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."
Had we never come across the vastness of pavement
The barrenness of waves and the grayness of the sea
Never lost or ne'er been misguided
We'd have ne'er reached seas so shining
Or come from out of a hansom in Camden
To a bar in the basement
While all the while it rained
Or come around to the friendliest of faces
Handsomest in ugly places
Or come from out of the tunnels we dig in
To see that tunneling's not living
And working doesn't work
Or come to find that loving is labor
Labor's life and life's forever
Or come to see that keeping's not giving
You get what you've given
You get what you deserve
And in the midst of all of the action
Maybe only there found satisfaction
Chasing sea-foam dreams
Around another dirty old town
Parallel run streams
Toward the gray ocean from the green ground
'Oed und leer, das meer
But look beneath the glassy surface
All the songs you hear
Down there they have a purpose
All in all we cannot stop singing
we cannot start sinking
We swim until it ends
They may kill and we may be parted
But we will ne'er be broken-hearted
The barrenness of waves and the grayness of the sea
Never lost or ne'er been misguided
We'd have ne'er reached seas so shining
Or come from out of a hansom in Camden
To a bar in the basement
While all the while it rained
Or come around to the friendliest of faces
Handsomest in ugly places
Or come from out of the tunnels we dig in
To see that tunneling's not living
And working doesn't work
Or come to find that loving is labor
Labor's life and life's forever
Or come to see that keeping's not giving
You get what you've given
You get what you deserve
And in the midst of all of the action
Maybe only there found satisfaction
Chasing sea-foam dreams
Around another dirty old town
Parallel run streams
Toward the gray ocean from the green ground
'Oed und leer, das meer
But look beneath the glassy surface
All the songs you hear
Down there they have a purpose
All in all we cannot stop singing
we cannot start sinking
We swim until it ends
They may kill and we may be parted
But we will ne'er be broken-hearted
Lyrics submitted by hollyhoxnj, edited by Carousels
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
The lyrics posted are complete junk. These are the correct lyrics:
Had we never come across the vastness of pavement, the barrenness of waves and the grayness of the sea; Never lost or ne'er been misguided, we'd have ne'er reached seas so shining - Or come from out of a handsom in Camden to a bar in the basement while all the while it rained; Or come around to the friendliest of faces, handsomest in ugly places - Or come from out of the tunnels we dig in, to see that tunneling's not living, and working doesn't work; Or come to find that loving is labor, Labor's life and life's forever - Or come to see that keeping's not giving, You get what you've given, you get what you deserve; In the midst of all of the action maybe only there found satisfaction.
Chasing seafoam dreams around another dirty old town. Parallel run streams toward the gray ocean from the green ground. "Oed und leer, das meer", but look beneath the glassy surface. All the songs you hear: down there they have a purpose.
All in all, we cannot stop singing. We cannot start sinking. We swim until it ends. They may kill and we may be parted. but we will ne'er be broken-hearted.
Beautiful song, GeeMo summed it up.
I always want to do a hardcore allusion analysis on this song. I already know the TS Eliot reference, and I recently realized that the "We will ne'er be broken-hearted" is a reference to Burns' poem, "A Fond Kiss," which has the line "we had ne'er been broken-hearted." Gotta love those English majors!
I really love this song.. but the lyrics are posted wrong... in particular, it's "Oed und leer das meer".. not "Burden leer does smear". Thank you
yeah, isn't "oed und leer das meer" from the waste land by ts eliot? this song is so beautiful.
yeah, isn't "oed' und leer das meer" from the waste land by ts eliot? this song is very beautiful.
This song can change your life. The opening chords are like powerful rays of sunshine, and that's just what the song is about--it's coming out into the warmth of music and simply being greeted by it--and enjoying every fucking note of it! Its learning the meaning of life through music, its learning ABOUT life through music. You can hear your life--the late night hangouts with friends, the morning walks to classes or rides to work, the lunch breaks, the rides home, the happy times and just an utter appreciation for life and music...all in this song.
GeeMo, is right. My favorite line is, "chasing sea foam dreams, around another dirty old town!", WE CANNOT STOP SINGING!
simply beautiful song; thanks for the correct lyrics, jsbx
sweet
"the vastness of pavement" part...that tune is from another song and i can't for the life of me remember what song it is! it's buggin me so bad...
i just randomly stumbled upon the genious that is Ted Leo and i'm so i love :D people don't get it, ignorant fools