Jawbreaker Songs Ranked
Jawbreaker is an American punk rock band active from 1986 to 1996, and again since 2017. The band is considered to be influential to the 1990s emo genre and has also been credited (along with California punk bands Green Day, The Offspring, Rancid, and NOFX) for being part of the punk rock revival scene that decade. Following the breakup, the members of Jawbreaker were active in other projects including Jets to Brazil and Whysall Lane. Pfahler continued to issue previously-recorded Jawbreaker material through his Blackball Records label, and public interest in the band continued due in part to nationally charting pop-punk and emo acts openly indebted to Jawbreaker’s sound. In 2004, Pfahler licensed the out-of-print Dear You from DGC’s parent company Geffen Records, and re-released it to a positive response. Remastered versions of the rest of the band’s catalog have since been released. Here are all of Jawbreaker’s songs ranked.
Don’t miss out on the music of Jawbreaker! Click below and listen to the songs enjoyed by many pop-rock fans!
15. The Boat Dreams From The Hill (24 Hour Revenge Therapy, 1994)
“I always think of this song as a metaphor for a dream deferred. The boat (dream) is broken down and the dreamer always tries to patch it up but never actually accomplishes anything (taking it to sea). The process repeats itself as in the chorus. Honestly, this is one of the best songs ever written.”
14. Busy, Unfun, 1990)
“Jawbreaker changed my life, when my creative writing teacher burnt me this cd. Everything they ever recorded, it was the turning point in the way I saw the Earth. What an amazing band.”
13. Shield Your Eyes (Bivouac, 1992)
“The truth always shines bright and its hard to face it and look directly into it and face the consequences. There fore its better to just go along with the lies and ignore the truth. This way you cant see all the misery around you.”
12. Ashtray Monument (24 Hour Revenge Therapy, 1994)
“I think this song is about a couple who have divorced and have children and now their marriage is through the person sees that the only thing that they still had in common when they divorced is their children. They also have known A LOT of misery”
11. Fireman (Dear You, 1995)
“I love this song – my favorite by Jawbreaker, no contest. I think it’s about a guy alternately pushing away and trying to draw in the object of his affection – who he feels he will destroy emotionally. What I’ve never decided is whether she comes back to him. I guess there are really no clues that she does in the song. He morosely says “I know you’ll never come”, but that could be just his pessimistic worldview…”
10. Jet Black (Dear You, 1995)
“The song is saying basically that there is someone who broke my heart but I loved them and can’t let them go just that easy. It’s almost as if he wants her back but at the same time knows he can because the other person won’t have them.”
See more: Jawbreaker Albums Ranked
9. Sluttering (Dear You, 1995)
“I think this song describes a rough break up of a couple who intended to get married and have children. The last line of the song kind of confirms that. Most of the metaphors throughout the song create a beautiful imagery of depression, anger, and suicidal tendencies. This is one of my favorite songs from Jawbreaker. Truly a break through song lyrically.”
8. Condition Oakland (24 Hour Revenge Therapy, 1994)
“Depression. Complete depression. Yeah, this guy’s depressed. Not much he can do about it either, even though he tries to make things better. It’s hinted that a girl is associated with the problem: “Drank and just about smiled / Then I remembered us in that bed.” Those pesky girls…”
7. Do You Still Hate Me (24 Hour Revenge Therapy, 1994)
“This is the first song that got me hooked on Jawbreaker. Great vocals, lyrics, guitar work, and drums! If I want people to like Jawbreaker, I usually play this song first because everyone can relate to what is being said in the song! Great work Blake!”
6. Want (Unfun, 1990)
“This is definitely one of my favorites from jawbreaker, very staight forward upbeat song. Of course you gotta love every song on unfun. Definitely one of the first albums that got me into punk many years ago.”
5. Jinx Removing (24 Hour Revenge Therapy, 1994)
“It’s a great song and I think it’s about how when you want someone, you don’t think of all the things that can go wrong, but when they do go wrong, you’ll do anything to make it right again. I think the person singing is trying all the silly superstitions and other things like that.”
See more: Alkaline Trio Albums Ranked
4. Chesterfield King (Bivouac, 1992)
“Another favorite song of mine. Unlike most Jawbreaker songs, there aren’t many metaphors or coded lyrics, just really honest and beautiful language.”
3. Accident Prone (Dear You, 1995)
“This is one of the hardest songs I’ve ever tried to figure out. i think is sorta about him being far to emotionally involved with everything and every little relationship he gets into takes something out of him emotionally. By the time he finds the girl he really loves so much stuff has happened to him, he has nothing left to give her but all his issues, and confusion”
2. Kiss the Bottle (Etc., 2002)
“The prettiest song I’ve ever heard. he loves her so much but can’t stop what he’s doing that’s hurting them both. he wanted so many things for both of them that can’t happen now as a result of their alcoholism. I get all weepy every time I hear this.”
1. Boxcar (24 Hour Revenge Therapy, 1994)
“Love this song for the fact that Kerouac is mentioned…and the way these lyrics kind of beat around the bush in saying that he’s not what you think he is…”
