Lyrics for The Book of Right-On as interpreted by Mopnugget

The Book of Right-On Lyrics
We should shine a light on
A light on
And the book of right-on's right on
It was right on

I killed my dinner with karate
Kick 'em in the face, taste the body
Shallow work is the work that I do

Do you want to sit at my table?
My fighting fame is fabled
And fortune finds me fit and able

And you do say
That you do pray
And you say
That you're ok

Do you want to run with my pack?
Do you want to ride on my back?
Pray that what you lack does not distract

And even when you run through my mind
Something else is in front, oh, you're behind
And I don't have to remind you
To stick with your kind

And you do say
That you do pray
And you say
That you're ok

And even when you touch my face
You know your place
And even when you touch my face
You know your place

And we should shine a light on
A light on
And the book of right-on's right on
It was right on

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gurlmom
10-25-2004

Rated 0 
This is my favorite song of Joanna's, the wild animal imagery, the alpha female warning the male to be careful. Her musicianship on the harp is beautiful, the tune is haunting. If you get the chance to see Joanna in person, you should. She is great.

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_emmie_
11-06-2004

Rated 0 
i love this song, saw her on jules holland! she was brilliant she ruled the show! i love her childlike voice. she reminds me of having essences of bjork.

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DevastatorJr.
01-03-2006

Rated 0 
There are two versions of this song, a slow one and a faster one. The faster one is better.

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AnnieLSU
02-11-2006

Rated 0 
I'm not sure what this song means to me, but I absolutely love alliteration. "My fighting fame is fabled and fortune finds me fit and able." That's just incredible. She is so talented. "I killed my dinner with karate, kick em in the face, taste the body." How freaking awesome is that?

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kambridgekid
06-25-2006

Rated 0 
i killed my dinner with karate
kick 'em in the face, taste the body
shallow work is the work that i do

the way that leaves her mouth...is incredible.

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rabashinko
09-08-2006

Rated 0 
love this song - one comment about the lyrics that are up there though. i swear that i hear, in the part near the end:

"and even when you touch my FAITH
you know your place
and even when you touch my FACE
you know your place"

the two words sound similar, but if you listen closely, there's definitely a difference - a "th" sound ending the first and "s" ending the second.

i think that brings a really interesting meaning to that stanza...the idea of "touching one's faith" is difficult to really describe, but there's an undoubtable strength and "deepness" to the part of her she's describing and how she feels the person she's addressing connects to it.

any thoughts?

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1 Reply
missme
11-02-2006

Rated 0 
this song is amazing!

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1990
12-16-2006

Rated 0 
This song sounds even better when you see her live.

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t4pyro
12-23-2006

Rated 0 
I think this song is a statement towards religious nuts, people that disrespect animals, and living in nature (pack on the back) she says those lines as though someone could be jealous of the freedom that she has, and from the previous lines she could be hinting that zealots and fanatics are the ones that have sealed their fates and thus are the jealous ones. Which I can agree with.

If you read this joanna and I've misinterpretted your words then I'm sorry. No matter what they mean to whomever, they still are amazingly writting and sung. BRAVO.

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giddygirl
12-25-2006

Rated 0 
Personally, I think this song is a metaphor relating her romantic behavior to that of a wild, fighting animal. For instance, "My fighting fame is fabled" could be her telling her new conquest that she really doesn't break as many hearts as they say, and that she can be trusted. "We should shine a light on" could be Joanna saying that they should tell the truth about their pasts. However, at the end this same line could mean that the truth is evident that she really is a heartbreaker; throughout the song there are lines that show her lover begrudgingly accepts this, such as, "And you say that you're okay". "I killed my dinner with karate, kick 'em in the face, taste the body, shallow work is the work that I do" could illustrate the way she has behaved with past lovers. Kicking them in the face and tasting the body shows a tendency to crush their dignity and be more interested in the physical aspects of the relationship. At the end where it says "Even when you touch my face, you know your place" could mean that even though she has told her lover that they are equals in the relationship, they both really know that she has the power. This is a hauntingly beautiful song that creatively describes a situation that many can understand. I love it.

