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.
Remember when you held my hand
Say, remember when you were my man
Walk, talk in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Think it over
Roll it over in your mind
Why don't you dance with me?
I'm not no Limburger
Why don't you dance with me?
I'm not no Limburger
Oh say, why don't you dance with me?
I'm not no Limburger
Just a limber girl
Just a limber girl
Just a limber girl
Just a limber girl
Dance this mess around
Dance this mess around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round
Everybody goes to parties
They dance this mess around
They do all sixteen dances
They do the Shu-ga-loo
Do the Shy Tuna
Do the Camel Walk
Do the Hip-O-Crit
Ah, hippy hippy forward
Hippy hippy hippy hippy hippy shake
Oh, it's time to do 'em right
Hey, so doesn't that make you feel a whole lot better, huh? (Huh?)
Say, doesn't that make you feel a lot better?
What you say?
Well, I'm just askin'
Come on
Shake
Ooh, oh oh (shake)
Shake
Ooh, oh oh (shake)
Shake
Ooh, oh oh
Everybody goes to parties
They dance this mess around
They do all sixteen dances
They do Coo-ca-choo
Do the Aqua Velva
Do the Dirty Dog
Do the Escalator
Ah, hippy hippy forward
Hippy hippy hippy hippy hippy shake
Oh, it's time to do 'em right
Hey, so Fred, doesn't that make you feel a whole lot better? (Huh?)
Say, doesn't that make you feel a lot better?
What you say?
Well, I'm just askin'
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Stop, dance on over
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Dance, dance this mess around
Dance this mess around
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Dance this mess around
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Say, remember when you were my man
Walk, talk in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Think it over
Roll it over in your mind
Why don't you dance with me?
I'm not no Limburger
Why don't you dance with me?
I'm not no Limburger
Oh say, why don't you dance with me?
I'm not no Limburger
Just a limber girl
Just a limber girl
Just a limber girl
Just a limber girl
Dance this mess around
Dance this mess around, 'round, 'round, 'round, 'round
Everybody goes to parties
They dance this mess around
They do all sixteen dances
They do the Shu-ga-loo
Do the Shy Tuna
Do the Camel Walk
Do the Hip-O-Crit
Ah, hippy hippy forward
Hippy hippy hippy hippy hippy shake
Oh, it's time to do 'em right
Hey, so doesn't that make you feel a whole lot better, huh? (Huh?)
Say, doesn't that make you feel a lot better?
What you say?
Well, I'm just askin'
Come on
Shake
Ooh, oh oh (shake)
Shake
Ooh, oh oh (shake)
Shake
Ooh, oh oh
Everybody goes to parties
They dance this mess around
They do all sixteen dances
They do Coo-ca-choo
Do the Aqua Velva
Do the Dirty Dog
Do the Escalator
Ah, hippy hippy forward
Hippy hippy hippy hippy hippy shake
Oh, it's time to do 'em right
Hey, so Fred, doesn't that make you feel a whole lot better? (Huh?)
Say, doesn't that make you feel a lot better?
What you say?
Well, I'm just askin'
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Stop, dance on over
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Dance, dance this mess around
Dance this mess around
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Dance this mess around
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
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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.
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One possible error in the lyrics, or a mishearing on my part… I think she may be saying, "I'm not no Limburger. Just a limber girl." E.g., she's not something repulsive (Limburger cheese is known for a powerful smell) but a really good (limber) dancer. I thought this was a clever pun in the lyrics, but it's not distinct enough for me to be sure.
@rikdad - this is a PERFECT assessment! I was thinking something along these lines and now that I have read this, you have given me a little more insight. Well done.
@rikdad101@yahoo.com I never thought of that, always thought repeating Just a limburger was a bit strange. Just a limber girl is brilliant!<br /> <br /> I also always thought after "before you break my heart" it wasn't "think it over" but "Casanova".