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.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the sacred wunderkind
You took me behind a dis-used railway line
And said "I know a place where we can go
Where we are not known"
And then you gave me something that I won't forget too soon
But I can't believe that you'd ever care
And this is why you will never care
But these things take time
I know that I'm
The most inept
That ever stepped
I'm spellbound, oh...but a woman divides
And the hills are alive with celibate cries
But you know where you came from, you know where
You're going and you know where you belong
You said I was ill, and you were not wrong
But I can't believe that you'd ever care
And so, you will never care
But these things take time
And I know that I'm
The most inept
That ever stepped
Oh, the alcoholic afternoons
When we sat in your rooms
They meant more to me
Than any, than any living thing on earth
They had more worth
Than any living thing on earth
On earth, on earth, oh ...
Vivid and in your prime
You will leave me behind
You will leave me behind
You took me behind a dis-used railway line
And said "I know a place where we can go
Where we are not known"
And then you gave me something that I won't forget too soon
But I can't believe that you'd ever care
And this is why you will never care
But these things take time
I know that I'm
The most inept
That ever stepped
I'm spellbound, oh...but a woman divides
And the hills are alive with celibate cries
But you know where you came from, you know where
You're going and you know where you belong
You said I was ill, and you were not wrong
But I can't believe that you'd ever care
And so, you will never care
But these things take time
And I know that I'm
The most inept
That ever stepped
Oh, the alcoholic afternoons
When we sat in your rooms
They meant more to me
Than any, than any living thing on earth
They had more worth
Than any living thing on earth
On earth, on earth, oh ...
Vivid and in your prime
You will leave me behind
You will leave me behind
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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.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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
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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."
The comments on here about insecurity with sexuality I think are a good starting point for what I want to reflect on...
In some traditions, sexuality is seen as a debilitating force. For example, in the buddhist and christian traditions of practicing monkhood. Also, in Yoga texts such as "the fountain of youth", the sexual force is viewed as the most powerful force in the universe, which in our society and culture is accepted as being purposed to manifest through the second vortex or chakrah. The yoga texts instructs on methods of channeling this ultimate energy into the higher realms of the self where there power creates a great self-actualized spirtiual presence and existence.
I look around, and wanting to actually try and work towards such a discipline makes some sense to me (although I don't think I'm ready to dissolve all my illusions and begin). For, I see many very unhappy people who seem to think that sex will be a vehicle to a higher happiness, usually wrapped in myth of an over zealous belief in "romantic love". If you accept that romantic love is for the most part, a myth with roots in biological pro-creation, but nevertheless, the most common manifestion of this universal power - I think the lyrics take on a new dimension of self turmoil and desire for self understanding.
Have you ever loved so much that it emptied you completely? Even more dangerous, attempted to love someone or something that did not return that precious life force you so freely gave? It is a life altering and reality shattering experience. Growing up and trying to come to terms with my own sexuality, and not being able to understand why my wanting something to be so sacred and beautiful - seemed to be nothing more than blowing a few orgasms and cumming and low animalistic pleasure to everyone else, was extreme source of spiritual turmoil and anguish in my adolescence.
I see the lyrics coming from more of a emotional place with a hint of looking back melancholy - that I've attempted to describe above. The things that were remembered most, and that left the biggest impression, were the simple times of wasted youth, sitting together and experiencing the exchange of vital life energy, but indirectly - never actually in a disciplined fashion. Now gone and replaced with an adulthood of confusion, more disconnected to what comes so freely to adolscent sexuality...
when we sat in your room they meant more to me than any than any living thing on earth
Consider that the morrissey was always an enlightened being, and these lyrics are a manifestation of never really finding a connection to the world, and having to make do with the almost romantic memories of lying drunken in her room, like a youthful memory.