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.
Let us burn one
From end to end
And pass it over
To me my friend
Burn it long, we'll burn it slow
To light me up before I go
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one down
My choice is what I choose to do
And if I'm causing no harm
It shouldn't bother you
Your choice is who you choose to be
And if your causin' no harm
Then you're alright with me
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one down
Herb the gift from the earth
And what's from the earth
Is of the greatest worth
So before you knock it try it first
You'll see it's a blessing
And it's not a curse
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one, uh
From end to end
And pass it over
To me my friend
Burn it long, we'll burn it slow
To light me up before I go
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one down
My choice is what I choose to do
And if I'm causing no harm
It shouldn't bother you
Your choice is who you choose to be
And if your causin' no harm
Then you're alright with me
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one down
Herb the gift from the earth
And what's from the earth
Is of the greatest worth
So before you knock it try it first
You'll see it's a blessing
And it's not a curse
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one, uh
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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."
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."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
anyone who ignores the drug references in this song is an idiot. the words are clearly drug-related. does that mean the song is about drug use? no. it's called a metaphor, and i'm sure we've all heard of it. harper, to me, is trying to get across his message of "i'll do what i want and you shouldn't care if it's not harming you" (which everyone has touched on) by using smoking pot as his analogy. the song is about drugs, but also so much more.
I challenge ANYONE to a marijuana based arguement. yea, he likes to smoke pot. Im a christian and i like to smoke pot. Whats the big deal deal? Because its illegal to smoke pot? Oh my god, how many times has the average teen been drunk, before the legal date? almost every weekend of his life. And the fact that it burns brains cells, give me a fuckin break, alcohol burns just as much, if not more, and if u abuse anything it will become a problem but if u use it normally, it will help u along in life by providing insites u would have never had elsewere. So try it a coupla times, it might not work after a few time, just keep trying. And i promise u, it u will like it. peace out
alright, first off, there is no such thing as a good Christian, we are all sinners and thank God for his forgivness, without Him we would all be lost to hell. no one is better than anybody else . "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10. but yeah I think this song is about smoking weed.
"Your choice is who you choose to be And if your causin' no harm, then you're alright with me" why can't everyone just live by these words?
"And what's from the earth is of the greatest worth So before you knock it, try it first You'll see it's a blessing and it's not a curse"
It's about lettuce :D
asdf
"my choice is what i choose to do and if im causing no harm why should it bother you" is one of the best lines ive heard, EVER. He also said something along the same lines at his concert here in perth and i respect it fully. I also used it as my final quote for my year book becoz i live my life with that same opinion. Ben your a legend!
"herb the gift from the earth and what's from the earth is of the greatest worth" Ok, that is about smoking out. This song can be applied to anything, but if you dont beleive this is about drugs, then you are incredibly oblivious.
this song is the best ben harper song! who cares if its about TOKIN. its great
i want to have ben harpers babies
Don't we all? he is amazing