Mr. Jones
by Counting Crows
What is “Mr. Jones” really about?
If you’ve ever wondered what “Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows is really about, you’re not alone. Let’s break it down.
Counting Crows' 'Mr. Jones' explores themes of aspiration and loneliness, encapsulating the human desire to be noticed and adored amidst feelings of isolation.
So… what’s this song really about?
At its core, 'Mr. Jones' is a reflective journey through the dreams and disillusionments of fame. The lyrics reveal a candid conversation between friends about their ambitions and the disconnect between their perceived identities and who they really want to be. This song marries the carefree with the melancholic, expressing a longing for human connection, validation and the bittersweet rendezvous with celebrity culture. Through the idealization of famous figures like Bob Dylan and Picasso, it taps into the universal yearning to matter and to be seen in a rapidly expanding, often indifferent world. The juxtaposition of their glamorous dreams with their current, less spectacular reality serves as a poignant commentary on the struggles with identity and purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What inspired the song 'Mr. Jones'?
Adam Duritz, the lead singer, was inspired by his own experiences and conversations with his friend, Marty Jones, about their aspirations for fame and impact in the music industry.
Q: When was 'Mr. Jones' released?
The song 'Mr. Jones' was released in 1993 as part of Counting Crows’ debut album 'August and Everything After.'
Q: What genre is 'Mr. Jones' by Counting Crows?
The song 'Mr. Jones' falls into the rock and alternative rock genres.
Lyrics to “Mr. Jones”
89 Contributors
[Chorus]
Mr. Jones and me
Tell each other fairy tales
And we stare at them beautiful women
She's looking at you
Oh no, no, she's looking at me
Smiling in the bright lights
Coming through in stereo
When everybody loves you
You can never be lonely
[Verse 3]
Well, I'm gon' paint my picture
Paint myself in blue and red, and black, and gray
All of the beautiful colors are very, very meaningful
Yeah, well, you know gray is my favorite color
I felt so symbolic yesterday
If I knew Picasso
I would buy myself a gray guitar and play
[Chorus]
Mr. Jones and me
Look into the future
Yeah, we stare at the beautiful women
She's looking at you
I don't think so, she's looking at me
Standing in the spotlight
I bought myself a gray guitar
When everybody loves me
I will never be lonely
[Post-Chorus]
I will never be lonely
Said, I'm never gonna be lonely
[Bridge]
I wanna be a lion
Yeah, everybody wanna pass as cats
We all wanna be big, big stars
Yeah, but we got different reasons for that
Believe in me
'Cause I don't believe in anything
And I, I wanna be someone to believe
To believe, to believe, yeah
[Chorus]
Mr. Jones and me
Stumbling through the barrio
Yeah, we stare at the beautiful women
She's perfect for you
Man, there's got to be somebody for me
I wanna be Bob Dylan
Mr. Jones wishes he was someone
Just a little more funky
When everybody loves you
Oh son, that's just about as funky as you can be
Mr. Jones and me
Staring at the video
When I look at the television, I wanna see me
Staring right back at me
We all wanna be big stars
But we don't know why and we don't know how
But when everybody loves me
I wanna be just about as happy as I can be
[Outro]
Mr. Jones and me
We're gonna be big stars