WRITTEN:
By Jane's in mid 1988. Perry had it all thought out in his head and kind of taught it to the other guys all at one practice. Then they played it a lot and worked out the kinks on the Nothing's Shocking tour. As you'll see below, it had the working title "Digging Something Up."

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:
Perry at a live show in late '88...
"This is one that we're writting on the road now. You see, we don't care where the fuck we are. That's the only way to write, man. Otherwise we'd just become a stiff-ass rock n' roll band. It's called 'Digging Something Up.' It's about nosey mother fuckers."

LIVE:
* Played frequently on the first leg of the Nothing's Shocking tour (late '88), usually second in the set, following "Kettle Whistle." Then it was played occasionally on the Ritual tour ('90-'91), but I don't think they ever played it at any Lollapalooza shows.

* Played several times on the 2001 tour, but only as a shortened instrumental version.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
I heard this story... A guy was driving home from a Jane's show and he noticed Perry hitchhiking (or maybe it was the other way around..? I can't remember) Anyway... the guy and Perry hit it off and were talking about this and that, and the guy asked Perry what was up with the song "Obvious." Perry laughed and said it was an inside joke on Eric Avery.

I once asked Casey if this was true and she replied, "yes 'obvious' was about eric. boy you guys really manage to figure out everything don't you, i don't even think eric knew it was about him!"

LYRICS:
Hey, you don't know me!
You don't know me
but you just keep on looking at me down low.
Oh no!
Digging something up...
Digging something up...
Always digging something up...
Oh no!
Hey you!
I don't know you.
I don't even want to,
but you just keep looking at me down low.
Oh no!
Digging something up...
Digging something up...
Always digging something up...
Oh no!
And you make it so *#...
Make it so obvious...
Hey you! Fools don't fit in the boots that I tread in,
but you just keep on looking at me down low.
Oh no!
Digging something up...
Digging something up...
Always digging something up...
Oh no!
And you make it so *#... but do you get it?
Make it so *#... you never get it.
You got to owe me something
before you know what is joke and what is up.
I worked my fingers to the bone
and I won't let you stop me going up.
Why do you have to make it so!-so!-so!-so!-so!
OBVIOUS!? Oh no! Oh no... Oh no... Oh no...


FAN INTERPRETATIONS:
From John M.--
many say this is about people in general digging "stereotypes" on perry based on his looks and stuff.. i think though it is about the media specifically..(like mtv digging up dirt)
"hey you don't know me.. you just keep on looking at me down low.."
= i think he is talking about how the media looks for only his bad points..like drugs..
"always digging something up.."
= always looking for more dirt,,bad stuff to print that will sell.
"and you make it so so so obvious"
= and you spread the dirt to everyone
"hey you fools don't fit in the boots that i tread in..."
= you aren't as good as me but you think you can still look for my bad points...
"always digging something up...but do you get it?...you never get it..."
= the media always searches for something bad but perry stays away and won't let them get it..
"you've got to owe me something before you know what is a joke and what is up.."
= perry has to do something for the media (interviews when they want..etc) before they'll leave him alone basically..
"i've worked my fingers to the bone and i won't let you stop me going up,,"
= i have worked all my life and i wont let the media ruin me (like it has done to so many stars,)
"why do you have to make it so so so so obvious"
= why do you have to show my life to everyone?