The Authority Song

The Authority Song

Bleed American Album Cover

Released:	2001-07-24
First Played:	Live 2001-07-23 at Web Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Length:	3:37
Label:	Dreamworks
Writer:	Jimmy Eat World
Producer:	Mark Trombino, Jimmy Eat World

Appears On

• Bleed American
• ITunes Festival: London 2013

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

It's how the hustle goes

See what the jukebox knows

Put my last quarter on

I'll play "Authority Song"

[Chorus 1]

Honesty or mystery?

Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I, I)

I got no secret purpose

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I, do I?)

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I, do I?)

I don't seem obvious do...

[Verse 2]

The DJ never has it

J.A.M.C. "Automatic" (Do I?)

If those were Roy's headphones

You bet he'd play "What Goes On" (Do I?)

[Chorus 2]

Honesty or mystery?

Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I, I)

I got no secret purpose

I don't seem obvious do I? (Do I, do I?)

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I, do I?)

I don't seem obvious do I? Do I?

[Bridge]

Oh, well I'm here, that means something doesn't it?

Oh, won't you dance with me a little bit?

Oh, you don't notice, cause the music's too loud

[Modified Verse 1]

It's how the hustle goes

See what the jukebox knows (Do I, do I?)

Put my last quarter on

I'll play "Authority Song" (Do I?)

[Modified Chorus 1]

Honesty or mystery?

Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I, I)

Say anything you want already I'm not scared anymore (I, I)

Honesty or mystery, want something else?

Just tell me I'm not scared anymore (I, I)

I got no secret purpose

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I?)

[Outro]

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I?)

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I?)

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I?)

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I?)

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I?)

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I?)

I don't seem obvious, do I? (Do I?)

Personnel

Jimmy Eat World

• Jim Adkins – lead vocals, lead guitar, percussion
• Rick Burch – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Zach Lind – drums
• Tom Linton – rhythm guitar

Additional musicians

• Travis Keller – "timely handclaps" on The Authority Song
• Doug Messenger – "timely handclaps" on The Authority Song
• Rachel Haden – uncredited back-up vocals on The Authority Song

Production

• Mark Trombino – producer, engineering, mixing
• Jimmy Eat World – producer
• Justin Smith – assistant engineer
• William Eggleston – front cover photograph
• Christopher Wray-McCann – photography
• Jim Adkins – art direction
• Jeff Kleinsmith – art direction, design
• Jesse LeDoux – design

Other Versions

Live at iTunes Festival: London 2013

iTunes Festival: London 2013 Digital Album Cover

This is a digital only release of a live recording from the iTunes Festival (now known as the Apple Music Festival) held at The Roundhouse, Camden Town, UK on 2013-11-11. See iTunes Festival: London 2013 for details.

External Links

Jimmy Eat Pod Episode Link: https://www.jimmyeatpod.com/098-the-authority-song/

https://genius.com/Jimmy-eat-world-the-authority-song-lyrics

https://twitter.com/jimmyeatworld/status/1021933661556363265?s=20

https://web.archive.org/web/20041030010924/http://dallasobserver.com/issues/2001-08-02/hearthere.html