Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
They put on disguises today
To hide the scarlet letters
That each of us has put so far away
In this which trial
Modern day
Despite this it seems that the powers be
Have decided who I am
And who I will be
Who I am who I'll be
Has been decided for me
And they don't even know me
As they pounded in the stake
I thought I heard them say
"Become like us or you will be slain"
You can't tell me who I am.
To hide the scarlet letters
That each of us has put so far away
In this which trial
Modern day
Despite this it seems that the powers be
Have decided who I am
And who I will be
Who I am who I'll be
Has been decided for me
And they don't even know me
As they pounded in the stake
I thought I heard them say
"Become like us or you will be slain"
You can't tell me who I am.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
I think this songs just shows how as you go through life people will always try to label you, to stereotype you, but only God knows who you really are, and that we shouldn't have to take that, people can't control us, but you know, this songs just plain kicks! It is awesome, and Project 86 rocks!
Alrighty if anyone has been following my posts, this is going with the idea that the Truthless Heroes cd is a story...
Stan(our 'truthless hero') has been through middle and highschool(Little Green Men and Know what it means) Now he has entered.. college.
And he really feels the pressure of his teachs, family and peers. "Who I am Who I'll be Has been decided for me But they don't even know me"
He is being pushed towards a carreer, that he isn't really intrested in, we'll say they are trying to make him a musician. He tries to fight back, becomes a rebel. But the head of the college(maybe even his parents) pretty much tell him that if he doesn't go this way with his life, he'll never be good enough for anything, or anyone. "And as they pounded in the stake I thought I heard them say "Become like us or you will be slain" "
As ProjectShadows said Truthless is a story but almost every song on the album hits on the ordeal the band was going through with being forced to change their sound to try and hit with the non christian audience by their record label. Thats why who they are and who they will be has been decided for them.
If you know anything about the Salem witch trials, you'll realize that the title gives it away. It's about being judged for not conforming to a certain idea or belief.