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."
Up at eight, you can't be late
For Matthew and Son, he won't wait
Watch them run down to platform one
And the eight-thirty train to Matthew and Son
Matthew and Son, the work's never done
There's always something new
The files in your head, you take them to bed
You're never ever through
And they've been working all day, all day, all day
There's a five minute break and that's all you take
For a cup of cold coffee and a piece of cake
Matthew and Son, the work's never done
There's always something new
The files in your head, you take them to bed
You're never ever through
And they've been working all day, all day, all day
He's got people who've been working for fifty years
No one asks for more money 'cause nobody cares
Even though they're pretty low and their rent's in arrears
Matthew and Son, Matthew and Son
Matthew and Son, Matthew and Son
And they've been working all day, all day, all day!
Matthew and Son, Matthew and Son
Matthew and Son, Matthew and Son
For Matthew and Son, he won't wait
Watch them run down to platform one
And the eight-thirty train to Matthew and Son
Matthew and Son, the work's never done
There's always something new
The files in your head, you take them to bed
You're never ever through
And they've been working all day, all day, all day
There's a five minute break and that's all you take
For a cup of cold coffee and a piece of cake
Matthew and Son, the work's never done
There's always something new
The files in your head, you take them to bed
You're never ever through
And they've been working all day, all day, all day
He's got people who've been working for fifty years
No one asks for more money 'cause nobody cares
Even though they're pretty low and their rent's in arrears
Matthew and Son, Matthew and Son
Matthew and Son, Matthew and Son
And they've been working all day, all day, all day!
Matthew and Son, Matthew and Son
Matthew and Son, Matthew and Son
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
To my knowledge, the meaning of this song is regarding areas of the industrial revolution, especially in england where you would have a company that owned a coal mine and essentially owned the adjacent town where most of the workers lived. When Cat Stevens sings about "Matthew and Son" I assume he is talking about the stereotype of these companies. I believe this verse sums up the meaning of the song,
"He's got people who've been working for fifty years No one asks for more money 'cause nobody dares Even though they're pretty low and the rent's in arrears"
This is where entire families would work for the same company on a minimum wage with the fear of being fired if they were to ask for more. These scenarios were quite common in England in the 19th century. Only when labour governments became prominent did these conditions change