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.
Well, it is a steep mountain to climb
And it is a deep river to cross
The road is rocky and rough
So I can't afford for my soul to lost
And I cannot take this no longer
And I cannot bear this no more
Tired to see my sisters and brothers
Convicted and ignored
So I got to fetch the righteous key
And I got to open sesame
And I got to set the captive free
And I got to hail His majesty
And I got to emancipate myself from mental slavery
Oh, oh, he bingi man will never get weary
The rastaman will never grow old
That's why the half has never been told
But the bingi man come fi clean up dem soul
The bingi man will never get weary
The rastaman will have his reward
But Jah, Jah bless I with the strength
And the comfort of His love
So long the liar bring this out
And you no read between the lines
Then oonu woulda see what the rastaman find
The truth and the love that is so divine
Unity, strength and we have fi combine
This is a collective mission everyone have to join
Any means necessary a method we have to find
To stop all the war, poverty and crime
Politics and religion we have fi lef that behind
Can't go a Zion with no carnal mind
Look how we a warn dem time after time
Be your brother's keeper and you sister same time
Remember that you mother and you father is divine
To righteousness you must always incline, oonu see Jah sign
Well, it is a steep mountain to climb
And it is a deep river to cross
The road is rocky and rough
So I can't afford for my soul to lost
And I cannot take this no longer
And I cannot bear this no more
Tired to see my sisters and brothers
Convicted and ignored
So I got to fetch the righteous key
And I got to open sesame
And I got to set the captive free
And I got to hail His majesty
And I got to emancipate myself from mental slavery
The bingi man will never get weary
The rastaman will never grow old
That's why the half has never been told
But the bingi man come fi clean up dem soul
The bingi man will never get weary
The rastaman
And it is a deep river to cross
The road is rocky and rough
So I can't afford for my soul to lost
And I cannot take this no longer
And I cannot bear this no more
Tired to see my sisters and brothers
Convicted and ignored
So I got to fetch the righteous key
And I got to open sesame
And I got to set the captive free
And I got to hail His majesty
And I got to emancipate myself from mental slavery
Oh, oh, he bingi man will never get weary
The rastaman will never grow old
That's why the half has never been told
But the bingi man come fi clean up dem soul
The bingi man will never get weary
The rastaman will have his reward
But Jah, Jah bless I with the strength
And the comfort of His love
So long the liar bring this out
And you no read between the lines
Then oonu woulda see what the rastaman find
The truth and the love that is so divine
Unity, strength and we have fi combine
This is a collective mission everyone have to join
Any means necessary a method we have to find
To stop all the war, poverty and crime
Politics and religion we have fi lef that behind
Can't go a Zion with no carnal mind
Look how we a warn dem time after time
Be your brother's keeper and you sister same time
Remember that you mother and you father is divine
To righteousness you must always incline, oonu see Jah sign
Well, it is a steep mountain to climb
And it is a deep river to cross
The road is rocky and rough
So I can't afford for my soul to lost
And I cannot take this no longer
And I cannot bear this no more
Tired to see my sisters and brothers
Convicted and ignored
So I got to fetch the righteous key
And I got to open sesame
And I got to set the captive free
And I got to hail His majesty
And I got to emancipate myself from mental slavery
The bingi man will never get weary
The rastaman will never grow old
That's why the half has never been told
But the bingi man come fi clean up dem soul
The bingi man will never get weary
The rastaman
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Steep Mountain Lyrics as written by S. Brown Clifton George Bailey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
Mountain Song
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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."
No Surprises
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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.