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.
Mary Jane, oh, Mary Jane
You crumpled me like cellophane
You stirred me up like beef chow mein
You wreck me, Mary Jane
Mary Jane, oh, Mary Jane
You conquered me like Charlemagne
Pleasure intertwined with pain
You wreck me, Mary Jane
Your toxic kisses make my heart race
Faster than a cheetah
I've been stapled and spindled
My willpower's dwindled
You melt resistance down like hot Velveeta!
Mary Jane, oh, Mary Jane
You flush my future down the drain
You smeared me like a ketchup stain
But I need you, I love you
I'm loved by Mary...Lane
All:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane
Jimmy:
Lane...I'm loved by Mary Lane!
"There's only room for one Mary in my life...Mary Lane! With an L -- for love! I love Mary Lane!"
All:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane
Mary:
"Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost nine p.m.!"
Jimmy:
Mary Lane, oh, Mary Lane
Two words that fall like gentle rain
Mary:
"Did you take my car?"
Jimmy:
Touch my hand and kill my pain
I love you, Mary Lane
Mary:
"Jimmy, I'm in my nightgown!"
Jimmy:
You flood my world with all the colors of the Sunday funnies
Innocent splendor, kisses so tender
Softer than a pillow stuffed with bunnies!
Mary:
"Bunnies? I don't know what you're talking about, but I like the sound of it!"
Mary Lane, oh, Mary Lane
Will help you sing a new refrain
Jimmy:
With you beside we'll start again
Just me and Mary
Mary:
You and Mary
Jimmy:
(You) Me and Mary Lane!
Both:
When life becomes a roller coaster and
I can't keep my footing
Mary:
I'll love you completely
Jimmy:
And steady me sweetly
Sweet as Shirley Temple dipped in pudding!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!
Mary:
Sweet as Shirley Temple pudding!
Mary Lane
Jimmy:
Oh, Mary Lane!
Both:
Our hearts pound like a diesel train
The world may crumble, we'll remain
Jimmy:
Just me and Mary
Mary:
You and Mary
Jimmy:
I'm loved by Mary!
Mary:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane!
Mae, Jack:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Clams:
Loved by Mary Lane!
Miss Poppy:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Cop, Dead Old Man:
Loved by Mary Lane!
Satan:
Loved by Mary
Joan of Arc:
Ma du Mary
Jesus:
Not Mary Magdalene but Lane!
Ralph, Sally:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Chinese man:
Maalei Lan oi ngo
Lecturer, Parents:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane!
Jimmy, Mary (ad-libbing):
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane!
We'll sing to the rafters of happily afters!
Jimmy:
I love you
Mary:
You're loved by
Both:
Mary Lane!
You crumpled me like cellophane
You stirred me up like beef chow mein
You wreck me, Mary Jane
Mary Jane, oh, Mary Jane
You conquered me like Charlemagne
Pleasure intertwined with pain
You wreck me, Mary Jane
Your toxic kisses make my heart race
Faster than a cheetah
I've been stapled and spindled
My willpower's dwindled
You melt resistance down like hot Velveeta!
Mary Jane, oh, Mary Jane
You flush my future down the drain
You smeared me like a ketchup stain
But I need you, I love you
I'm loved by Mary...Lane
All:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane
Jimmy:
Lane...I'm loved by Mary Lane!
"There's only room for one Mary in my life...Mary Lane! With an L -- for love! I love Mary Lane!"
All:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane
Mary:
"Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost nine p.m.!"
Jimmy:
Mary Lane, oh, Mary Lane
Two words that fall like gentle rain
Mary:
"Did you take my car?"
Jimmy:
Touch my hand and kill my pain
I love you, Mary Lane
Mary:
"Jimmy, I'm in my nightgown!"
Jimmy:
You flood my world with all the colors of the Sunday funnies
Innocent splendor, kisses so tender
Softer than a pillow stuffed with bunnies!
Mary:
"Bunnies? I don't know what you're talking about, but I like the sound of it!"
Mary Lane, oh, Mary Lane
Will help you sing a new refrain
Jimmy:
With you beside we'll start again
Just me and Mary
Mary:
You and Mary
Jimmy:
(You) Me and Mary Lane!
Both:
When life becomes a roller coaster and
I can't keep my footing
Mary:
I'll love you completely
Jimmy:
And steady me sweetly
Sweet as Shirley Temple dipped in pudding!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!
Mary:
Sweet as Shirley Temple pudding!
Mary Lane
Jimmy:
Oh, Mary Lane!
Both:
Our hearts pound like a diesel train
The world may crumble, we'll remain
Jimmy:
Just me and Mary
Mary:
You and Mary
Jimmy:
I'm loved by Mary!
Mary:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane!
Mae, Jack:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Clams:
Loved by Mary Lane!
Miss Poppy:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Cop, Dead Old Man:
Loved by Mary Lane!
Satan:
Loved by Mary
Joan of Arc:
Ma du Mary
Jesus:
Not Mary Magdalene but Lane!
Ralph, Sally:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Chinese man:
Maalei Lan oi ngo
Lecturer, Parents:
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane!
Jimmy, Mary (ad-libbing):
Loved by Mary, loved by Mary
Loved by Mary Lane!
We'll sing to the rafters of happily afters!
Jimmy:
I love you
Mary:
You're loved by
Both:
Mary Lane!
Lyrics submitted by killstar, edited by politicking
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
The Chinese man is singing in Cantonese, which as you can imagine translates literally to, "Mary Lane loves me"