Songs About Jane - Quite Literally! Quiz

Answer: Baby Jane

"Baby Jane" came off Rod Stewart's 1983 album "Body Wishes." It was his second most successful single (with "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" coming out on top), and was also his final UK No. 1 single.

Answer: Jane's Addiction

The single "Jane Says" was released by the alternative rock group, Jane's Addiction (yeah, I know. Jane's obviously got them seriously whipped!) It was released in 1988, and came off their album "Nothing's Shocking."

The song is about lead singer Perry Farrell's ex-housemate; a girl called Jane Bainter, who was addicted to heroin, and would come home every night and just use. The song basically refers to the pains and life of the addict, who is experiencing hallucinations ("she takes a swing but she can't hit") and who keeps on promising that she's going to quit ("I'm gonna start tomorrow. I'm gonna kick tomorrow. Gonna kick tomorrow.")

To me, it's really quite a sad song, because it describes the sad, and often lonely like of drug addicts, their highs, and ultimately their rock bottom lows.

Answer: Sweet Jane

"Sweet Jane" was released by the Velvet Underground in 1970, and came off their album "Loaded."

"Sweet Jane" has been covered several times since 1970. The band, Mott the Hoople, released a cover version in 1972, and in 1988, the Cowboy Junkies covered the song for their album "The Trinity Session."

Answer: Rick James

"Mary Jane" was released in 1978, and came off Rick James' debut album "Come Get It!"

Rick James was a known drug user, and it's believed that "Mary Jane" is one of his songs which refer to drugs. "Mary Jane" is a street name for marijuana, and some of the lyrics, like "and when I'm feeling low, she comes as no surprise. Turns me on with her love, takes me to paradise" seem to clearly indicate that James was referring to marijuana.

Rick James was found dead in his home in California in August 0f 2004. A coroner's report came out, stating that his death was an accidental drug overdose, and that nine different drugs had been found in his bloodstream; heroin, MDMA, marijuana, Valium, cocaine, Celexa, Vicudin, Xanax, and Wellbutrin.

It's a terrible shame, as the King of Punk-Funk was a truly talented artist. Hits like "Mary Jane" prove that.

Answer: Lady Jane

"Lady Jane" came off the Rolling Stones' 1966 album "Aftermath." The song sounds distinctly Elizabethan, and is thus believed by some to have been about Henry VIII; three of his wives, namely Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour; and also his first child, Mary I.

The lyrics to "Lady Jane" go as follows.

"My sweet Lady Jane
When I see you again
Your servant am I
And will humbly remain

Just heed this plea my love
On bended knees my love
I pledge myself to Lady Jane

My dear Lady Anne
I've done what I can
I must take my leave
For promised I am
This play is run my love
Your time has come my love
I've pledged my troth to Lady Jane

Oh my sweet Marie
I wait at your ease
The sands have run out
For your lady and me

Wedlock is nigh my love
Her station's right my love
Life is secure with Lady Jane"

While many believe that it has been romanticised, many still believe that Jane Seymour was in fact the wife that Henry VIII loved the most (possibly because she was the only wife who bore him a son). In the song, Henry VIII (who we suppose is meant to be "singing" it) is singing to Lady Jane and others about his love for her.

"Lady Anne" is presumably Anne Boleyn. In the song, he tells her that "he's done what he can" for their marriage (although this isn't historically accurate), but he has to leave her for Lady Jane, or Jane Seymour.

Even though it's spelt "Marie" in the lyrics, it's believed that Marie refers to Mary I, Henry VIII's daughter with Catherine of Aragon. When the song goes "the sands have run out for your lady and me," it's believed that this is referring to Henry VIII telling his daughter that he and her mother can no longer be together.

So there you have a history and a music lesson all in one. Pretty sweet.

Answer: Breaking Benjamin

"Diary of Jane" came off alternative metal band, Breaking Benjamin's, third studio album, "Phobia." It was released in 2006, and was also used in the movie "Step Up 2: The Streets." I personally reckon this is an absolutely superb piece of music, and is a great sing-along for the car.

Answer: Plain Jane

"Plain Jane" came off Sammy Hagar's fourth solo album "Street Machine," and was released in 1979.

I love this song. It just goes to show that you don't have to be some super-glamorous, 6 foot, caked in make-up movie actress to attract the attentions of rockers like Sammy Hagar! You really can be just a "Plain Jane."

Answer: Barenaked Ladies

The Canadian alternative rock band, Barenaked Ladies, released "Jane" off their 1994 album "Maybe You Should Drive."

The full name of the girl mentioned in the song is Jane St. Clair, which apparently came about after one of the song's writers, Stephen Duffy, saw the intersection of Jane Street and St. Clair Avenue in Toronto, Canada.

All I can say is that songwriters certainly find inspiration from strange things!

Answer: Mary Jane's Last Dance

"Mary Jane's Last Dance" was recorded for Tom Petty's "Greatest Hits" album which was released in 1993.

The name "Mary Jane" is often used to refer to marijuana due to the spelling (Mary = Mari; Jane= Juana), and many believe that "Mary Jane's Last Dance" actually refers to drugs, especially the line "Last dance with Mary Jane, one more time to kill the pain. I feel summer creeping in and I'm tired of this town again." Sounds suspiciously like marijuana to me.

Anyway, when the Heartbreaker guitarist, Mike Campbell, was questioned as to whether the song really was about drugs, he simply replied "My take on it is it can be whatever you want it to be. A lot of people think it's a drug reference, and if that's what you want to think, it very well could be, but it could also just be a goodbye love song."

In 2006, a bit of a fuss was kicked up, when a WGMD representative said that the Red Hot Chili Peppers' chord progression in their new single "Dani California" sounded suspiciously like that of "Mary Jane's Last Dance." However, it was cleared up after Tom Petty made the statement, "The truth is, I seriously doubt that there is any negative intent there. And a lot of rock & roll songs sound alike."

Answer: 2002

"Songs About Jane" was released by Maroon 5 on the 25th of June (my birthday, incidentally) 2002. The band released hit after hit after hit on this album, and by the end of 2004, it had reached the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 charts.

The title of the album apparently refers to an ex-girlfriend of the lead singer, Adam Levine's, girlfriend: Jane Herman. Some of the hits off the album include "Harder To Breathe","She Will Be Loved", and "This Love." My personal feeling is that this is one of the greatest post 2000 albums made so far... Even though it does refer to this enigmatic and apparently irresistible "Jane" person. ;)

Thanks for playing - I really hope you enjoyed it. I'd appreciate all comments and feedback. Have a super duper day!