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."
It's been awhile since you've been around
I've been drifting like a gypsy from town to town
I've been to France and Rome I seemed to almost glitter domes
I'd lay beneath the Spanish summer skies
But I've seen nothing so lovely as your violet eyes
Do you recall the turquoise seas?
On the isles off the shore of Greece?
I've sworn I won't forget your exact smile or where we went Oh I'll see you in everything And everywhere I go I see your violet eyes...
Seasons come and seasons pass Time can seem as fragile as a looking glass Oh I know there must be something more constant than time For a night when I sleep I feel you near me I see your violet eyes...
If I could write a postcard to you I know that somehow it would get through Not sure I could express this aching in my chest I guess that I'll always miss you And everywhere I go I see your violet eyes...
Seasons come and seasons pass Life can seem as fragile as a looking glass Oh I know there must be something more constant than time for a night when I sleep I feel you near me I see your violet eyes...
It was a year ago last Christmas we spent in Hawaii We were aughing beneath the stars playing in the sand, laughing in the sea It will be a year coming this 4th of July when for the last time we held your hand and for the last time closed your violet eyes...
Seasons come and seasons pass Oh Life can seem as fragile Oh as fragile as a looking glass I know that there is something more constant than time for at night when I sleep I feel you near me I see your eyes upon me I see your violet eyes.
I've been drifting like a gypsy from town to town
I've been to France and Rome I seemed to almost glitter domes
I'd lay beneath the Spanish summer skies
But I've seen nothing so lovely as your violet eyes
Do you recall the turquoise seas?
On the isles off the shore of Greece?
I've sworn I won't forget your exact smile or where we went Oh I'll see you in everything And everywhere I go I see your violet eyes...
Seasons come and seasons pass Time can seem as fragile as a looking glass Oh I know there must be something more constant than time For a night when I sleep I feel you near me I see your violet eyes...
If I could write a postcard to you I know that somehow it would get through Not sure I could express this aching in my chest I guess that I'll always miss you And everywhere I go I see your violet eyes...
Seasons come and seasons pass Life can seem as fragile as a looking glass Oh I know there must be something more constant than time for a night when I sleep I feel you near me I see your violet eyes...
It was a year ago last Christmas we spent in Hawaii We were aughing beneath the stars playing in the sand, laughing in the sea It will be a year coming this 4th of July when for the last time we held your hand and for the last time closed your violet eyes...
Seasons come and seasons pass Oh Life can seem as fragile Oh as fragile as a looking glass I know that there is something more constant than time for at night when I sleep I feel you near me I see your eyes upon me I see your violet eyes.
Lyrics submitted by AtzKilcher
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
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.
Does anyone but me notice that a Atz Kichler posted this song... is that really him? Or someone having a good time pretending to be Atz?