Maybe Man Lyrics
Wish I was a stone so I couldn't feel
You'd yell in my face, it'd be no big deal
But I'd miss the way we make up and smile
Don't wanna be stone, I changed my mind
[Verse 2: Jack Met]
I wish I had eyes in the back of my head
Then I could see the places I've been
But then I would know that you're talkin' shit
I don't wanna know what my friends think
[Verse 3: Jack Met]
Wish I were my dog out on the lawn
I'd be so glad when I hear you come home
But if I were my dog, I wouldn't live long
I'm sure gonna miss her when she's gone
[Verse 4: Jack Met]
I wish I could act in a show on TV
'Cause then I could practice not bein' me
I'll practice my cry, put it into my reel
But you won't believe me when I cry for real
[Verse 5: Jack Met]
I wish that my brain would triple in size
I'd nail every joke, I'd win every fight
But I'd get too deep with that kind of mind
I don't wanna know the point of life
In some other life, I would be rich
I'd travel in style, I'd cover the bill
But couldn't complain 'bout anything small
Nobody'd feel bad for me at all
[Verse 7: Jack Met]
If I was cocaine or a bottle of Jack
I'd get invited to every frat
But when you get old and your good days are passed
You'll only want me when you're sad
[Verse 8: Jack Met]
Wish I was a song, your favorite one
You'd follow the dance to me at your prom
I would be there when your baby is born
For two or three minutes, then I'm gone
[Verse 9: Jack Met]
I wish I was big, as big as my house
I'd sleep on the trees, I'd skip every crowd
But I wouldn't fit on my therapist's couch
God, I could really use him now
[Verse 10: Jack Met]
I wish I was God, I'd never trip up
And if I did, well, so fuckin' what?
I could be cruel and break all your stuff
Yeah, I'd be loved no matter what
But if I was God, it'd get kinda weird
'Cause you would only say what I wanna hear
And then you would die, you'd love me to death
I'd never know who the hell I am
[Verse 12: Jack Met]
I wish I was me, whoever that is
I could just be and not give a shit
Hey, I'll be whatever makes you a fan
'Cause I don't know who the hell I am
[Outro: Jack Met & Rob Piccione]
One, two, pandemonium
One, two, pandemonium
Here I go again
One, two, pandemonium
Here I go again
One, two, pandemonium
One, two
Here I go again
About
“Maybe Man” is the opening track on AJR’s album The Maybe Man. The song introduces the pervasive theme throughout the album of Jack not knowing who he is, or wanting to be something other than what he currently is. Each verse discusses a quality he wishes to possess, often pairing it with an object that has said quality—the unfeelingness of a stone, the joy held by one’s favorite song, the sheer novelty of being a giant—but then turns it around with a negative experience that would also be associated with said quality. The final verse laments his apparent lack of self-identity and implies that he finds his identity instead in his role as an artist performing for his fans, before the outro launches into the “pandemonium” of the rest of the album.
A snippet of the outro was first posted on November 12, 2022 to announce the start of AJR’s follow-up album to 2021’s OK ORCHESTRA. It depicted silhouettes of the Met brothers as giants, which were later revealed in the single artwork for “The DJ Is Crying For Help.” The snippet was released the day after AJR’s tease of the teaser.
The title of this track was unknown for almost a year, although when the tracklist was officially announced on September 12, 2023, it was speculated that the audio may belong to the album’s namesake track. This was confirmed on October 24, along with the song having a full animated music video, through copyright strikes on YouTubers posting videos containing the audio of the teasers. On November 2, 2023 a brand new snippet was posted, which was originally presumed as part of “Hole in the Bottom of my Brain,” until copyright strikes again revealed it to be part of “Maybe Man.”
After the album’s release, AJR revealed that this song acts as a sort of “table of contents” for the rest of the album. Each verse corresponds to one of the subsequent tracks.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning