Released August 23, 1988 Genre Alternative rock Label Warner Bros. | Recorded 1987–1988 Length 4:52 | |
Writer(s) Eric Avery, Perry Farrell | ||
"Jane Says" is a song by American rock band Jane's Addiction. "Jane Says" became the band's first chart entry on the Alternative Songs chart, peaking at #6.
Contents
It was first released in semi-live format on the group's 1987 debut album, Jane's Addiction. It was re-recorded in the studio for the follow-up album, Nothing's Shocking. The Nothing's Shocking version is the most widely known version of the song, featuring steel drums that are not present on the cut from the self-titled album. A true live version appears on the band's 1997 new/live/out-take compilation Kettle Whistle.
It is one of Jane's Addiction's most famous songs and frequently ends their concerts.
Background
The title refers to lead singer Perry Farrell's ex-housemate, Jane Bainter, who was the muse, inspiration, and the namesake of the band. The song carries drug references such as "kick" (stop using). The fourth verse contains a reference to St. Andrews Place in Los Angeles, California.
Composition
"Jane Says" uses only two chords for most of the song. The original recording from Jane's Addiction features bongos and is sung in a lower register than later versions. The version that appears on Nothing's Shocking makes extensive use of steel drums played by Stephen Perkins in place of the original's bongos. The live version from Kettle Whistle interpolates the two versions, opening with an extended bongo introduction, over Perry Ferrell's scat vocals, before abruptly shifting to steel drum one measure before starting the verse.
The song format does not follow standard verse–chorus form, instead featuring three verses and a bridge section, following a traditional AABA form. Each verse ends with a short refrain ("I'm gonna kick tomorrow...") repeated twice. The song concludes on a coda consisting of a repeat of the bridge.
Music video
A 1997 video was produced during their Relapse tour. Directed by Carter B. Smith, it features the band playing the song live over the course of the tour.