“Jackson”, the 10th track from Elle King’s debut Love Stuff, paints a picture of a broken family in Jackson County, Ohio and the singer’s dreams of escaping the city.
King grew up back and forth between L.A. and Ohio after he parents split. The story of “Jackson” seems to be inspired from her child...
[Intro]
Mama's dead and gone
Papa ain't there
Mama's dead and gone
Papa don't care
[Verse 1]
Brother buried his hand
Pocket full of shotgun shells
He's just a married man
Stuck in that whiskey well
[Chorus]
What's left of my backbone
Is building this broken home
Building it up just to leave
City will chain me
How could you blame me?
Not breaking the law to break free
So please take Jackson out of me
[Verse 2]
Sister lays her head
She's just a lizard queen
She's known too many beds
But she sure can sing
Your hopeless soul
Begging for more time
You'd rather die than get old
Too bad you ain't killing kind
[Chorus]
What's left of my backbone
Is building this broken home
Building it up just to leave
City will chain me
How could you blame me?
Not breaking the law to break free
So please take Jackson out of me
[Bridge]
Well, this country weighs me down
There's nothing left for me in this town
These dreams I make before I wake
Well, I won't waste no more time, hey
[Chorus]
What's left of my backbone
Is building this broken home
Building it up just to leave
City will chain me
How could you blame me?
Not breaking the law to break free
So please take Jackson out of me
[Outro]
Take Jackson out of me
Take Jackson out of me
Jackson was written by Dave McCracken & Amanda Ghost & Elle King.
Jackson was produced by Jacknife Lee.
It is likely Jackson, Ohio. Elle grew up there partly as a child.