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.
Snow on the railroad tracks
Dogs in the moonlight
Stoned out on Kerouac
Tryin' to get it just right
A phone in a dim lit room
Rings out forever
In a time that was still too soon
But why should he care?
He had a rambling soul
He drank a bottle of cheap wine
Turned up his collar to the cold
And waited, he waited for a sign
Fueled by amphetamines
And visions of beauty
As far as the eye could see
Was all that he strived for
A waitress in Tennessee
Said he looked like Jesus
He silenced her raging sea
Then walked out the door
He had a rambling soul
He drank a bottle of cheap wine
Turned up his collar to the cold
And waited, he waited for a sign
Under an open sky
He stands with his eyes closed
If anyone asked him why
He would not know
He's lost in America
Hell bent for no place
A rusty harmonica
That won't even play
He's lost in America
Dogs in the moonlight
Stoned out on Kerouac
Tryin' to get it just right
A phone in a dim lit room
Rings out forever
In a time that was still too soon
But why should he care?
He had a rambling soul
He drank a bottle of cheap wine
Turned up his collar to the cold
And waited, he waited for a sign
Fueled by amphetamines
And visions of beauty
As far as the eye could see
Was all that he strived for
A waitress in Tennessee
Said he looked like Jesus
He silenced her raging sea
Then walked out the door
He had a rambling soul
He drank a bottle of cheap wine
Turned up his collar to the cold
And waited, he waited for a sign
Under an open sky
He stands with his eyes closed
If anyone asked him why
He would not know
He's lost in America
Hell bent for no place
A rusty harmonica
That won't even play
He's lost in America
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This is a wonderful song and it is definitely based on Kerouac's writings. Let's look closely at this song:
"Snow on the railroad tracks/Dogs in the moonlight" He is a hobo, a drifter riding the rails or walking them on a winter's night.
"Stoned out on Kerouac/ Tryin' to get it just right"
He is literate and he has read Kerouac. Maybe he is trying to follow in Kerouac's footsteps.
"A phone in a dim lit room /Rings out forever"
He has left home?
"He had a rambling soul /He drank a bottle of cheap wine" No doubt he is a wanderer. And an alcoholic or perhaps cheap wine is all he can afford.
"Turned up his collar to the cold/And waited, he waited for a sign"
It is winter, and he's searching.
"Fueled by amphetamines /And visions of beauty As far as the eye could see /Was all that he strived for"
Hmmm, a problem with drugs too? And is he aiming for the world?
"A waitress in Tennessee /Said he looked like Jesus"
He is unkempt, or perhaps she thinks he's her saviour?
"He silenced her raging sea /Then walked out the door /He had a rambling soul"
He loved her and left her because he's a drifter. But I've never seen that expressed so deeply. I have no doubt that it was passionate!
"Under an open sky /He stands with his eyes closed If anyone asked him why /He would not know He's lost in America /Hell bent for no place A rusty harmonica /That won't even play He's lost in America..."
I see him on a hilltop or maybe in an open field under a vast sky. As I've said before, he is searching for something. Perhaps he doesn't even know what.