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reasonformirrors
03-08-2007

Rated 0 
I agree with rabashinko. I think she says "even when you touch my faith".

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Annelise
03-12-2007

Rated 0 
But what does she mean by "The Book of Right-On", or being right-on?

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pollydca
03-13-2007

Rated 0 
the book of right on is the bible, which makes the 'faith' lyric make sence and when she sings 'and you do pray, and you say that your ok'
she is saying that we should question the bible and religion. she is saying do you want to belong to that club, or 'pack'.

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eskimotaro
07-14-2007

Rated 0 
In my interpretation, the lyric of "Even when you touch my face"/"You know your place" is correct. It shows how intimate the relationship is and the determination of her superiority.

"The book of right-on" could also very well be the bible. It represent a foreshadow she has, or the one she is in love with, as soothing words to win the lover's heart.

When she says "And you say that you do pray, and you say that you're ok", she's telling how she's rejected in the relationship, as it refers to how she told her lover to "Pray that what you lack does not distract".

The whole song basically tells the story of a female with a superiority complex facing rejection in love.

She proves that she is powerful by saying "I killed my dinner with karate / Kick 'em in the face, taste the body / Shallow work is the work that I do" and later tries to persuade the lover to "sit on my table", saying "My fighting fame is fabled / And fortune finds me fit and able"

When she is rejected, she shows her true face, she is not civilised as she said before. The "sitting on my table" part is changed with "run with my pack / ride on my back" showing the bestial side of her, the last line of "Pray that what you lack does not distract" mocks how the lover said he prays, showing her anger.

She then says that she is too good for him, telling him to "stick with your kind".

Again, she is rejected, and she insist on acting as the superior one, saying "even if you touch my face, you know your lace". But the way she sings it is much less cocky and sounds more like she's regretting it showing her lover the bestial side of her.

The song ends with the same stanza that it started with, saying "You were right, I am sorry, let's shed some light on our relationship" in a cocky way.

At least that's what it means to me. JN is singing about the stubbornness and ego of people in love and how it makes them suffer, however still refuse to admit that they are wrong.

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eskimotaro
07-14-2007

Rated +1 
In my interpretation, the lyric of "Even when you touch my face"/"You know your place" is correct. It shows how intimate the relationship is and the determination of her superiority.

"The book of right-on" could also very well be the bible. It represent a foreshadow she has, or the one she is in love with, as soothing words to win the lover's heart.

When she says "And you say that you do pray, and you say that you're ok", she's telling how she's rejected in the relationship, as it refers to how she told her lover to "Pray that what you lack does not distract".

The whole song basically tells the story of a female with a superiority complex facing rejection in love.

She proves that she is powerful by saying "I killed my dinner with karate / Kick 'em in the face, taste the body / Shallow work is the work that I do" and later tries to persuade the lover to "sit on my table", saying "My fighting fame is fabled / And fortune finds me fit and able"

When she is rejected, she shows her true face, she is not civilised as she said before. The "sitting on my table" part is changed with "run with my pack / ride on my back" showing the bestial side of her, the last line of "Pray that what you lack does not distract" mocks how the lover said he prays, showing her anger.

She then says that she is too good for him, telling him to "stick with your kind".

Again, she is rejected, and she insist on acting as the superior one, saying "even if you touch my face, you know your lace". But the way she sings it is much less cocky and sounds more like she's regretting it showing her lover the bestial side of her.

The song ends with the same stanza that it started with, saying "You were right, I am sorry, let's shed some light on our relationship" in a cocky way.

At least that's what it means to me. JN is singing about the stubbornness and ego of people in love and how it makes them suffer, however still refuse to admit that they are wrong.

