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.
And I don't believe in double vision
And I don't think that two heads are better than one
All I can see is Ouroboros
When my pet snakes are sizing me up
And if you don't believe in destiny,
Then take what you're given
Oh, you and I got caught between magic and business
We walked in on you while you were polishing your knives
(While your eyes were turning green)
Sleeping in a twin bed with a serpent by your side
(Are you trying to compete with me?)
Talk a lot of shit but you would never start a fight
(Fantasize about killing me)
God it makes me queasy when you smile
(Through your jealousy)
And I don't believe in sucking your way to the top
Fingers crossed, you're flipping me off
No, I don't need your supervision
I'll sink this ship if I want
And if you don't believe in chemistry,
Then what were we doing?
Oh, you and I had everything
From rebirth to ruin
Well, every time you come around I have to run and hide
(And your eyes, are they bleeding?)
I get claustrophobic even when I am outside
(Are you trying to put a hex on me?)
I thought we were brothers, man I thought that we were tight
(But your bite is so evil)
Sucking out the venom of your bite
(As you poison me)
Hey, dad. Hello?
And I don't believe that paradise is lost
I say this with my fingers crossed
And if you don't believe in prophecy
Decide when it's finished
Oh, you and I tried everything
From heroin to Guinness
2009 it was a bastard of a year
(Lalala, pass the joint to me)
I cannot get stoned no more I only get the fear
(These good times, they are killin' me)
We can have it out or we can have another beer
(I could lie so we're even)
All the best of luck with your career
And I don't think that two heads are better than one
All I can see is Ouroboros
When my pet snakes are sizing me up
And if you don't believe in destiny,
Then take what you're given
Oh, you and I got caught between magic and business
We walked in on you while you were polishing your knives
(While your eyes were turning green)
Sleeping in a twin bed with a serpent by your side
(Are you trying to compete with me?)
Talk a lot of shit but you would never start a fight
(Fantasize about killing me)
God it makes me queasy when you smile
(Through your jealousy)
And I don't believe in sucking your way to the top
Fingers crossed, you're flipping me off
No, I don't need your supervision
I'll sink this ship if I want
And if you don't believe in chemistry,
Then what were we doing?
Oh, you and I had everything
From rebirth to ruin
Well, every time you come around I have to run and hide
(And your eyes, are they bleeding?)
I get claustrophobic even when I am outside
(Are you trying to put a hex on me?)
I thought we were brothers, man I thought that we were tight
(But your bite is so evil)
Sucking out the venom of your bite
(As you poison me)
Hey, dad. Hello?
And I don't believe that paradise is lost
I say this with my fingers crossed
And if you don't believe in prophecy
Decide when it's finished
Oh, you and I tried everything
From heroin to Guinness
2009 it was a bastard of a year
(Lalala, pass the joint to me)
I cannot get stoned no more I only get the fear
(These good times, they are killin' me)
We can have it out or we can have another beer
(I could lie so we're even)
All the best of luck with your career
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Standing On The Edge Of Summer
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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
Jane's Addiction
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."
No Surprises
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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.
This song is sung directly at blake sennett of the elected. Jenny and Blake were both members of rilo kiley. dont get your hopes up for a reunion. Basically see the lyrics, see their careers now go listen to blakes new song go for the throat directly stated at Jenny lewis for abandoning her band for her solo career. it doesn't help that shes flashes her new hubby jonathan off in front of the world, you know jenny and blake dated right? ;] i sound like e hollywood news, anyways it all makes sense to me now.
"All the best of luck with your career"
"Are you trying to COMPETE WITH me?"
These lyrics are mostly incorrect. Here are the lyrics, as best as I could understand.
Jenny: And I don't believe in double vision And I don't think that two heads are better than one All I can see is ouroboros When my pet snakes are sizing me up
And if you don't believe in destiny, Then take what you're given Oh, you and I got caught between magic and business
Johnny: We walked in on you while you were polishing your knives (Jenny: While your eyes were turning green) Sleeping in a twin bed with a trumpet by your side (Are you trying to compete with me?) Talk a lot of shit but you would never start a fight (Fantasize about killing me) God it makes me queasy when you smile (Through your jealousy)
Jenny: And I don't believe in sucking your way to the top Fingers crossed, you're flipping me off No, I don't need your supervision I'll sink this ship if I want
And if you don't believe in chemistry, Then what were we doing? Oh, you and I had everything From rebirth to ruin
Johnny: Well, every time you come around I have to run and hide (Jenny: And your eyes, are they bleeding?) I get claustrophobic even when I am outside (Are you trying to put a hex on me?) I thought we were brothers, man I thought that we were tight (But your bite is so evil) Sucking out the venom of your bite (As you poison me)
Johnny: Hey, dad. Hello?
