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."
I am born
I am me
I am new
I am free
Look at me
I am young
Sight unseen
Life unsung
My eyes have just been opened
And they're open very wide
Images around me
Don't identify inside
Just one blur I recognize
The one that soothes and feeds
My way of life is easy
And as simple are my needs
Yet my eyes are drawn toward
The mountain in the east
Fascinates and captivates
Gives my heart no peace
The mountain holds the sunrise
In the prison of the night
Till bursting forth from rocky chains
The valley floods with light
Living one long sunrise
For to me all things are new
I've never watched the sky grow pale
Or strolled through fields of dew
I do not know of dust to dust
I live from breath to breath
I live to climb that mountain
To the Fountain of Lamneth
Yet my eyes are drawn toward
The mountain in the east
Fascinates and captivates
Gives my heart no peace
The mountain holds the sunrise
In the prison of the night
Till bursting forth from rocky chains
The valley floods with light
Listen
Crying back to consciousness
The coldness grips my skin
The sky is pitching violently
Drawn by shrieking winds
Seaspray blurs my vision
Waves roll by so fast
Save my ship of freedom
I'm lashed helpless to the mast
Remembering when first I held
The wheel in my own hands
I took the helm so eagerly
And sailed for distant lands
But now the sea's too heavy
And I just don't understand
Why must my crew desert me
When I need a guiding hand
Call out for direction
And there's no one there to steer
Shout out for salvation
But there's no one there to hear
Cry out supplication
For the maelstrom is near
Scream out desperation
But no one cares to hear
The whiteness of confusion
Is unfolding from my mind
I stare around in wonder
Have I left my life behind
I catch the scent of ambergris
And turn my head, surprised
My gaze is caught and held and I
Am helpless, mesmerized
Panacea, liquid grace
Oh let me touch your fragile face
Enchantment falls around me
And I know I cannot leave
Here's a meaning for my life
A shelter from the storm
Pacify my troubles with
Her body, soft and warm
Naked in our unity
A smile for every tear
Gentle hands that promise me
Comfort through the years
Yet I know I must be gone
Before the light of dawn
Panacea, passion pure
I can't resist your gentle lure
My heart will lie beside you
And my wandering body grieves
Another endless day
Silhouettes of grey
Another glass of wine
Drink with eyes that shine
To days without that chill at morning
Long nights, time out of mind
Draw another goblet
From the cask of '43
Crimson misty memory
Hazy glimpse of me
Give me back my wonder
I've something more to give
I guess it doesn't matter
There's not much more to
Not much more to live
Another foggy dawn
The mountain almost gone
Another doubtful fear
The road is not so clear
My soul grows ever weary
And the end is ever near
Draw another goblet
From the cask of '43
Crimson misty memory
Hazy glimpse of me
Give me back my wonder
I've something more to give
I guess it doesn't matter
There's not much more to
Not much more to live
Look, the mist is rising
And the sun is peaking through
See, the steps grow lighter
As I reach their final few
Hear, the dancing waters
I must be drawing near
Feel, my heart is pounding
With embattled hope and fear
Now, at last I fall before
The Fountain of Lamneth
I thought I would be singing
But I'm tired, out of breath
Many journeys end here
But, the secret's told the same
Life is just a candle
And a dream must give it flame
The key, the end, the answer
Stripped of their disguise
Still it's all confusion
And tears spring to my eyes
Though I've reached a signpost
It's really not the end
Like Old Sol behind the mountain
I'll be coming up again
I'm in motion
I am still
I am crying
I am still
I'm together
I'm apart
I'm forever
At the start
Still, I am
I am me
I am new
I am free
Look at me
I am young
Sight unseen
Life unsung
My eyes have just been opened
And they're open very wide
Images around me
Don't identify inside
Just one blur I recognize
The one that soothes and feeds
My way of life is easy
And as simple are my needs
Yet my eyes are drawn toward
The mountain in the east
Fascinates and captivates
Gives my heart no peace
The mountain holds the sunrise
In the prison of the night
Till bursting forth from rocky chains
The valley floods with light
Living one long sunrise
For to me all things are new
I've never watched the sky grow pale
Or strolled through fields of dew
I do not know of dust to dust
I live from breath to breath
I live to climb that mountain
To the Fountain of Lamneth
Yet my eyes are drawn toward
The mountain in the east
Fascinates and captivates
Gives my heart no peace
The mountain holds the sunrise
In the prison of the night
Till bursting forth from rocky chains
The valley floods with light
Listen
Crying back to consciousness
The coldness grips my skin
The sky is pitching violently
Drawn by shrieking winds
Seaspray blurs my vision
Waves roll by so fast
Save my ship of freedom
I'm lashed helpless to the mast
Remembering when first I held
The wheel in my own hands
I took the helm so eagerly
And sailed for distant lands
But now the sea's too heavy
And I just don't understand
Why must my crew desert me
When I need a guiding hand
Call out for direction
And there's no one there to steer
Shout out for salvation
But there's no one there to hear
Cry out supplication
For the maelstrom is near
Scream out desperation
But no one cares to hear
The whiteness of confusion
Is unfolding from my mind
I stare around in wonder
Have I left my life behind
I catch the scent of ambergris
And turn my head, surprised
My gaze is caught and held and I
Am helpless, mesmerized
Panacea, liquid grace
Oh let me touch your fragile face
