The Jesus and Mary Chain — Head On
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Length: 4:03
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As soon as I get my head round you
I come around catching sparks off you
I get an electric charge from you
That second hand living it just won't do
And the way I feel tonight
I could die and I wouldn't mind
And there's something going on inside
Makes you want to feel makes you want to try
Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky
I can't stand up I can't cool down
I can't get my head off the ground
As soon as I get my head round you
I come around catching sparks off you
And all I ever got from you
Was all I ever took from you
And the world could die in pain
And I wouldn't feel no shame
And there's nothing holding me to blame
Makes you want to feel makes you want to try
Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky
I'm taking myself to the dirty part of town
Where all my troubles can't be found
I come around catching sparks off you
I get an electric charge from you
That second hand living it just won't do
And the way I feel tonight
I could die and I wouldn't mind
And there's something going on inside
Makes you want to feel makes you want to try
Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky
I can't stand up I can't cool down
I can't get my head off the ground
As soon as I get my head round you
I come around catching sparks off you
And all I ever got from you
Was all I ever took from you
And the world could die in pain
And I wouldn't feel no shame
And there's nothing holding me to blame
Makes you want to feel makes you want to try
Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky
I'm taking myself to the dirty part of town
Where all my troubles can't be found
Comments (143)add comment
Had to give this a 10/10. Saw The Jesus and Mary Chain in Perth a few years ago, and so excited to read they are heading back to Australia soon.
salice wrote:
My 10 laughs at your 9.
just got promoted to 9
My 10 laughs at your 9.
As soon as one of their songs starts I'm dancing even if I'm sitting down!
kingart wrote:
To each their own, but I offer the onomatopoeia of passing gas on this comment. Because imo this track is solid rock and roll.
Agreed, SOLID rock n roll that swings
To each their own, but I offer the onomatopoeia of passing gas on this comment. Because imo this track is solid rock and roll.
Agreed, SOLID rock n roll that swings
The perfect band for a time in my life where I didn't know where I was going and didn't care as long as there was music and fun to be had. This is also one helluva driving song.
alux wrote:
Guess you never heard of Generation X.
Okay, dunderheads, time to get something clear: J&MC and Billy Idol are on different planets. One was deservingly post-punk. The other was a poseur. You figure it out, this ain't rocket science.
Guess you never heard of Generation X.
Oh HELL YES!!! 
Never checked before now ... I thought this was Billy Idol! Oops. But images of duck lips contorting every which way are going to be difficult to set aside.
somehow this brings Robert Downey Jr from Less Than Zero to mind
Those two brothers sure could write some timeless rock n roll. Still holds up well, thirty+ years on....
alux wrote:
Maybe it's rock science 🙂
Okay, dunderheads, time to get something clear: J&MC and Billy Idol are on different planets. One was deservingly post-punk. The other was a poseur. You figure it out, this ain't rocket science.
Maybe it's rock science 🙂
Kick ass band - I used to listen to them all the time in the 80's. I would like to hear more on RP (but I get it's not for everyone; this is one of their "hits")
This album is soooooo good.
just got promoted to 9
white wedding?? no please don’t corrupt TJaMC with that…
love the Reid brothers
A bit of ‘White Wedding’ … maybe?
Excellent!
Solid RnR given the era it was generated during...
geonuine wrote:
This was a tune. BTW, why comment if don't like it? Nobody cares
Right on! Very well stated!
This was a tune. BTW, why comment if don't like it? Nobody cares
Right on! Very well stated!
JAMC delivered a powerful and memorable show on their 92 Rollercoaster Tour with three other bands. I recall Blur were drunk and rubbish, but My Bloody Valentine (and especially) Dinosaur Jnr turned in great shows. I still wish JAMC had paired up with Motorhead sometime in the 90s/ 00s and gone out on the road for a full-on ear bleeding double headliner rock n roll tour.
This was a tune. BTW, why comment if don't like it? Nobody caresUsed on the soundtrack to the excellent documentary by Ondi Timoner: We Live in Public. Cannot recommend it enough.
YEAH!
