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.
Where's that horse you rode in on?
Where's that fair-faced young man?
You carried their dead weight and let it fall by the wayside
And buried those years one dark evening
Now in a land without leaders
I listen close to the soil beneath me
And keep my heart with yours
And yes, we know there're others
And yes, we feel the ground shifting below us
Keep, keep the secret
Walk the furrows
Mend the fences
Plum, plum and level
Go inside
Stow the shovel
Keep, keep the secret
Walk the furrows
Mend the fences
Plum, plum and level
Go inside
Stow the shovel
Now it's time
Heat the kettle
Let the wars
Tell the story
Keep the joy
Keep the quiet
No, you're not shy
You have that fire
Smoldering
Keep the joy
Keep the quiet
No, you're not shy
Keep the fire
Smoldering
Where's that fair-faced young man?
You carried their dead weight and let it fall by the wayside
And buried those years one dark evening
Now in a land without leaders
I listen close to the soil beneath me
And keep my heart with yours
And yes, we know there're others
And yes, we feel the ground shifting below us
Keep, keep the secret
Walk the furrows
Mend the fences
Plum, plum and level
Go inside
Stow the shovel
Keep, keep the secret
Walk the furrows
Mend the fences
Plum, plum and level
Go inside
Stow the shovel
Now it's time
Heat the kettle
Let the wars
Tell the story
Keep the joy
Keep the quiet
No, you're not shy
You have that fire
Smoldering
Keep the joy
Keep the quiet
No, you're not shy
Keep the fire
Smoldering
Lyrics submitted by DawnHunter
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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.
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."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
I don't know, but I think it's;
Where’s that horse you rode in on? Where’s that fair-faced young man? You carried their dead weight and let it fall by the wayside And buried those years one dark evening
Now in a land without leaders I listen close to the soil beneath me And keep my heart with yours And yes, we know there’re others And yes, we feel the ground shifting below us
Keep, keep the secret Walk the furrows Mend the fences
Plumb, Plumb and level Go inside Stow the shovel
Keep, keep the secret Walk the furrows Mend the fences
Plumb, Plumb and level Go inside Stow the shovel
Now it’s time Heat the kettle Let the wars Tell the story
Keep the joy Keep the quiet No, you’re not shy You have that fire
Smoldering
Keep the joy Keep the quiet No, you’re not shy Keep the fire
Smoldering
Thanks for the corrections/additions
Seems like it's about trying to get on with day to day life while the world is in chaos.....at least that's what the latter part of the song seems to say....the first few lines seem like they are about something else.
I thought it maybe was about someone who fought in a war and survived, but has seen terrible things. The fair-faced young man can both be reference to a friend he lost, or to himself (who is now not that bright faced and eager anymore, after everything...)
He goes back home and carries on living a normal life, he tries to forget ("You carried their dead weight and let it fall by the wayside and buried those years one dark evening") but he still remembers everything that happened ("Keep the secret")
The song is a kind of mantra for this person to keep going ("Plumb and level", to be normal and well adjusted) and to leave the war behind him ("Stow the shovel") and try to be happy even though terrible things happened ("Keep the Joy"). This person might seem somewhat withdrawn from society and antisocial ("Keep the quiet") but this is not what is going on inside his head... ("No, you're not shy, keep the fire... smoldering")
While it sounds like he says 'let the wars tell the story,' he may very well be saying 'let the waters tell the story' as that, to me, seems to fit better with 'heat the kettles'
Either way, this song is a gem