Enchantment falls around me
And I know I cannot leave
Here's a meaning for my life
A shelter from the storm
Pacify my troubles with
Her body, soft and warm
Naked in our unity
A smile for every tear
Gentle hands that promise me
Comfort through the years
Yet I know I must be gone
Before the light of dawn
Panacea, passion pure
I can't resist your gentle lure
My heart will lie beside you
And my wandering body grieves
Another endless day
Silhouettes of grey
Another glass of wine
Drink with eyes that shine
To days without that chill at morning
Long nights, time out of mind
Draw another goblet
From the cask of '43
Crimson misty memory
Hazy glimpse of me
Give me back my wonder
I've something more to give
I guess it doesn't matter
There's not much more to
Not much more to live
Another foggy dawn
The mountain almost gone
Another doubtful fear
The road is not so clear
My soul grows ever weary
And the end is ever near
Draw another goblet
From the cask of '43
Crimson misty memory
Hazy glimpse of me
Give me back my wonder
I've something more to give
I guess it doesn't matter
There's not much more to
Not much more to live
Look, the mist is rising
And the sun is peaking through
See, the steps grow lighter
As I reach their final few
Hear, the dancing waters
I must be drawing near
Feel, my heart is pounding
With embattled hope and fear
Now, at last I fall before
The Fountain of Lamneth
I thought I would be singing
But I'm tired, out of breath
Many journeys end here
But, the secret's told the same
Life is just a candle
And a dream must give it flame
The key, the end, the answer
Stripped of their disguise
Still it's all confusion
And tears spring to my eyes
Though I've reached a signpost
It's really not the end
Like Old Sol behind the mountain
I'll be coming up again
I'm in motion
I am still
I am crying
I am still
I'm together
I'm apart
I'm forever
At the start
Still, I am
Lyrics submitted by shed27, edited by Rush4Peace, digitalman
The Fountain of Lamneth Lyrics as written by Geddy Lee Weinrib Alex Zivojinovich
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
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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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced 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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
To fully appreciate the magnitude and depths of this song it must be listened to many times over...but one day you will get it and when you do you will never dismiss its greatness again..you will never cease to listen to it...it will stay with you forever...I truly love Rush with ever fibre of my being...their music has meant so much to me in some very dark days..and i thank them for it
The Fountain of Lamneth is probably my second favorite Rush song. I still prefer 2112 over it, but this one is a very close second for me.
I agree with byhatchetaxeandsaw on this one. This song is about a man's life, from birth to death.
In The Valley (BIRTH and CHILDHOOD). I am born, I am me, I am new, I am free. As in childhood, the man has curiousities about his future, "Yet my eyes are drawn toward the mountain in the east..."
Didacts And Narpets (ADOLESCENCE), all the way. It is all about rebellion. Your parent says work! And you say no! Your teacher says learn! You say live! And live it to the fullest. Party all night, sleep all day!
No One At The Bridge (College, Young Adulthood, First Job, On Your Own). You're on your own, there's no safety net now. Maybe a bit through college, but then it's out into the real world, and you have to make it on your own. "Why must my crew (your parents or friends) desert me? I need a guiding hand." You get that first job, and you have to be grown up enough to keep it, make a living for yourself, pay the bills, etc. But you sail on, toward that dream you fantasized about In The Valley.
Panacea (FIRST TRUE LOVE, MARRIAGE). Then you find the one that you can steer your boat with. You find that you can forget about your troubles with her body, soft and warm. Still, it may not be all that you need, and it may not last. It might end in divorce, as mentioned above, but for now, you've got that peace of mind, and that's what's important.
Bacchus Plateau (GOLDEN YEARS, RETIREMENT). This is my favorite part of the song, not so much because you've reached this point in life, but it rocks and flows so well! Truthfully, this is about the rewards in life for working so hard and getting this far, "Draw another goblet from the cask of '43." Another endless day, silhouettes of gray. You're just enjoying the fruits of your labors, and of course, it's even better if you still have your Panacea with you!
The Fountain (OLD AGE, THE END, DEATH). Yeah, you're happy at first, you have reached the goal that you longed for In The Valley, but you now realize that, like the fabled Fountain of Youth, it doesn't mean you're going to live forever...death is still a part of life, and you come to that realization. "Now at last I fall before The Fountain Of Lamneth, I thought I would be singing, but I'm tired, out of breath. Many journeys end here, but the secret's told the same. Life is just a candle, and a dream must give it flame." Like a candle, life finally burns out, but your dreams and desires are what keep the candle going. If the candle didn't get lit, you were never born to begin with. "I am crying, I am still." That line is very moving, that is just before death. "I'm forever at the start...still I am." You realize that you're back to the start point In The Valley, and you might think your life has been pointless. "Still I am..." Every life has some purpose and meaning, though we may never fully understand it all.