(one of the effin worst live bands I have seen in my life, but hey, in the eighties we loved them anyway)
(one of the effin worst live bands I have seen in my life, but hey, in the eighties we loved them anyway)
Just realized that the year of release is wrong. Actually, it is from 1989.
Amazing song. Visceral. Urgent. One of their best, from an album that I absolute love.
It's funny. I was in college in the early 80's and it seems Bill and I had the same Record/CD collections back then. Psychedelic Furs, Violent Femmes, XTC, Roxy Music, Cure, Oingo Boingo, ... I could go on and on. You hear 'em all here. Thanks Bill! Steve Tibbetts Bill?
Saw these guys at the Paramount in LA in '94, just to see this song played live.....KILLER!!
I couldn't stand this lot when they were big(ish). Now I turn them up whenever they come on. Maybe I'm going soft.
jahgirl8 wrote:
Weak and Thin. Back in 1985 and even more so now.
Many may not realize the meaning of these well written lyrics. And great musical composition by the band. It's truly a work of art.
Weak and Thin. Back in 1985 and even more so now.
Many may not realize the meaning of these well written lyrics. And great musical composition by the band. It's truly a work of art.
msymmes wrote:
Funny, I like both tunes (this one wayyy more as it was part of my new wave musical upbringing) but have never made that connection. Even sang both of them at Karoake bars. Now I can't unhear the connection.
Well this really sucks. Instantly both my Son and I heard 'Born To Run'.
I will give these guys a ZERO forever. Oh darn, I can only give them a ONE - no lower.
I will give these guys a ZERO forever. Oh darn, I can only give them a ONE - no lower.
Funny, I like both tunes (this one wayyy more as it was part of my new wave musical upbringing) but have never made that connection. Even sang both of them at Karoake bars. Now I can't unhear the connection.
Brings back memories of Fed Hall, University of Waterloo, 1985
I thought it was cool
-9, Teddy Picker imitation almost David Bowie. And that's not a compliment.
A JMC Pop Masterpiece. Incidentally, the song this borrowed from is neither Born To Run nor Temptation, it is New Order's Age of Consent, released 6 years prior. They seem to have borrowed the chord progression. No big deal.
msymmes wrote:
To each their own, but I offer the onomatopoeia of passing gas on this comment. Because imo this track is solid rock and roll.
Well this really sucks. Instantly both my Son and I heard 'Born To Run'.
I will give these guys a ZERO forever. Oh darn, I can only give them a ONE - no lower.
I will give these guys a ZERO forever. Oh darn, I can only give them a ONE - no lower.
To each their own, but I offer the onomatopoeia of passing gas on this comment. Because imo this track is solid rock and roll.
Just enjoying the tune and not reading what naysayers are saying. msymmes wrote:
OK, I can hear the similarity, but yet, if they played back to back I would still give this song at least a one point advantage over the Bruce's for being more fun and less contrived.
I kinda dug this.
I would be highly likely to change the channel if Born to Run came on.
Well this really sucks. Instantly both my Son and I heard 'Born To Run'.
I will give these guys a ZERO forever. Oh darn, I can only give them a ONE - no lower.
I will give these guys a ZERO forever. Oh darn, I can only give them a ONE - no lower.
OK, I can hear the similarity, but yet, if they played back to back I would still give this song at least a one point advantage over the Bruce's for being more fun and less contrived.
I kinda dug this.
I would be highly likely to change the channel if Born to Run came on.
Well this really sucks. Instantly both my Son and I heard 'Born To Run'.
I will give these guys a ZERO forever. Oh darn, I can only give them a ONE - no lower.
I will give these guys a ZERO forever. Oh darn, I can only give them a ONE - no lower.
alright Bill!They're doing a small tour in a couple of weeks, doing Psychocandy start to finish in honor of its 30th anniversary.
/old
/old
Summer of ''89. And the Pixies cover this one.
richlister wrote:
How can you agree more than agreeing? If the other yous in parallel univii all agree, then it could be possible. But on the other hand, there must be at least 1 universe where one of you wouldn't agree.