Jenny: And I don't believe that paradise is lost I say this with my fingers crossed
And if you don't believe in prophecy Decide when it's finished Oh, you and I tried everything From heroin to Guinness
Johnny: 2009 it was a bastard of a year (Jenny: lalala, pass the joint to me) I cannot get stoned no more I only get the fear (These good times, they are killin' me) We can have it out or we can have another beer (I could lie so evil) All the best of luck with your career
Yeah. I'm mostly retarded.
coupla corrections (i think):
Jenny: And I don't believe in double vision And I don't think that two heads are better than one All I can see is ouroboros When my pet snakes are sizing me up
And if you don't believe in destiny, Then take what you're given Oh, you and I got caught between magic and business
Johnny: We walked in on you while you were polishing your knives (Jenny: While your eyes were turning green) Sleeping in a twin bed with a SERPENT by your side (Are you trying to COMPETE WITH me?) Talk a lot of shit but you would never start a fight (Fantasize about killing me) God it makes me queasy when you smile (Through your jealousy)
Jenny: And I don't believe in sucking your way to the top Fingers crossed, you're flipping me off No, I don't need your supervision I'll sink this ship if I want
And if you don't believe in chemistry, Then what were we doing? Oh, you and I had everything From rebirth to ruin
Johnny: Well, every time you come around I have to run and hide (Jenny: And your eyes, are they bleeding?) I get claustrophobic even when I am outside (Are you trying to put a hex on me?) I thought we were brothers, man I thought that we were tight (But your bite is so evil) Sucking out the venom of your bite (As you poison me)
Johnny: Hey, dad. Hello?
Jenny: And I don't believe that paradise is lost I say this with my fingers crossed
And if you don't believe in prophecy Decide when it's finished Oh, you and I tried everything From heroin to Guinness
Johnny: 2009 it was a bastard of a year (Jenny: lalala, pass the joint to me) I cannot get stoned no more I only get the fear (These good times, they are killin' me) We can have it out or we can have another beer (I could lie so WE'RE EVEN) All the best of luck with your career
also. is this about who i think it's about? if so....i guess we're not getting another RK album.
@rowanoak I was wondering the same thing. That'd be a shame though, I do love me some Rilo Kiley. <br /> <br /> Anyway, great song, solid record. Jenny Lewis does it again.
There is an article where she basically says she never liked the politics of being in a band. So i highly doubt RK is coming back. But they had a good run and I like where Jenny is headed. As long as she keeps making music...
Basically about a relationship gone wrong... and no way to fix it.. Best send off line-- "all the best of luck with your career" and I love how it just ends. Kind of like how you have to end things when a relationship is going bad. Seems like the person is wrestling with their own demons "I cannot get stoned no more..." "I get claustrophobic even when..." and they keep just disagreeing on things. Very good perspective in this song. I like how the perspective of the song can change, when there are two singing. Its kind of like a conversation.
I really hope this isn't about Blake...
ahhhhahahahahh! how awesome, Blake is a creep. I'm glad they wrote this!
This song is sung directly at blake sennett of the elected. Jenny and Blake were both members of rilo kiley. dont get your hopes up for a reunion. Basically see the lyrics, see their careers now go listen to blakes new song go for the throat directly stated at Jenny lewis for abandoning her band for her solo career. it doesn't help that shes flashes her new hubby jonathan off in front of the world, you know jenny and blake dated right? ;] i sound like e hollywood news, anyways it all makes sense to me now.
"All the best of luck with your career"
"Are you trying to COMPETE WITH me?"
This song is sung directly at blake sennett of the elected. Jenny and Blake were both members of rilo kiley. dont get your hopes up for a reunion. Basically see the lyrics, see their careers now go listen to blakes new song go for the throat directly stated at Jenny lewis for abandoning her band for her solo career. it doesn't help that shes flashes her new hubby jonathan off in front of the world, you know jenny and blake dated right? ;] i sound like e hollywood news, anyways it all makes sense to me now.
"All the best of luck with your career"
"Are you trying to COMPETE WITH me?"
It's aimed at Blake, but I don't think it's overly negative...I think the last few lines seem to be suggesting that she wants to get over this, she wants to forgive him. But he needs to stop being so bitter and jealous about everything that's happened.
Pierre has suggested they've [Rilo] have more tricks up their sleeve, despite a recent interview with Blake Sennett saying it's effectively dead...
I think Jenny mentioned a collection of b-sides that RK intended to put out, but there hasn't been any mention of it in a year or so.