My Name Is Jonas
From Weezerpedia
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| Album track by Weezer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Album | Weezer (The Blue Album) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Released | May 10, 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | August-September 1993 at Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 3:24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Label | Geffen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Writer | Cuomo/Wilson/Cropper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RC# | 126 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COR# | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Producer | Ric Ocasek | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Officially released | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listen | Album version Live version, The Blue Album Deluxe source: www.LastFM.com |
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"My Name Is Jonas" is the first track from Weezer's self-titled debut album.
Contents |
Appearances
- Weezer (The Blue Album)
- Weezer (Deluxe Edition) (Disc 2) (Live)
- Buddy Holly (UK Retail CD) (Live)
- Undone (French Retail CD/French Promo 7" Single (Blue Vinyl)
- The Kitchen Tape (Demo)
- My Name Is Jonas (One track promo CD)
- Several Official Bootlegs (Live Version)
MP3 Previews
Source is www.LastFM.com unless otherwise stated
Overview
Written by Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson and Jason Cropper, "My Name Is Jonas" is one of only a handful of Weezer tracks with a co-writing credit. Notably, Cropper came up with the song's fingerpicked intro, which gave him his only songwriting credit on a Weezer song. The song was written during the 50 song project, and is one of the earliest collaborations between Cuomo and Wilson. Wilson came up with the instrumentation parts and let Cuomo write the lyrics, melodies and solo.
"My Name is Jonas" was inspired by Cuomo's brother, Leaves Cuomo. Says Rivers, "'Jonas' explains how The Plan is reaming us all, especially my brother."
The song is also said to have been, at least partially, inspired by the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry. The protagonist's name is Jonas, and at one point, actually says, "My name is Jonas." In the book's plot, Jonas uses a sled, and Wepeel is the name of a childhood sled of Cuomo's.
At one point, the song was erroneously named by Geffen Records as the Blue Album's third single. Before "Say It Ain't So" was officially chosen as a single by consensus among the band, Todd Sullivan, and the label, Geffen had printed up limited runs of a "My Name is Jonas" one-track promo CD, and distributed them, primarily in Canada. These CDs are among some of the rarer Weezer collectibles.
"Jonas" has proven to be the song most often used as a show opener, having opened most shows on the tours for The Blue Album, Pinkerton, SS2K, and The Red Album, as well as sporadic other shows.
The original Kitchen Tape demo ended with the line, "My name is Weezer."
"My Name is Jonas" was featured as a playable master track on the rhythm video game Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock.
Personnel
- Rivers Cuomo – lead/rhythm guitars, harmonica, lead vocals
- Brian Bell – backing vocals
- Matt Sharp – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Patrick Wilson – percussion
- Ric Ocasek – producer
Lyrics
My name is Jonas
I'm carrying the wheel
Thanks for all you've shown us
This is how we feel
Come sit next to me
Pour yourself some tea
Just like grandma made
When we couldn't find sleep
Things were better then
Once but never again
We've all left the den
Let me tell you 'bout it
The choo choo train left right on time
A ticket cost only your mind
The driver said "Hey man, we go all the way"
Of course we were willing to pay
My name is Wepeel
I got a box full of your toys
Fresh out of batteries
But they're still makin' noise, makin' noise
Tell me what to do
Now the tank is dry
Now this wheel is flat
And you know what else?
Guess what I received
In the mail today
Words of deep concern
From my little brother
The building's not goin' as he planned
The foreman has injured his hand
The dozer will not clear a path
The driver swears he learned his math
The workers are going home!
The workers are going home!
The workers are going home!
The workers are going home!
Yeah!
The workers are going home!
The workers are going home!
The workers are going home!
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
My name is Jonas
