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.
If you search for enrichment
And injure others
Earning more that you can spend
You'll pass the borders
When you think you've succeeded
But something's missing
Means you have been defeated
By greed, your weakness
This fantasy is not enough for me
I want it, I'll take it away from you
Your misery that softly incites me
All I do is using, abusing you
Life is often miserable
In the search for happiness
The power so desirable
They bring so much distress
Life is often pitiful
In the search for blessedness
If we weren't so insatiable
There would be much more than less
I cannot see why you'd be another me
I just take care of myself and no-one else
Life is often cynical
In the search for hopefulness
We're only wanting more and more,
So we got into this mess
All that you've taken from others
Will be taken from you
All that your dissonance smothers
Will then come back to you
Whatever happens tomorrow, and whatever you do
Just keep in mind, that se source and end is you
In Lack'ech
Never finding fulfillment, the source and end is you
And injure others
Earning more that you can spend
You'll pass the borders
When you think you've succeeded
But something's missing
Means you have been defeated
By greed, your weakness
This fantasy is not enough for me
I want it, I'll take it away from you
Your misery that softly incites me
All I do is using, abusing you
Life is often miserable
In the search for happiness
The power so desirable
They bring so much distress
Life is often pitiful
In the search for blessedness
If we weren't so insatiable
There would be much more than less
I cannot see why you'd be another me
I just take care of myself and no-one else
Life is often cynical
In the search for hopefulness
We're only wanting more and more,
So we got into this mess
All that you've taken from others
Will be taken from you
All that your dissonance smothers
Will then come back to you
Whatever happens tomorrow, and whatever you do
Just keep in mind, that se source and end is you
In Lack'ech
Never finding fulfillment, the source and end is you
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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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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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."
Gentle Hour
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
To me, this song is about Greed.
Look at these lines:
If you search for enrichment And injure others Earning more that you can spend You’ll pass the borders
That is basically describing someone who doesn't care of what happens to others as long as they reach their goal, and by saying 'You'll pass the boarders' they are describing that once you start getting like that, you pass the limits of what people can accept and change for the worst (becoming less popular, as the lines say, by 'injure others', which is describing emotionally not physically).
When you think you’ve succeeded But something’s missing Means you have been defeated By greed, your weakness
People often talk about how, despite having the money to buy anything they wish, they feel like something is missing but can't tell what it is. Usually it is a family or friends that they need, but because they have changed for the worst (beaten by Greed) no-one cares for them much anymore. The whole song basically repeats that people change for the worst and bad things happen because they refuse to treat others correctly. This section at the end:
All that you’ve taken from others Will be taken from you All that your dissonance smothers Will then come back to you Whatever happens tomorrow, and whatever you do Just keep in mind, that se source and end is you
Proves this to me. The line ' that you’ve taken from others' is basically saying that they have lied and cheated others out of what is rightfully theirs on their way to the top. 'Whatever happens tomorrow, and whatever you do Just keep in mind, that se source and end is you' Is basically like a warning, saying that they have created their own world and have caused others to hate them and others will be ruthless in bringing them down where they rightfully belong.