There is zero chance that I would disagree with rdo's sentiment on this song, and therefore no split from one universe to two or more universes as a result, and which means ultimately that every version of me in every version of the multiverse agrees! So really, when I said 1000x I was undertstating the matter by a lot.
How can you agree more than agreeing? If the other yous in parallel univii all agree, then it could be possible. But on the other hand, there must be at least 1 universe where one of you wouldn't agree.
There is zero chance that I would disagree with rdo's sentiment on this song, and therefore no split from one universe to two or more universes as a result, and which means ultimately that every version of me in every version of the multiverse agrees! So really, when I said 1000x I was undertstating the matter by a lot.
Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
Agreed, agreed, 1000x agreed.
How can you agree more than agreeing? If the other yous in parallel univii all agree, then it could be possible. But on the other hand, there must be at least 1 universe where one of you wouldn't agree.
Agreed, agreed, 1000x agreed.
How can you agree more than agreeing? If the other yous in parallel univii all agree, then it could be possible. But on the other hand, there must be at least 1 universe where one of you wouldn't agree.
Oh how I long for The Pixies
grant wrote:
Incorporated into many a 90's party tape. Great tune from a great album.
I actually had a mix-tape with this song on it from about 20 years ago. I always thought it was their best song.
They used to play it a bunch on 'XRT in Chi., but not anymore.
But somehow, that abomination known as "The Logical Song" still gets trotted out with regularity...
Incorporated into many a 90's party tape. Great tune from a great album.
I actually had a mix-tape with this song on it from about 20 years ago. I always thought it was their best song.
They used to play it a bunch on 'XRT in Chi., but not anymore.
But somehow, that abomination known as "The Logical Song" still gets trotted out with regularity...
rdo wrote:
Agreed, agreed, 1000x agreed.
THE song that defined the word "alternative rock".......
Agreed, agreed, 1000x agreed.
Incorporated into many a 90's party tape. Great tune from a great album.
THE song that defined the word "alternative rock".......
Cynaera wrote:
We miss you so much, Cynaera...
Must. Dance. Now. 
We miss you so much, Cynaera...
More Jesus & Mary Chain, please.
I remember an interview with Jim Reid back in the 80's, complaining about the music world not recognizing their genius and being ahead of time. Who knows, maybe they will get full recognition some time in the future.
I remember an interview with Jim Reid back in the 80's, complaining about the music world not recognizing their genius and being ahead of time. Who knows, maybe they will get full recognition some time in the future.
agd3 wrote:
Oh now don't you start!
Probably not a 10, but had to do it since its been forever since some JAMC. Play some Darklands, Stoned & Dethroned (Girlfriend), and of course some "Just Like Honey". One of my favorite bands...and "everyone in my hotel room likes this song!"
Oh now don't you start!
Probably not a 10, but had to do it since its been forever since some JAMC. Play some Darklands, Stoned & Dethroned (Girlfriend), and of course some "Just Like Honey". One of my favorite bands...and "everyone in my hotel room likes this song!"
I don't even know what to say.....I guess...Thank you for this..
romeotuma wrote:
I'm with you on that... everybody in my hotel room is dancing right now... love it...
Iggy Pop would be great after this
I'm with you on that... everybody in my hotel room is dancing right now... love it...
Iggy Pop would be great after this
aspicer wrote:
NOW we're talkin'!!!!! Bring it! More Mary Chain would be a wonderful addition to RP!
preach it!NOW we're talkin'!!!!! Bring it! More Mary Chain would be a wonderful addition to RP!
Must. Dance. Now.
knew this from the pixies, but jandmchain is culture
A fav! 
Bumping to a 9. This is a good song, IMO.
Classic!
I was baptized Alternative in this amazing song
Skip this CD and go buy Psycho Candy, Automatic, and Barbedwire Kisses. That should do it just fine.
alux wrote:
What, exactly, is post-punk? Anyways, this sounds like heavy Ramones to me.
One was deservingly post-punk.
