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.
I ain't got a name, I don't gotta face
No fingerprints or DNA
I ain't got no eyes, I don't got a tongue
But I know what's going on, I'm deaf and dumb
I'm pure non-entity
Don't even look for me
I watch you when you sleep
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'll keep you on your knees
I am the brain police
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'm full of dirty tricks
I'm twice as smart and certainly twice as sick
I am always out of sight, ashadow in the mist
I don't need no alibi, 'cause I don't exist
I'm pure non-entity
Don't even look for me
I watch you when you sleep
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'll keep you on your knees
I am the brain police
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'm full of dirty tricks
I'm twice as smart and certainly twice as sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's really really sick, he's sick, he's sick
He's really really sick
I'm pure non-entity
Don't even look for me
I watch you when you sleep
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'll keep you on your knees
I am the brain police
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'm full of dirty tricks
I'm twice as smart and certainly twice as sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick
No fingerprints or DNA
I ain't got no eyes, I don't got a tongue
But I know what's going on, I'm deaf and dumb
I'm pure non-entity
Don't even look for me
I watch you when you sleep
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'll keep you on your knees
I am the brain police
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'm full of dirty tricks
I'm twice as smart and certainly twice as sick
I am always out of sight, ashadow in the mist
I don't need no alibi, 'cause I don't exist
I'm pure non-entity
Don't even look for me
I watch you when you sleep
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'll keep you on your knees
I am the brain police
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'm full of dirty tricks
I'm twice as smart and certainly twice as sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's really really sick, he's sick, he's sick
He's really really sick
I'm pure non-entity
Don't even look for me
I watch you when you sleep
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'll keep you on your knees
I am the brain police
I am the triggerman
I am the underhand
I'm full of dirty tricks
I'm twice as smart and certainly twice as sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick, he's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick, he's really, really sick
He's sick
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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
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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."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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."
When We Were Young
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
To me, this song reminds of Big Brother from George Orswell's novel 1984. Like the Big Brother, the narrator of the song is watching everyone all the time, but isn't actually an entity. He even knows what people think, like the Big Brother and the phrase "brain police" was first used in the novel, I believe. It also fits with the whole theme of the album, as Dragontown is this absolutely horrid place and it makes sense if there's some sort of Big Brother-like thing to keep everyone oppressed and miserable.