And if one day I should become
A singer with a Spanish bum
Who sings for women of great virtue
I'd sing to them with a guitar
I borrowed from a coffee bar
Well, what you don't know doesn't hurt you
My name would be Antonio
And all my bridges I would burn
And when I gave them some they'd know
I'd expect something in return
I'd have to get drunk every night
And talk about virility
With some old grandmama
That might be decked out like a Christmas tree
And though pink elephants I'd see
Though I'd be drunk as I could be
Still I would sing my song to me
About the time they called me "Jackie"

If I could be for only an hour
If I could be for an hour every day
If I could be for just one little hour
A cute cute, in a stupid-ass way

And if I joined the social whirl
Became procurer of young girls
Then I would have my own bordellos
My record would be number one
And I'd sell records by the ton
All sung by many other fellows
My name would then be handsome Jack
And I'd sell boats of opium
Whiskey that came from Twickenham
Authentic queers and phony virgins
If I had banks on every finger
A finger in every country
And all the countries ruled by me
I'd still know where I'd want to be
Locked up inside my opium den
Surrounded by some china men
I'd sing the song that I sang then
About the time they called me "Jackie"

If I could be for only an hour
If I could be for an hour every day
If I could be for just one little hour
A cute cute, in a stupid-ass way

Now, tell me, wouldn't it be nice
That if one day in paradise
I'd sing for all the ladies up there
And they would sing along with me
And we be so happy there to be
'Cause down below is really nowhere
And if my name were Juniper
Then I would know where I was going
And then I would become all knowing
My beard so very long and flowing
If I became deaf, dumb and blind
Because I pitied all mankind
And broke my heart to make things right
I'd know that every single night
When my angelic work was through
The angels and the Devil too
Would sing my childhood song to me
About the time they called me "Jackie"

If I could be for only an hour
If I could be for an hour every day
If I could be for just one little hour
A cute cute, in a stupid-ass way


Lyrics submitted by ilse, edited by newhaircut

Jackie Lyrics as written by Scott Thomas

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Jackie song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

4 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    The song is basically about Jacques Brel according to Jacques Brel and his views of success being fleeting and not permanent....he wants to be reminded of his past ("and the time they called me 'Jackie.').

    I have always wondered what would happen if someone went on American Idol and sang this song....basically, giving a middle finger to the whole 'manufactured pop music' image the show represents and this song talks about.

    GuyinGAon December 06, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I have regrets but I can just about live with my past. Just not all of the time...

    littlbon July 25, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song's just amazing. After a bottle of wine or two it sounds even better. Something to do with Jacques Brel I think, but very, very daring for it's time. For those that don't know, Scott Walker was in one of the biggest boy bands of his day (The Walker Brothers) but turned his back on the whole lifestyle to become a recluse and make the music he wanted to. This is one of the best. The decadence and bravado of the lyrics rollock along to a thunderous, cantering burlesque horn section. Great to watch porn to. I know what all the different references are but am not sure of the thread that holds them together. Anyone know?

    Ramsbottomon August 27, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Boy speculates about a drunken, debauched, sleazy or dead future for himself where he will recall the present, his glory days, the time they called him Jacky, and will yearn then for what he presently finds shallow. Like someone else said, a brilliant reflection on the fleeting nature of fame.

    SpunaroundSaturnon April 27, 2016   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.