What, exactly, is post-punk? Anyways, this sounds like heavy Ramones to me.
alux wrote:
While I wholeheartedly agree with this point, 100%, I just want to throw out there that Steve Stevens was no poseur, but a very talented guitarist, and this particular JMC song really does sound a LOT like his collaborations with Billy, long after Billy Idol was just a fading star...
Okay, dunderheads, time to get something clear:
J&MC and Billy Idol are on different planets. One was deservingly post-punk. The other was a poseur. You figure it out, this ain't rocket science.
J&MC and Billy Idol are on different planets. One was deservingly post-punk. The other was a poseur. You figure it out, this ain't rocket science.
While I wholeheartedly agree with this point, 100%, I just want to throw out there that Steve Stevens was no poseur, but a very talented guitarist, and this particular JMC song really does sound a LOT like his collaborations with Billy, long after Billy Idol was just a fading star...
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Barbed Wire Kisses
You and rickhoran below are correct, Barbed Wire Kisses is the one. Thank you.
Barbed Wire KissesYou and rickhoran below are correct, Barbed Wire Kisses is the one. Thank you.
Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
Barbed Wire Kisses
You forgot their cover of "Who do you love?", which I think was on Psychocandy.
Barbed Wire Kisses Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
You forgot their cover of "Who do you love?", which I think was on Psychocandy.
yes. thank you. but no, its not on the original psychocandy release (vinyl), i believe that was a single (12").
You forgot their cover of "Who do you love?", which I think was on Psychocandy.
yes. thank you. but no, its not on the original psychocandy release (vinyl), i believe that was a single (12").
rickhoran wrote:
now for something to hear, listen to their versions of
Surfin' USA,
Little Red Rooster or
their Kill Surf City or I Hate Rock and Roll or their great Some Candy release.
You forgot their cover of "Who do you love?", which I think was on Psychocandy.
JAMC was one of my favs in the 80's especially being a college kid loving feedback and distortion sound. to compare them to say, gee, i don't know, love and rockets is a stitch and a half. If you want to know where their sound comes from listen to velvet underground "White Light/White Heat" album. and i think a tribute from JAMC to Velvet Underground is "Sun Ray".
(click here)
now for something to hear, listen to their versions of
Surfin' USA,
Little Red Rooster or
their Kill Surf City or I Hate Rock and Roll or their great Some Candy release. Now thats some way cool noise if you like feedback and distortion to the gills.
And I love the Pixies but their version of this song is pathetic, i always skip it.
sjsartist wrote:
wasn't this song used in a movie? The Pixies version.
Totally F***ed Up (1993)?
alux wrote:
Okay, dunderheads, time to get something clear: J&MC and Billy Idol are on different planets. One was deservingly post-punk. The other was a poseur. You figure it out, this ain't rocket science.
I thought JAMC were between planets. But seriously, for those who don't know, this song is probably the most mainstream of anything I've ever heard from JAMC. The rest of this album (Automatic) is harder, some of it much harder (I'm thinking Sun Ray and a few other feedback-drenched bon-bons). And this is not even considered their best or most out-there stuff.Love and Rockets anybody??
Something in this guy's voice reminded me of Paul Westerberg. Hmmm.
This is a great series! Thanks Bill.
11:43 am - The Jesus and Mary Chain - Head On
11:38 am - Led Zeppelin - Bron-y-aur Stomp
11:35 am - Lucinda Williams - Can't Let Go
man... one of those defining songs from my high school days... flashback...
hooray wrote:
Apply directly to the forehead.
Hilarious! That's exacty what I was thinking. Head on. ! !
wasn't this song used in a movie? The Pixies version.
horstman wrote:
Frank Black can belt this out world's better than this!
Pixies rule.
Hearing the Pixies cover of this song was my entry to the Pixiverse. I dig the way they did it, but JAMC shows well by comparison. The fact that a band as formidable as the Pixies opted to cover it says a great deal about the originators of the tune.
horstman wrote:
Frank Black can belt this out world's better than this!
Pixies rule.
It was a Pixes cover of JMC, but YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!
Excellent bands on both counts....
I've got a fever and the only prescription is more Shoegazer ;-)
I'm new to this song, and I really like it!