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livovearn
11-16-2007

Rated 0 
I interpret this song as a satirical approach to religious bigots in society. She parodies the supposed moral principles of bigoted religious people and their unwavering self-proclaimed validity and correctness while alluding to the bible, 'We should shine a light on/ A light on/ And the book of right-on's right on’ Again she seems to parody religious bigots’ self-proclaimed martyrdom; that they bear the weight of all humanity on their backs and are left with the hard work, professing and acting in accordance to the word of god. The bigotry is apparent with the lines ‘Do you want to run with my pack?/ Do you want to ride on my back?/ Pray that what you lack does not distract’ Do you want to associate yourself with me and my family? In that case, pray that your lack of faith and morality does not alienate you. ‘And even when you run through my mind/ Something else is in front, oh, you're behind’ And even when I think of you, you are never first. God is before everything.

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bradbuch
02-29-2008

Rated 0 
Hi Songmeanings folks,
I'm really impressed by all the thought you've evidently put into these interpretations, and I'm hoping some of you will be interested in contributing to a project related to Ms. Newsom's amazing work. You see, I am putting together a book of writings to be called “Visions of Joanna Newsom” (yes, the reference to Bob Dylan's "Visions of Johanna" is intentional). I’m looking for art, essays, poems, true stories, academic readings of songs, anecdotes, and all things related to Ms. Newsom. I’ve already secured a contribution from the novelist and Joanna-acolyte Dave Eggers, and the book will be published through a small press that I will soon be starting up here in Sacramento. This is not just a pie-in-the-sky project; it’s real and will definitely happen. I will need new work that hasn't already been posted here, because I don't want to violate copyright, but I'm sure some of you will be willing to rise to the occasion and offer your views on a particular song or album's meaning.
So who am I? Well, I teach English Literature and Creative Writing full-time at the California State University, Sacramento. I’m also poet of sorts; you can read some of my poetry at my now-lapsed blog: www.miracleshirker.blogspot.com or verify my academic existence at the CSUS English Department’s web page: http://www.csus.edu/engl/. I’m also a board member at the Sacramento Poetry Center, where I co-edit The Tule Review, and I have a few books and articles out there already in various fields. You can reach me via email at buchanan@csus.edu
Thanks! yours, Brad Buchanan

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Byzantium90
04-10-2008

Rated 0 
Its about acceptence in the group. Shes inviting ler lover in to her social set--"do want to run with my pack?" with plenty of bravado--"killed my dinner with karate"
The Book of Right-On is not the bible,but the collective criteria of what her group judge worthy,or "Right-on" correct, hip. Are cool enough to hang with us?
Shes saying even though you and I might be lovers, you don't get an automatic in to my group. It about the trepidation of introducing a new lover/boy/girl friend to your friends, or of being so introduced.

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Hamp
07-20-2008

Rated 0 
A comment in The discussion about if she says "touch my faith" or "touch my face": If you listen to the early version of this song,( the one from walnut wales) you can hear that she says "touch my face" in both places. But she might have changed that. In the same version it also sounds a bit like she is saying "And the book I write on is right-on, it was right on" Instead of "and the book of right-on is right on it was right on"... But I don't know...

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musicsnob
11-29-2008

Rated 0 
The song is about an introduction to a difficult-to-break-into group- yes, possibly so. But I don't believe she is singing as herself, but rather satirizing a character who can be quite cruel, egotistical and shallow. One great example of this is "even when you touch my face, you know your place." Sure, you can be my lover, but I'm #1. It can be more overtly comical, too: "even when you run through my mind, something else is in front, oh you're behind." And of course "I killed my dinner with karate." Ridiculous.

"And you do say that you do pray, and you say that you're OK". This character is thinking "how can you be OK if you are praying?", not realizing that people do not just pray to beg.

To me, the song is part funny, part serious. I'm glad she framed it in this way, though, because it is not only fun, but a lot easier to swallow.

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francis_oh_francis
12-07-2008

Rated +1 
I agree with those who see religious imagery in this song. I think of this song almost as a conversation between the singer and a god she doesn't believe exists, or between her and the concept of god where she is outlining how she tried to consider the idea, but in the end it didnt make sense to believe it.

I interpreted the first lines to mean that the bible (the book of right-on) may have a lot of good things to say (even if you dont believe in god) but that those things are being ignored and instead people are using the book of right-on to promote less pleasant things (people using the bible as a weapon of hate, for example). So in that sense the narrator is saying "we should shine a light on" that sort of hypocrisy.

