Jack-Ass

Beck

About Jack-Ass

"Jack-Ass" is a single by Beck, taken from the album Odelay. The song is based on a sample of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue", performed by Them, from their 1966 album Them Again. The B-side, "Strange Invitation", is a re-recorded version of "Jack-Ass", played on acoustic guitar and strings and forecasts the style Beck would later use on Sea Change in 2002.


Year:
1996
4:00
409 
#2

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I been drifting along in the same stale shoes
Loose ends tying the noose in the back of my mind
If you thought that you were making your way
To where the puzzles and pagans lay

I'll put it together
It's a strange invitation
When I wake up someone will sweep up my lazy bones
And we will rise in the cool of the evening
I remember the way that you smiled
When the gravity shackles were wild

And something is vacant when I think it's all beginning
I been drifting along in the same stale shoes
Loose ends tying the noose in the back of my mind

If you thought that you were making your way
To where the puzzles and pagans lay
I'll put it together: It's a strange invitation

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Beck

Beck Hansen (born Bek David Campbell, July 8, 1970) is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck. more »

3 fans

Written by: BECK HANSEN, BOB DYLAN, JOHN ROBERT KING, MICHAEL S. SIMPSON

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


21 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Jack-Ass" is a song by American musician Beck, from his critically acclaimed 1996 album, "Odelay."
Album Success
The album "Odelay" was a major success and won two Grammy Awards in 1997, including for the Best Alternative Music Album.
Song's Basis
The song "Jack-Ass" was based on a sample from the song "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" by Them, a band featuring Van Morrison.
Infusion of Styles
Like much of Beck's work, "Jack-Ass" incorporates a wide range of musical styles, including folk, rock, and electronic.
Chart Performance
"Jack-Ass" was released as a single and reached number 15 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Remix Version
Beck released a remix version of "Jack-Ass" in 1997 under the name "Butt Naked Version" which features a stripped-down version of the track with additional instrumentation.
Music Video
The music video for "Jack-Ass" was directed by Steve Hanft, who also directed several other music videos for Beck.
Song's Theme
The song presents Beck's signature abstract lyrics, which many fans and critics interpret as an exploration of naïveté, failure and self-depreciation.
Media Features
"Jack-Ass" was used in the film "Bride of Chucky" and also featured in the popular music video game series "Rock Band."
Single Artwork
The single’s cover art features a donkey, a play on the song's title, and was designed by Beck himself along with Robert Fisher.
Critical Acclaim
Critics recognized "Jack-Ass" as one of Beck's best songs and praised its lyrical complexity and innovative use of sampling.
Album
"Jack-Ass" is a song from the album "Odelay," Beck's second official studio album.
Release
Released as the fifth single from "Odelay" in 1997, this song garnered significant popularity.
Inspiration
It's suggested that the song pays homage to "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" by Bob Dylan, since it samples the melody from the cover of this song by Them, a 1960s band from Northern Ireland led by Van Morrison.
Genre
Belonging to the alternative rock genre, it blends a mix of traditional elements with a modern twist.
Chart Performance
"Jack-Ass" reached number 15 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Music Video
The music video for "Jack-Ass" was directed by Steve Hanft, who had previously directed several of Beck's videos, including "Where It's At" and "Devil's Haircut."
Cover Versions
It was covered by a band called Tortoise in the year 2000.
Special Version
A special version of "Jack-Ass" appeared on the compilation album, "Beck: The Information" in 2008. It's called "Strange Invitation," which is an acoustic version of the same song.
Lyrics Interpretation
The lyrics of "Jack-Ass” are often interpreted as a metaphor for drudging through the monotony of life, while yearning for something more or different, typical of Beck's introspective style.
Accolades
Beck's album "Odelay," featuring "Jack-Ass," was listed in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

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    Jack-Ass

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1997

    Billboard #73


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