Okay, dunderheads, time to get something clear:
J&MC and Billy Idol are on different planets. One was deservingly post-punk. The other was a poseur. You figure it out, this ain't rocket science.
I can't wait to see these guys at Coachella this year. It's going to be AWESOME!!! 
Nobody is cooler than the Jesus and Mary Chain...
nah...Billy Idol meets the Boss
Darkmatter wrote:
I just realized those two songs (Head on and Temptation) are quite similar both in sound and spirit alike. They remind me of the sensation you experience when you find out the person you fancy feels the same about you! 
Nice association. Agree!
The train just came off the track...damn, just when we were building up steam :-(
C-R-A-P. Only thing worse than Billy Idol is a crappy attempt at Billy idol.
"Dancing with myse-helf... oh oh oh oh"
Coppertop wrote:
Billy Idol meets T-Rex
veegez wrote:These dudes have chunks of guys like Billy Idol in their stool. (To steal from Phil Hartmann.)
Frank Black can belt this out world's better than this!
Pixies rule.
Billy Idol meets T-Rex
Apply directly to the forehead.
heh great beat on this trakc... had my fingers pounding the table rather hard :p
grant wrote:
who did the original?
It was origionaly done by the Jesus and Mary Chain, on the album Automatic. The Pixies covered it on their album Trompe Le Monde.
LongGoneDaddy wrote:
The Pixies do a version of it, but I thought it was J & M Chain song...
Not sure. The Pixies version is the only one I know.
grant wrote:
who did the original?
The Pixies do a version of it, but I thought it was J & M Chain song...
Pretty good even though it's not the Pixies.
Funny. Song has same chord structure as Born to Run.
Smutty wrote:
I appreciate this version almost as much as the original!
who did the original?
I appreciate this version almost as much as the original!
YES!!OUTSTANDING!!! This was a minor hit, but it should have been HUGE!!! This song always got me going...
I like the song, and I like what the Pixies did with it. It is odd, though that they felt the need to do a cover at all, with their songwriting ability.
Hell Yeah!
Oh man, I had forgotten all about this song. Thanks for the memories!
www.midnitcafe.blogspot.com
Does this ROCK?...or what?
the Jesus & Mary Chain wrote:
And the way I feel tonight
I could die and I wouldn't mind
And there's something going on inside
Makes you want to feel makes you want to try
Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky
I can't stand up I can't cool down
I can't get my head off the ground
New Order wrote:Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home
I just realized those two songs (Head on and Temptation) are quite similar both in sound and spirit alike. They remind me of the sensation you experience when you find out the person you fancy feels the same about you!
allez mange!
Rock on...Head on!
The Pixies broke out into this song in the middle of their set on this most recent "reunion" tour. It was great!!!
'Makes you want to pull the stars from the sky!" Yeah, yeah, yeah...
Nuance wrote:
Saw them in Vancouver. This sounds way too pretty and produced compared to the snarling, screaming, feedback that they put out. Sounds more like Love & Rockets.
Love and Rockets, who also produce their fair share of snarling, screaming feedback in concert.
Saw them in Vancouver. This sounds way too pretty and produced compared to the snarling, screaming, feedback that they put out. Sounds more like Love & Rockets.
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
JAMC were a little long in the tooth by then, but I saw that tour too, at the Warfield in SF. Met up with some friends post-show (who had better seats) and all we all could say was "wow." Talking about NIN. JAMC were a known quantity and it was a great show but Trent just came out of nowhere and made a bunch of music snobs say "wow."
Agreed. Saw these two at the Mesa Amphitheater in Mesa, AZ. I already ownd Pretty Hate Machine, so was a little suprised to see the two bands touring together. NIN's sound was terrific that night and just worked the crowd into a frenzy. J&MC were excellent as well. One of the best shows I've ever seen.
The very next week at the same venue, I saw Peter Murphy (don't know who opened, we were late). There's still an impact mark on the ground where my lower jaw hit! Fan-freakin-tastic!
They covered it on their Trompe le Monde album: https://open.spotify.com/track...