Feed Jake
Encyclopedia
"Feed Jake" is the title of a song written by Danny "Bear" Mayo and recorded by the American country music
band Pirates of the Mississippi
. It was released in February 1991 as the third single from the band's 1990 self-titled
debut album. The song is also the band's highest chart peak, having reached #15 on the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts.
and synthesized strings
. In the chorus, the male narrator reminisces on his childhood friend, a dog named Jake ("If I die before I wake / Feed Jake..."). The narrator also addresses societal stereotypes toward homeless people and homosexuals, of whom the latter are addressed in the final verse.
Guitarist Rich Alves said of the song that it "means something different to everyone who hears it."
directed the song's music video
, which was the first country music video not to feature the artist at all. Most of the music video was filmed southwest of Nashville, Tennessee
on Tennessee State Route 100
. It tells the song's story through two men, who are childhood friends, as shown in flashbacks. Later on, one of the men is attending the other's funeral, and the surviving man goes to pick up his dog at the cemetery. Upon its release, the music video was believed by some members of the gay community to have a gay theme; the two men were said to be lovers, one of whom dies from AIDS
at the end. Kimberly Lansing, then the executive producer of Deaton-Flanigen Productions, said that the video was "not meant one way or another" regarding the back story or the one man's death. She also says that the video is about returning home and not fitting in anymore. Because of the Persian Gulf War, some people have also assumed the man's death is war-related.
country music audience.
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts, peaking at #15.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band Pirates of the Mississippi
Pirates of the Mississippi
Pirates of the Mississippi was an American country music group. It was founded in 1987 by Rich Alves , Bill McCorvey Jimmy Lowe , Pat Severs , and Dean Townson...
. It was released in February 1991 as the third single from the band's 1990 self-titled
Pirates of the Mississippi (album)
Pirates of the Mississippi is the self-titled debut album of the American country music band Pirates of the Mississippi. It was released in 1990 on Capitol Records Nashville and contains four singles: "Honky Tonk Blues" , "Rollin' Home", "Feed Jake", and "Speak of the Devil"...
debut album. The song is also the band's highest chart peak, having reached #15 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts.
Content
"Feed Jake" is a mid-tempo accompanied mainly by guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and synthesized strings
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
. In the chorus, the male narrator reminisces on his childhood friend, a dog named Jake ("If I die before I wake / Feed Jake..."). The narrator also addresses societal stereotypes toward homeless people and homosexuals, of whom the latter are addressed in the final verse.
Guitarist Rich Alves said of the song that it "means something different to everyone who hears it."
Music video
Deaton-Flanigen ProductionsDeaton-Flanigen Productions
Deaton-Flanigen Productions is a music video directing duo composed of Robert Deaton III and George Flanigen IV. The two have directed multiple music videos, primarily in the field of country music...
directed the song's music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, which was the first country music video not to feature the artist at all. Most of the music video was filmed southwest of Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
on Tennessee State Route 100
Tennessee State Route 100
State Route 100 is a west–east route that connects Whiteville, Tennessee with Belle Meade, Tennessee.- Route description :Once it leaves SR-15, State Route 100 passes south of Whiteville along with US-64. Then SR-100 passes through an interchange with US-64 and SR-15 and leaves Whiteville...
. It tells the song's story through two men, who are childhood friends, as shown in flashbacks. Later on, one of the men is attending the other's funeral, and the surviving man goes to pick up his dog at the cemetery. Upon its release, the music video was believed by some members of the gay community to have a gay theme; the two men were said to be lovers, one of whom dies from AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
at the end. Kimberly Lansing, then the executive producer of Deaton-Flanigen Productions, said that the video was "not meant one way or another" regarding the back story or the one man's death. She also says that the video is about returning home and not fitting in anymore. Because of the Persian Gulf War, some people have also assumed the man's death is war-related.
Critical reception
In the book The Encyclopedia of Country Music, Tom Roland wrote that the final verse, with its theme of tolerance towards homosexuals, showed a shift in political beliefs for the typically conservativeConservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
country music audience.
Chart performance
"Feed Jake" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of March 16, 1991. It spent 20 weeks on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts, peaking at #15.
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 15 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 12 |