When she says "i killed my dinner..." and "taste the body" i see this as rejecting faith in god (her meal ticket to salvation? just a thought). I was raised Christian and there were constant references in church about god filling you up, making you full etc, so that you'll not "hunger". I see her as saying "thanks, but no thanks. I'll make my own way." Then the following part she offers the idea a temporary spot: "do you want to sit at my table" like saying "look, if you want to debate this idea, bring it on. Because i have no doubt that i'll win this one" (her fighting fame is fabled).

Same with the part "do you want to run with my pack/do you want a ride on my back" - its like the singer is being offered fellowship and a crutch to lean on, but she basically responds "no thanks, i don't need a crutch" I connect this back to Peach Plum Pear, where she says "i was riding its back when it used to ride me" and i get the imagery of being taken for a ride, not having control of the situation. She doesn't want to ride on anything's back, she wants to be strong and walk on her own (and not be taken for a ride).

With "and you do say/that you do pray/and you say/that you're ok" I see her as sorta saying "you're telling me you pray, and that everything is fine and God takes care of it, but there's something missing in your life or you wouldn't have sought out a crutch like religion in the first place", which i see again in the part where she says "pray that what you lack does not distract" almost like saying a person's belief in god is like putting the blinders on, so that you can believe that everything is going to be ok because its in god's hands. Maybe i think this because i've met too many Christians who were actually pretty messed up but were almost self-brainwashed into believing that they were ok because they could "give their burden to jesus".

anyway, that's always been my take.



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predicate
04-12-2009

Rated 0 
i just feel... like... there's a chord that needs to be in this song, that isn't... does anyone else get that? in the beginning, and again the end when the "we should shine a light on" part comes in again... ahhhhh... still gives me shivers, regardless :)

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claudiaaa
01-09-2010

Rated +2 
Am i the only one that thinks it maybe about the war too? Just a thought.

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LongIsland
01-27-2010

Rated 0 
The hopeless romantic in me wants to agree that its about a relationship but to me this song is not about love but about war, poverty and inhumanity. "We should shine a light on, A light on, And the book of right-on's right on,It was right on." I get the feeling that she's saying we should take a look at what's happening around us, the way she sings right-on, Its almost like someone is chanting right on! in a protest or like a leader is trying to motivate his army. And in the last "right on" she sings like she is amused by such antics.

In the 1st verse I think she is living vicariously through a soldier. "I Killed my dinner with karate
Kick 'em in the face, taste the body. Shallow work is the work that I do" She alludes to the art of fighting, - its quick and painful, almost bittersweet. Necessary to his survival but frowned upon in the real world. She almost condescendingly, challenges the supporters, the soldiers employer. "Do you want to sit at my table? My fighting fame is fabled And fortune finds me fit and able" Do you want to trade places, have a taste of my dinner b/c its not heroic but the money desired is what justifies it.

And you do say - That you do pray - And you say -That you're ok" At this moment she changes gears in the song completely and gets off her high protesting horse and sympathizes w/ the soldier. 'Are you really ok?'

"Do you want to run with my pack? Do you want to ride on my back? Pray that what you lack does not distract" She continues do you want a piggy back ride? Do you want to run with us for a day? I hope that your fear doesn't give us away on the battlefield.

And you do say -That you do pray - And you say -That you're ok. This time She imagines the soldier saying. " In God you trust huh? But are you really ok?" She challenges the war supporters source of faith.

"And even when you run through my mind. Something else is in front, oh, you're behind
And I don't have to remind you to stick with your kind." Even when the soldier does have the time to contemplate his shallow work there's always an enemy in front of him but the one who is financially gaining is safely at home. Our war's supporters don't have to be constantly reminded to stick with their kind, unlike the military which promotes the ideal of brotherhood in order to survive.

In the last verse, the soldier is gone and the flag is being folded. "Even when you touch my faith and my face you know your place."

-- Nonetheless that's just the vibe I get from the song, but only JN knows the true meaning. --

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