Mr. Jack is a song by the American-Armenian heavy metal band System of a Down. The song appeared on the band’s third studio album, Steal This Album (2002). It was not released as an official single. Before understanding the Mr. Jack lyrics meaning you should learn about its title.
Title – What does it mean?
The title “Mr. Jack” refers to corrupt police officers. It could be short for “jackass” or “jackboot” which means a public official who does things only to benefit him or herself. With the title explained it is now time to unravel the Mr. Jack lyrics meaning.
Verse 1 – What does it mean?
Hey, Mister Jack
Is that the mouthwash in your eyes?
Hey, Mister Jack
Is that the cause of your surprise?
Since the song Mr. Jack is about corrupt police officials, the first verse visualizes a scene with the cops. The corrupt police inspectors go to any lengths to make money out of bribes and other illicit means. In this case, the scene enfolds on the highway road where a person has just been pulled over by the cops.
The person in the driver’s seat is being accused of drunk driving, although, there seems to be no proof. This is why the imagery of “mouthwash in your eyes” has been used. Mouthwash contains a tiny amount of alcohol. It is not enough to get one drunk, but people suffering from alcoholism still gulp the whole bottle down. This gives their eyes a reddish tinge.
The narrator is mocking the cops. Clearly, there is no evidence that the driver is drunk. So the cops must have assumed that the driver has been getting drunk on mouthwash, which is a silly accusation.
Naturally, an ordinary citizen will be shocked by such a stupid allegation. The driver in this scene is no different. The term “Mister Jack” can allude to multiple things. “Jack” could be short for “Jackass” which is a way to describe terrible people (like corrupt cops). It could also be an abbreviation of “jackboot” which means a selfish corrupt official.
Chorus – What does it mean?
Hey, where you at?
On the side of the freeway in the car?
Hey, where you at?
On the side of the freeway in the car, in the car?
On the side of the freeway in the
These lines continue with the imagery of being pulled over on the road for no reason. The narrator again mocks the corrupt cops, asking whether they wait “on the side of the freeway” to harass innocent civilians.
This is especially true on weekend nights when most people are tired and returning late after a party. They are prone to driving slightly faster. To take advantage of this, corrupt police officials remain hidden in the darkness and ambush the drivers when they least expect it. Most people tend to speed up instinctively before realizing they are being chased by cops. But the cops do not take that excuse and accuse the drivers of over-speeding.
The chorus perfectly captures the true essence of the Mr. Jack lyrics meaning.
Verse 2 – What does it mean?
Hey, Mister Jack (Hey)
Is that the trick of your disguise?
Hey, Mister Jack
Is that the cause of your demise?
The term “disguise” here refers to what the police force should stand for. As protectors of the streets, the police should naturally be the people you look up to. They are the ones who you can approach in case of trouble.
But when it comes to the corrupt cops, that image of protector is only a disguise. In reality, the corrupt officials intend to “trick” the innocent to meet their own vested interests. This could be in the form of an unfair fine or an illegal bribe.
It is due to the actions of such corrupt cops that the reputation of law and order has gone down the drain. Hopefully, their sins will eventually lead to their “demise”.
Wake up…
Seven AM, morning, came to take us away
Little men, big guns, pointed at our heads
Seven AM, morning, came to take us away
Little men, big guns, pointed at our heads
At our, at our heads
If you decide to protest and fight back, you are done for. The corrupt officials will not spare you. They will misuse their weapons and put you under arrest. But it will not be that simple. First, they will beat you up and harass you by pointing “big guns” at your “heads”. Then they will frame you for crimes you never committed.
This is not the end of police brutality. If by sheer force of luck you manage to escape this ordeal, you are still not safe. They will track you down early in the morning (“Seven AM”) and arrest you in your own house. Some corrupt cops are capable of abusing their power to that extent.
Outro – What does it mean?
Your prospect of living gone
You ran the light at dawn
Protectors on your back
Lights are on their track
These lines recount the experience of somebody who has been abused by the corrupt police before. When faced with the same situation again, a person would try to escape the corrupt cops altogether. This will end up in an ugly chase. “Light at dawn” refers to the blue and red police car light. Although these cops are supposed to protect you, they are actually trying to steal from you this time. Whether you stop and accept defeat or try to drive away, you will lose either way.
You must now face authority
You’re nothing like me
You must now face authority
You’re nothing like me
Once you get caught by the cops, it is the end of the road for you. The expression “you’re nothing like me” could denote two things. First, the cops are letting you know your place. You are not as strong and powerful as the cops. Second, this expression could also hint at racism from the cop’s side. The corrupt cops are probably white but the driver is black. Hence the expression “you’re nothing like me”.
Put your hands up, get out of the car
Put your hands up, get out of the car
Put your hands up, get out of the car
Fuck you, pig
Fuck you, pig
Fuck you, pig
Fuck you, pig
Put your hands up, get out of the car
When the car is finally pulled over, things get ugly. The driver is arrested but not without creating a scene first. Verbal abuses are hurled around, along with some physical restraint. The term “pig” could refer to P.I.G (Professionally Instructed Gunman) which was supposed to be the original title of this song.
Hope you have now understood the Mr. Jack lyrics meaning.
Conclusion
The true Mr. Jack lyrics meaning rests in the fact that police brutality is still a real problem. This is not to say that everyone in the police force is corrupt. What the band System of a Down is trying to do is create awareness against the ones who are bad.
