Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
He was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
Every time I think about him now
Lord I just can't keep from crying
'Cause he was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
He died on the road
A thousand miles from home
And he never harmed no one
He was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
Every time I think about him now
Lord I just can't keep from crying
'Cause he was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
Every time I think about him now
Lord I just can't keep from crying
'Cause he was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
He died on the road
A thousand miles from home
And he never harmed no one
He was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
He was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
Every time I think about him now
Lord I just can't keep from crying
'Cause he was a friend of mine
And he was a friend of mine
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
Step
Ministry
Ministry
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
reminds me a lot of her Names.
was this on any of their albums?
I think its about like a guy that might have been killed by a drunk driver. and how he did nothing to deserve to die. but thats just an assumption.
Willie Nelson sang this and it was on the soundtrack to Brokeback Mountain... for some reason I thought he wrote it for the movie.
Dylan wrote it.
It is most likely about Jesus Christ, or written with some other person in mind in a way to compare that person with Christ.
This song reminds me of my friend Bill who died on vacation in Florida when he was on vacation for a football bowl game. He was a good person and it is so true what they say, "Only the good die young."
I love Cat Power! A simple song but still a great listen.
It's not on any albums, she did it in session with John Peel, you can download it. It's a stunning version of the song.
i love how their aren't a whole bunch of lyrics because Cat Power's voice is so painful sounding that it tells a story on its own.
Oh and Willie Nelson didn't write it. It's a traditional folk song. Bob Dylan did a particularly famous version of it.