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.
Wadin' through the waste stormy winter
And there's not a friend to help you through
Tryin' to stop the waves behind your eyeballs
Drop your reds, drop your greens and blues
Thank you for your wine, California
Thank you for your sweet and bitter fruits
Yes I got the desert in my toenail
And I hid the speed inside my shoe
But come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
Come on, honey child, beg you
Come on, come on down, you got it in ya
Got to scrape the shit right off your shoes
Yeah, I want you to come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
I want you to come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
I want you come on, honey child, I beg you
I want you come on, honey child you got it in you
Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes
But come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
Come on, come on down, I beg
Come on, come on down, you got it in you
Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes
And there's not a friend to help you through
Tryin' to stop the waves behind your eyeballs
Drop your reds, drop your greens and blues
Thank you for your wine, California
Thank you for your sweet and bitter fruits
Yes I got the desert in my toenail
And I hid the speed inside my shoe
But come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
Come on, honey child, beg you
Come on, come on down, you got it in ya
Got to scrape the shit right off your shoes
Yeah, I want you to come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
I want you to come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
I want you come on, honey child, I beg you
I want you come on, honey child you got it in you
Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes
But come on, come on down Sweet Virginia
Come on, come on down, I beg
Come on, come on down, you got it in you
Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Sweet Virginia Lyrics as written by Mick Jagger Keith Richards
Lyrics © Abkco Music Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
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"Some and now none of you"
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This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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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.
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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."
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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,
I wouldn't say its that much about drugs, actually.. I'd say its about going through a rough time in your life and using drugs as a way to hid from that pain... youve got "not a friend to help you through," so, as the beatles would put it, you get by with a little help from your friends. but now someone or a group of people missed the you who has been gone so long, and they're saying to come on back down and be with us, and toss all the stuff youve let drag you down off your back "got to scrape the shit righ' off your shoes." I think this is a song about coming to terms with yourself and moving on after a very long period of darkness. This is my favorite stones song.
@myfriendbrenn this is it, nicely written
i love the song i also love drugs lol
"...sweet and bitter fruits." The drugs are good, but this song is about the drugs you found so good turning into "shit" on "your shoes" once you've taken too many. The desert in the toenail, the speed in the shoe - both not only about drugs, but a lifestyle of secrets, lies and hiding that comes along with them. It's not worth it so he's coming down. But I think that's pretty easy to figure out. And, shite, this is just an incredible song. One of my favourites from Exile on Main St. It makes me think of wine glasses sloshing about in slow-motion.
@just_so_stories <br /> <br /> Good comment. Drugs are referred to generally as 'shit ' often as well . Maybe scraping the shit of your shoes is kicking the habit?
Great Stones song that is very under-rated. I love it when he say "got to scrape that shit right off my shoes." Classic stones not this Rough Justice shit.
i dont care if this song is about drugs or not but to me this song helped me get over a bad break up i had and i think of it like "Got to scrape that shit right off you shoes" the "shit" is anything that is bothering you and in my case was my ex and i had to scrape that shit off my shoe and get over it.. thanks mick and keith
"Trying to stop the waves behind your eyeballs"
Is one of the all time great line.....without coming right out and saying it, Mick has taken to much of whatever he is taking, and he is just trying to come down a bit.
The deseert in the toe nail line is referance to more dope in the front portion of his shoes.
Ugly/beautiful era for the boys.........you decide.
I didn't get the meaning of the title until I went to Monticello and drank Sweet Virginia wine.
I just finished reading a book by Keith Richards. He talked about how they used to get heroin and it came in the shape of the sole of a shoe. Apparently it was easier to smuggle it across the border like that. Reds, yellows and blues....definate drug terms. This whole song is an ode to drugs...Sing it to me Mick!!
This one is just amazing--the slurred verses, the loud, pleading refrains, the beautiful sax solo.... the best off of Exile On Main Street, except maybe Rocks Off or Tumbling Dice
Easily my favorite Stones song