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.
No more the craps rolls out your mouth again
Haven't changed, your brain is still gelatin
Little whispers circle around your head
Why don't you worry about yourself instead
Who are you where ya been where ya from?
Gossip is burning on the tip of your tongue
You lie so much you believe yourself
Judge not lest ye be judged yourself
Holier than thou
You are
Holier than thou
You are
You know not
Before you judge me take a look at you
Can't you find something better to do
Point the finger, slow to understand
Arrogance and ignorance go hand in hand
It's not who you are it's who you know
Others lives are the basis of your own
Burn your bridges build them back with wealth
Judge not lest ye be judged yourself
Holier than thou
You are
Holier than thou
You are
You know not
Yeah who that hell are you?
Holier than thou
You are
Holier than thou
You are
You know not
Haven't changed, your brain is still gelatin
Little whispers circle around your head
Why don't you worry about yourself instead
Who are you where ya been where ya from?
Gossip is burning on the tip of your tongue
You lie so much you believe yourself
Judge not lest ye be judged yourself
Holier than thou
You are
Holier than thou
You are
You know not
Before you judge me take a look at you
Can't you find something better to do
Point the finger, slow to understand
Arrogance and ignorance go hand in hand
It's not who you are it's who you know
Others lives are the basis of your own
Burn your bridges build them back with wealth
Judge not lest ye be judged yourself
Holier than thou
You are
Holier than thou
You are
You know not
Yeah who that hell are you?
Holier than thou
You are
Holier than thou
You are
You know not
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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.
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"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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
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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
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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.
it's about religious people who think they're so bloody perfect... im christian but not religious like that... i know i'm certainly not perfect, but i love this song coz people like that who think they're so much holier than me and can't mind their own business really shit me off. like people who always take the bible out of context. they think they know it so well, and are always like "do this, don't do that" in the name of God, and totally miss the whole concept of not judging others. that must really shit God off too. awesome song.
this song is making fu of christians....mostly of the stuck up christians who think they are better than others because they go to church 7 days a week.
you retarded m-f-r its not about christians and we dont go to church 7 days a week a-hole. its about people like u who put other people down and think that they are better than everyone else. christians are supposed to be humble not like you described them.
are you kidding, this song is totally about cristians, not the good ones, the bad ones who let it take over their lives and ignore the fact that god and jesus wouldnt want them to be greedy, feel the need to exploit their religion, and use their religion as an excuse to get away with things, i know a bad christian apart from a good one, i have many christian friends, some i question, but the others i know arent going to be like that when they grow up.
There is no such thing as a bad christian of the sort you described. Those people are not christians. They pretend to be. No trolling please.
this song is about the people that said metallica was satanic and this is how metallica responded.
I'm strongly convinced that religious people plan to wipe every genre of music off the earth until nothing is left but Christian.
I love Metallica and the reason that they created it.<br />
Look, man...It's about a guy who's "Holier than thou." It's a pretty common term. When you're holier than tough, you act like you're better and holier than most people. It has a lot to do with pride.
Two words: Double meaning. It probably is directed both at fundies and other religious extremists AND snobs
The could be about people who say one thing and do another, hypocrites in other words.
It could also be about gossip or rumors or even just about critics.
About people who just have no life so other people's lives have to be part of their own and they have to spread rumors.
but thats just my opinion
Your opinion is also a very ignorant, uninformed one based on cheap cliches that aren't even true
Some of the stuff he says IS true. But those people arent real christians. Theyre more like the pharisees.
yea it has to have something to do with religious people, not just any hipocrites, otherwise hetfield wouldn't have used the word "holier". hey king nothing i am better than you cuz i am king of shit. hahahaha. um, sorry.
it's a graet song, i like it cuz it's fast. i never really thought about what it meant till i actually read the lyrics.