The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Hear the words a jumble try this tongue twister
Kevin has a caterpillar squeezed between his fingers
Hear the mailman come, see what he delivers
And you wait and it makes you feel strange
As if you were afraid
And you lie with a look to the side
And you say I was addicted to the drug
Now I know when I've had enough
Could curl up and sleep on the floor
But now I'm riding the train a hundred miles an hour
Feels like this train might never stop, ooh
Watching static on the television
When the morning comes
And you wait and it makes you feel strange
As if you were deranged
With a look to the side
And you say I was addicted to the drug
But now I know when I've had enough
So far, we've come so far
Come so far
Far, so far
Kevin has a caterpillar squeezed between his fingers
Hear the mailman come, see what he delivers
And you wait and it makes you feel strange
As if you were afraid
And you lie with a look to the side
And you say I was addicted to the drug
Now I know when I've had enough
Could curl up and sleep on the floor
But now I'm riding the train a hundred miles an hour
Feels like this train might never stop, ooh
Watching static on the television
When the morning comes
And you wait and it makes you feel strange
As if you were deranged
With a look to the side
And you say I was addicted to the drug
But now I know when I've had enough
So far, we've come so far
Come so far
Far, so far
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
Addicted Lyrics as written by Neil Mullane Finn
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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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.
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"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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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Addicted I think is another ode to the disbandment of CH. I think Neil knew he had enough, the fame, the pressure, fortunes but was addicted to it, almost like an aspiration to get there, and once was there he loved it. But now sees it as a hindrance and now the next morning when static is on and the era has ended (when it's all over - crowded house) he wonders why he was like that, and feels perhaps ashamed he loved it so much and is contemplating that thought and feeling maybe a little silly for his actions knowing what people had told him was right - 'And you say I was addicted to the drug' - They were right, I admit that now and couldn't see it, and is glad he has given it up and the timing was right as he knows deep down he had, had enough. I think it's quite an introspective 'when it's all over' auto analysis and knowing he made the right decision, he'd had enough and is happy with leaving it.
Addictions to anything. This song speaks to me. I have my own addiction, and it is a struggle every day. "Feels like this train might never stop" is every person's battles with temptation.
Neil Finn doesn't fail to bring a simple message "And you say I was addicted to the drug But now I know when I've had enough So far, we've come so far" When you have a drug addiction like me you feel like you've come so far when you deicide you want to quit.
A bad relationship. A certain person. Something that you know you shouldn't do, but have no control over.
There is a live version of this song where Neil introduces the song by saying it's about the morning after a big night out when you wake up and see static on the television. He acknowledges that in America it's more likely that you'd wake up to an exerciser infomercial. He says, "People say my songs are dark, but when you wake up with some girl shaking her butt in your face, THAT'S dark!" I love it.
To the best of my knowledge, Neil has not battled addition to anything. I've always thought this song my be about his strained relationship with the band/fame. I think he sees fame as a loss of freedom and control. So, anyway, that's what this song means to me.
He may have meant that he was addicted to the "wild" life and Hester's to realize its dangers the morning after, and tries to convince maybe his wife, gf etc. or maybe his inner self that he may need to slow down and begin live more in reality, the night life is VERY ADDICTING, that's why I say this.