Thanks for a wonderful jaunt through the letter “J”.
I’ve always liked that song and tend to think the gardener probably inspired it. The drug link, as you said, probably comes from the expected attachment of drugs to all rock music.
I saw Jumpin Jack Flash and it was funny but Whoopi’s mouth did grate on nerves. I loved all of her movies however. My favorite funny movie is The Blues Brothers, I have watched it several times and still laugh at the jokes.
Thanks for the history other song, and the lyrics. It makes a lot of sense to me, and I understood in my own ways, without the drugs involved. 🙂 I don’t watch much funny movies, but I do like the show called “how I met your mother.” it is funny to me. The access ful language bothers my ears, and I can’t concentrate on the movie itself.
great song! Yes, the Stones were welcome onto my record player as a kid. Don’t know how my mom felt about it, but then – it was a revolution, wasn’t it?!
You worked hard on this post and definitely deserve an A+. I watched a movie called Watermelon Man as a young adult and loved it. No foul language was needed and is ever needed.
Hi i also join this meme..I want to answer your 2 questions.
1. I like the movie The Incredibles the cartoon one:) My son love it and we saw it several times… 2. I do not like to watch a movie that cursing and we do not want our kids to hear them either. sometimes kids will ask us if why those people curse hmmm…
Hello! I really enjoyed your J post … first time to ever understand those lyrics! and never saw the movie but am interested now. 🙂 hmm, I am so bad about remembering movies – The Money Pit from way back was funny though, and I hate foul language in movies … you’ll have a perfectly wonderful story-line going on and then wham-bam offensive stuff is in the room. Anyway, loved you post. Come on over and visit sometime!
Whoopi is pretty funny (and doesn’t need the repeated f-bombs to be so). Jumpin Jack flash is definitely a get-on-your-feet-and-dance song…no matter what the words mean.
How interesting! I would have never guessed there would be a drug connection to anything to do with the RS – haha! 🙂 Love that movie, too! ~Visiting from Mrs. Jenny’s!
1. Honestly, I can’t remember the funniest movie I ever saw or really any funny ones this morning. I laugh a lot during the movie but they must not make a ‘lasting impression’ on me. Sorry.
2. They don’t need any bad words. My theory is that those are in there just to get the ratings up from ‘G’ so more people will come. Again I can’t remember an “R” rated movie I’ve seen. But we don’t go to many movies. .. BTW, we don’t have annual performance reviews at our house. I always joke about it on my blog but this time it was hard for non regular readers to tell that I wasn’t serious. ..
I knew the song of course, but I never understood the words my English wasn’t good enough at that time. According to Wikipedia it was Keith’s gardener who inspired the song. Nothing said about drugs.
Enjoyed your journey into “J”. I do agree that bad language is not necessary to have a good movie. I think the writers just don’t know the English language well enough to use it effectively.
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18 Comments
Jenny
Hi Cathy, what a neat, neat post!
I’ve never read the words of the lyrics like this…I always wonder if nonsensical ones like this were written specifically to confuse everyone. But I think those guys were so messed up most of the time that who knows what they were thinking!
I’m with you on the swearing in books and movies. I’m not opposed to an occasional word for emphasis (and sometimes they occur in real life – or at least they do for me!) but when there are so many the movie could be edited by a noticeable amount of time, it’s just plain offensive…and redundant…and I’m not twelve anymore to giggle at someone saying…you know…’that’ word!
Thanks for a wonderful jaunt through the letter “J”.
I really enjoyed your post here today.
A+
Jo
I love your J post … and as to excessive swearing in movies … some of the most interesting movies have no swearing in them … or very little …
JamericanSpice
It’s hard to remember the funniest movie I’ve seen. It’s probably something with Adam Sandler.
2. It depends on the movie, which means it would be something I choose to watch, but otherwise I cringe at it.
Movies can be made and no foul language used.
I remember movies in the day was just as vile, but no foul languages were used.
Have a great weekend!
SquirrelQueen
I’ve always liked that song and tend to think the gardener probably inspired it. The drug link, as you said, probably comes from the expected attachment of drugs to all rock music.
I saw Jumpin Jack Flash and it was funny but Whoopi’s mouth did grate on nerves. I loved all of her movies however. My favorite funny movie is The Blues Brothers, I have watched it several times and still laugh at the jokes.
Self Sagacity
Thanks for the history other song, and the lyrics. It makes a lot of sense to me, and I understood in my own ways, without the drugs involved. 🙂
I don’t watch much funny movies, but I do like the show called “how I met your mother.” it is funny to me.
The access ful language bothers my ears, and I can’t concentrate on the movie itself.
storybeader
great song! Yes, the Stones were welcome onto my record player as a kid. Don’t know how my mom felt about it, but then – it was a revolution, wasn’t it?!
Judy SheldonWalker
You worked hard on this post and definitely deserve an A+. I watched a movie called Watermelon Man as a young adult and loved it. No foul language was needed and is ever needed.
Karen S.
Oh yeah, it’s a gas!…and so was this very cool post!
Sue
I remember the song well, and I always liked it. Having said that, I admit that the heroin meaning makes sense. Which makes me like it a little less…
😉
momgen
Hi i also join this meme..I want to answer your 2 questions.
1. I like the movie The Incredibles the cartoon one:) My son love it and we saw it several times…
2. I do not like to watch a movie that cursing and we do not want our kids to hear them either. sometimes kids will ask us if why those people curse hmmm…
Lola
Great *J* post – have learned so much!
Look forward to *seeing* you again,
Have a great Alphabe-Thursday
Robin Lynn
Hello! I really enjoyed your J post … first time to ever understand those lyrics! and never saw the movie but am interested now. 🙂 hmm, I am so bad about remembering movies – The Money Pit from way back was funny though, and I hate foul language in movies … you’ll have a perfectly wonderful story-line going on and then wham-bam offensive stuff is in the room. Anyway, loved you post. Come on over and visit sometime!
anitamombanita
Whoopi is pretty funny (and doesn’t need the repeated f-bombs to be so). Jumpin Jack flash is definitely a get-on-your-feet-and-dance song…no matter what the words mean.
Kerri @OhMann!
How interesting! I would have never guessed there would be a drug connection to anything to do with the RS – haha! 🙂
Love that movie, too!
~Visiting from Mrs. Jenny’s!
Poetic Shutterbug
This is the first time I’ve read the lyrics to that song. I always did enjoy the song and I’m sure the lyrics were written during a “party” time 🙂
1. I think the funniest movie I’ve ever seen was My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I laughed throughout the movie. Being half Greek, it resonated with me.
2. I really don’t enjoy movies with excess foul language but a little here and there I think depicts real life so some is okay.
Jim
Kathy, you did really good here.
1. Honestly, I can’t remember the funniest movie I ever saw or really any funny ones this morning. I laugh a lot during the movie but they must not make a ‘lasting impression’ on me. Sorry.
2. They don’t need any bad words. My theory is that those are in there just to get the ratings up from ‘G’ so more people will come. Again I can’t remember an “R” rated movie I’ve seen. But we don’t go to many movies.
..
BTW, we don’t have annual performance reviews at our house. I always joke about it on my blog but this time it was hard for non regular readers to tell that I wasn’t serious.
..
Gattina
I knew the song of course, but I never understood the words my English wasn’t good enough at that time. According to Wikipedia it was Keith’s gardener who inspired the song. Nothing said about drugs.
Marti
Enjoyed your journey into “J”. I do agree that bad language is not necessary to have a good movie. I think the writers just don’t know the English language well enough to use it effectively.