The Pop Culture Playlist uses music to describe a character, and the latest edition features Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy. Jax is the epitome of an anti-hero who started off with the best intentions, but ultimately fell into darkness. He struggled to reconcile his outlaw lifestyle with being a good father. Here is the tragic tale of the SAMCRO President told through ten tracks.
I’m So Sorry by Imagine Dragons
About time for anyone telling you off for all your deeds
No sign the roaring thunder stopped in cold to read
No time
Get mine and make no excuses waste of precious breath
No time
The sun shines on everyone, everyone love yourself to death
So you gotta fire up, you gotta let go
You’ll never be loved till you’ve made your own
You gotta face up, you gotta get yours
You never know the top till you get too low
A son of a stepfather
A son of a
I’m so sorry
A son of a stepfather
A son of a
I’m so sorry
I’m So Sorry is a great song to describe Jax’s lifestyle and mentality in SAMCRO. It’s all he’s ever wanted to be and it’s all he knew how to be. The song is about living your life unapologetically, with the ‘son of a stepfather’ line being a reference to his relationship with Clay Morrow.
I’d Love To Change The World by Jetta
Everywhere is freaks and hairies
Dykes and fairies, tell me where is sanity
Tax the rich, feed the poor
Till there are no rich no more
I’d love to change the world
But I don’t know what to do
So I’ll leave it up to you
At the start of the series, Jax was idealistic and wanted to pull the Sons of Anarchy away from guns and make them legitimate, like his father John wanted. I’d Love To Change The World describes Jax’s desire to be a good man and his better qualities.
How You Remind Me by Nickelback
Never made it as a wise man
I couldn’t cut it as a poor man stealing
Tired of living like a blind man
I’m sick of sight without a sense of feeling
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
How You Remind Me can be used to describe the relationship between Jax and his wife Tara. The two of them loved each other for years and when she came back to Charming, Jax saw it as a second chance for himself. Tara reminded him of who he really wanted to become.
Any Other Way by We The Kings
I am wide awake
And I’m standing tall
Up against the world
Up against the wall
Between the love and hate
They can hardly wait
To watch the hero fall
You could give me hell
You could give me death
Break before I bend
I will have revenge
Fire through my veins
I will fan the flames
Until my dying breath
Any Other Way represents Jax’s loyalty to the club and how he did anything to defend it.
You’re Going Down by Sick Puppies
it’s what we do when we’re bored
I feel the heat comin’ off of the blacktop
And it makes me want it more
Because I’m hyped up out of control
If it’s a fight, I’m ready to go
I wouldn’t put my money on the other guy
If you know what I know that I know
It’s been a long time coming
And the table’s turned around
‘Cause one of us is going
One of us is going down
I’m not running,
It’s a little different now
‘Cause one of us is going
One of us is going down
Jax’s relationship with his stepfather Clay was always complicated, and You’re Going Down sums it up well. When Jax found out about Clay’s involvement in JT’s death, he planned to get revenge. There’s a violent nature to the song that can be used to describe Sons of Anarchy as a show.
Run This Town by Jay Z
Feel it comin’ in the air (Yeah)
And the screams from everywhere (Yeah)
I’m addicted to the thrill (I’m ready)
It’s a dangerous love affair (What’s up, c’mon)
Can’t be scared when it goes down
Got a problem, tell me now (What’s up)
Only thing that’s on my mind (Whats up)
Is who’s gonna run this town tonight (What’s up)
Is who’s gonna run this town tonight (What’s up)
We gonna run this town
When Jax became President his attitude changed and Run This Town is a good song to use. It talks about the addiction and thrill of being in power and how it can corrupt someone. Jax gradually lost himself and was consumed by the violence around him.
Cleaning Out My Closet by Eminem
Not taking nothing from no one give ’em hell long as I’m breathing
Keep kicking ass in the morning and taking names in the evening
Leave ’em with a taste as sour as vinegar in their mouth
See they can trigger me, but they’ll never figure me out
Look at me now; I bet ya probably sick of me now ain’t you mama?
I’mma make you look so ridiculous now
I’m sorry mama!
I never meant to hurt you!
I never meant to make you cry; but tonight
I’m cleaning out my closet (one more time)
I said I’m sorry mama!
I never meant to hurt you!
I never meant to make you cry, but tonight
I’m cleaning out my closet
The toxic relationship Jax had with his mother Gemma was one of the defining parts of his story. Gemma wanted to keep him within the MC and did anything to protect Jax and his position. Cleaning Out My Closet is the perfect song to describe the love/hate relationship between the two of them.
Never Too Late by Three Days Grace
This world will never be
What I expected
And if I don’t belong
Who would have guessed it
I will not leave alone
Everything that I own
To make you feel like it’s not too late
It’s never too late
Even if I say
It’ll be all right
Still I hear you say
You want to end your life
Now and again we try
To just stay alive
Maybe we’ll turn it all around
‘Cause it’s not too late
It’s never too late
Never Too Late has a melancholy vibe that describes Jax and Tara’s relationship towards the end of the series. Despite everything that happened between them, Jax was willing to turn himself in and stop his wife from going to prison.
Come Join The Murder by The White Buffalo
There’s a blackbird perched outside my window
I hear him calling
I hear him sing
He burns me with his eyes of gold to embers
He sees all my sins
He reads my soul
One day that bird he spoke to me
Like Martin Luther
Like Pericles
Come join the murder
Come fly with black
We’ll give you freedom
From the human trap
Come join the murder
Soar on my wings
You’ll touch the hand of God
And He’ll make you king
And He’ll make you king
Come Join The Murder played during Jax’s final ride and it’s an appropriate song for summing up his journey. He wanted to do right by the club, but understood that he couldn’t be a good father and a good outlaw. In the end he chose to kill himself to protect SAMCRO and to give his sons a chance to grow up without the club’s influence.
My, My, Hey, Hey (Out Of The Blue) by Neil Young
Out of the blue
And into the black
They give you this
But you pay for that
And once you’re gone
You can never come back
When you’re out of the blue
And into the black
The king is gone
But he’s not forgotten
This is the story
Of a Johnny Rotten
It’s better to burn out
Than it is to rust
The king is gone
But he’s not forgotten
This song is ideal for describing Jax’s legacy as a father, husband, leader and man. He lived life how he wanted to live it and he’ll never be forgotten by the people who cared about him.
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The Comic Vault 
Wow!! This was really cool. I’ve never seen anybody tell a story with songs like that before.
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