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."
Strange and beautiful are the stars tonight
That dance around your head
In your eyes I see that perfect world
I hope that doesn't sound too weird
And I want all the world to know
That your love's all I need
All that I need
And if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Yeah, if we're lost
We are lost together
Stand before this faceless crowd
I wonder why I bother
So much controlled by so few
Stumbling from one disaster to another
I've heard it all so many times before
It's all a dream to me now, a dream to me now
And if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Yeah, if we're lost
We are lost together
In the silence of this whispered night
I listen only to your breath
And in that second of a shooting star
Somehow it all makes sense
And I want all the world to know
That your love's all I need
All that I need
And if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Yeah, if we're lost
We are lost together
And if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Yeah, if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Together, together
That dance around your head
In your eyes I see that perfect world
I hope that doesn't sound too weird
And I want all the world to know
That your love's all I need
All that I need
And if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Yeah, if we're lost
We are lost together
Stand before this faceless crowd
I wonder why I bother
So much controlled by so few
Stumbling from one disaster to another
I've heard it all so many times before
It's all a dream to me now, a dream to me now
And if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Yeah, if we're lost
We are lost together
In the silence of this whispered night
I listen only to your breath
And in that second of a shooting star
Somehow it all makes sense
And I want all the world to know
That your love's all I need
All that I need
And if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Yeah, if we're lost
We are lost together
And if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Yeah, if we're lost
Then we are lost together
Together, together
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Greg Keelor (the singer/songwriter) wrote this song about the early days of Blue Rodeo...playing hundreds of crappy gigs a year, and the hopelessness of wondering if they would be successful and if it was all worth it. He was specifically inspired to write this after a gig in Detroit, where the stage was on one side of a river, and the crowd was on the other...and everytime a boat would pass by, the crowd wouldn't be able to see them, and vice versa. He said that it was one of the lowest lows they hit as a band, but in that point of desperation, he realized that, hey...if this is all jsut a waste of time, at least he's going through it with the rest of the guys...that if they really are lost...they are lost together.
I really love this song, and I think it might be my fave blue rodeo song ever. Everytime I hear it I think of my boyfriend and how we are together...it's awesome!!
this was an ex-GF and my song...to this day when i hear it i think of her...
one of the better love songs out there....
this song often makes me cry. it reminds me of a place i used to go to but i cant anymore. even if that wasn't a factor it's still a completely beautiful song that i've grown up with and always been in love with and i just wish everyone in the world would fall in love with it immediately
this song reminds me of bates, the greatest place in the world. it means so much to me, i can't even describe. This song is completely amazing.