Counting Crows – Mr. Jones

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  General Comment:with respect to Adam's personal explanations of the lyrics, my personal rendering deals with applying the dictionary definition of "jones"
  jones /jōnz/
  Noun: A fixation on or compulsive desire for someone or something, typically a drug; an addiction.
  Verb: Have a fixation on; be addicted to.
  
  with this, a possible reading can be extrapolated where two personalites from the same person, one being the speaker in active addiction, the other being the real person, both staring at their lives, concerned with the future, and engaging in battle between who is more worthy of beauty and happiness.
  
  W.

  Flag infinitecompleteon April 22, 2013   Link

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  My Interpretation:i could be off, but my interpretation is that his mind is wandering, and he's trying to distinguish between what he wants and what hes disillusioned about wanting. i don't think he really cares about being famous, because the whole "we all want to be big stars, but we dont know why" part makes me feel like he only says he wants to be rich and famous because that's what society wants you to dream about or whatever. i think he's realizing that what he actually cares about is loving and being loved, and being happy.
  i doubt it's what adam was writing about, but thats what i think when i hear it.

  Flag jpod1221on February 11, 2013   Link

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  Song Meaning:If you dig around you can probably find an interview where Adam talks about this. But basically, the song is pretty straightforward and isn't necessarily supposed to have any hidden meanings. It is in fact about him and a former bandmate going out to a bar for drinks to watch (former bandmate) Marty Jones' dad play spanish guitar. Adam spots a blonde and thinks she's hot and Marty spots a brunette who, as she dances and lets out her personality, becomes more and more attractive. They're too shy to go talk to the girls, based on what he said in real life, but I think that Adam looks up to Marty for his solidity because throughout the song "Mr Jones" (Marty) gets the girls' attention. But throughout the song, while they're out, they sort of daydream about how much easier it'd be to get girls if they were famous rockstars. And in fact this gets deeper and more out of hand as the song goes. As cheerful and fun as it is, this song is very very bittersweet. Because he sort of confesses his sadness and loneliness and sort of says that fame will just solve all of those problems, knowing full well that it won't. We aren't meant to take that literally, but as a sort of pretty much rather than dealing with the root of his problems, the singer is looking forward to becoming a rockstar and just wishing and thinking that it would totally fix everything. But the saddest part about this is his self doubt throughout the entire song. "believe in me, cause I don't believe in anything and I wanna be someone to believe." also referring to their plans involving fame as "fairy tales." It's sort of just a starry eyed daydream is what the entire song is. A night out, smashed, wishing they were rockstars, but he just slips it in so perfectly how sad he is and how desperately he wants to believe that not only can his dreams come true but that they can cure that sadness. And all the while we know it's not actually going to solve all of his problems but boy is it fun to think that way. Very bittersweet, especially if you're going through something similar. But Adam intends this to be relatable to everyone, not just hopeful rockstars. But whatever it is in your future that seems so out of reach or so like the "end" goal, like it would solve everything.

  Flagged Larlarlaurenon January 20, 2013   Link

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  My Interpretation:This song is about his Penis, Mr. Jones.

  Flagged thedefectoon January 11, 2013   Link

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• +4
  My Interpretation:Alright, I feel like I have understood many of the lyrics that adam uses in Mr. Jones. Even though this song is played out on the radio, the lyric are very deep and meaningful. As someone who has a similar mental disorder, I felt like i was able to understand everything Adam was conveying. The first couple lines is about his misinterpretation of what society considers a beautiful girl. Mr Jones is someone that is original and does not fit into societies norms, and is therefore more confident and happier. "yellow haired girl" means attractive blonde and Adam overlooks the dancer. Mr jones however is looking at a girl that doesn't meet the eye to someone as attractive in the television but has no much originality and personality that she is much more beautiful than what is first presented to the eye.
  
  When they are standing from a distance to an attractive girl they talk amongst themselves that she is looking at each of them but then when they address the women, the focus is quickly directly to mr jones because the narrator doesnt think hes really beautiful and funky enough to get the girl that he had the confidence that she was looking at him from a distance.
  
  Loneliness is a very important phrase that Adam uses. The fear of being lonely keeps us all from being lions and chasing our dreams. We all want to be loved by everyone and will prevent ourselves from being lions to protect that. The only way you can be loved by everyone is to be ultra confident and funky, unlike society wants you to be, and what the narrator is desperately seeking.

  Flag sbml777on July 09, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:All this song is about is Adam and his former band mate with whatever band they were in before CC, and they're talking about being big, big stars and how everyone will love them...very upbeat and catchy song...probably their most popular song as well, although not their most meaningful. It's a feel-good song with dreams of being a big star, and what they will do when they get there...

  Flag komickazeon April 26, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Hi 1994,how are you and your other lover band "Hootie&the Blowfish"? They played the eff outta these!!!

  Flag Thia007on December 05, 2011   Link

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    +1

    So?

    Flag MickMusicon December 15, 2012  
• +1
  Song Meaning:This song is about fulfilling your dreams, fantasizing, wishing to fall in love, and realizing that even if this happens, it might not be as heavenly as the TV makes it out to be... "we all want to be big stars...we don't know why." the ultimate moral to me is to enjoy the time you have in life, no matter what it may be, and learn to appreciate the beauty right in front of you

  Flag DrewLucason May 12, 2011   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:It's obvious what this is about. He's in a bar or something with his ex-bandmate and he's fantasizing about being famous and what he would do if he was. A great upbeat song, although I find it is overrated. It's funny how the Crows haven't produced any songs quite like this one, most of their other songs have been less commercial. Not that this song is overly commercial, just a lot more radio-friendly than many of his other songs. To be honest, I don't think they knew how popular this song would become...but it truly has a great sound to it, and deserves all the glamor it gets. The rest of that album is great as well, and has more profound and meaningful songs than this one, but I would say that this one sounds the most upbeat and fun.

  Flag komickazeon May 05, 2011   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:i love this song! i dont get the meaning at all....

  Flag aerosmith4evaon April 11, 2011   Link

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