The point is, live your life to the fullest each and every day, because there's only one candle, and once that flame is extinguished, it's gone forever.
Great, great song! I wish they would do this one live in concert again, the entire 19 minutes and 57 secs of it!
That's rather unfortunate because LSD was first synthesized in 1938 by Swiss chemist Dr. Albert Hofmann.
This song doesn't have any drug overtones, it's just another one of Neil Peart's adventures in song form. A darn good one at that.
@BMaloney This song is about taking LSD, written and performed by experienced LSD users. The intended audience were people who were open to experimenting with LSD and the psychedelic journey that they faced. There are so many obvious LSD references, that they probably wanted to call the song \'Fountain of Lysergic\' but their record company made them change the name. Sorry all you Frank Zappa followers, but this song was about dropping acid and also happens to be masterpiece of the prog rock genre. So, with that understanding, you can try to look into the lyrics for all the messages, which is great fun, but keep in mind, it is a powerful and multi-polar epic song resembling an acid trip in it\'s structure. Here we go:\r\nI feel the first part is not a baby or a newborn, but rather, a college age Freshman who has a paid-for college tuition and is ready to party and meet girls, etc. In those days, that was a pretty common experience for youths emerging from their parents homes. In that, they are open to experimenting with the \'Eye opening\' drugs that were becoming more common and available at the time. Although still highly illicit and dangerous from a law enforcement standpoint, soon the LSD could not be stopped. The one that soothes and feeds me, on the surface, could be the child\'s mother, but from a psychedelic standpoint, that could be the person\'s \'guide\' on their trip. At the time, and probably still today, it was always recommended that one must have a guide while taking acid or mushrooms. That guide should be an experienced user, with various shamanic roles and the ability to \'talk down\' the new user if things get weird. That makes perfect sense with the lyrics of this song, which was produced to entertain and accompany the people who were becoming Rush fans (and taking LSD and other drugs.). The part that is weird is the \'Panacea\' part. Obviously, on the surface, our college age LSD user has found a girlfriend/wife/ or lost his virginity, etc to this soft handed chick. That makes sense, but I have never ever referred to my wife/girlfriend as a Panacea because that word doesn\'t really apply except to the most cynical of thinkers. A panacea is more of a tonic or potion used to cure ones ill\'s. Not a female at all. So the Panacea liquid grace is not some chick named Grace but more likely a vial of liquid LSD, a potent form, Anyway, that\'s all the time I have for this, Have fun listening to and dissecting this epic prog rock track, all 19 glorious minutes. And have a safe trip!
@BMaloney This song is about taking LSD, written and performed by experienced LSD users. The intended audience were people who were open to experimenting with LSD and the psychedelic journey that they faced. There are so many obvious LSD references, that they probably wanted to call the song \'Fountain of Lysergic\' but their record company made them change the name. Sorry all you Frank Zappa followers, but this song was about dropping acid and also happens to be masterpiece of the prog rock genre. So, with that understanding, you can try to look into the lyrics for all the messages, which is great fun, but keep in mind, it is a powerful and multi-polar epic song resembling an acid trip in it\'s structure. Here we go:\r\nI feel the first part is not a baby or a newborn, but rather, a college age Freshman who has a paid-for college tuition and is ready to party and meet girls, etc. In those days, that was a pretty common experience for youths emerging from their parents homes. In that, they are open to experimenting with the \'Eye opening\' drugs that were becoming more common and available at the time. Although still highly illicit and dangerous from a law enforcement standpoint, soon the LSD could not be stopped. The one that soothes and feeds me, on the surface, could be the child\'s mother, but from a psychedelic standpoint, that could be the person\'s \'guide\' on their trip. At the time, and probably still today, it was always recommended that one must have a guide while taking acid or mushrooms. That guide should be an experienced user, with various shamanic roles and the ability to \'talk down\' the new user if things get weird. That makes perfect sense with the lyrics of this song, which was produced to entertain and accompany the people who were becoming Rush fans (and taking LSD and other drugs.). The part that is weird is the \'Panacea\' part. Obviously, on the surface, our college age LSD user has found a girlfriend/wife/ or lost his virginity, etc to this soft handed chick. That makes sense, but I have never ever referred to my wife/girlfriend as a Panacea because that word doesn\'t really apply except to the most cynical of thinkers. A panacea is more of a tonic or potion used to cure ones ill\'s. Not a female at all. So the Panacea liquid grace is not some chick named Grace but more likely a vial of liquid LSD, a potent form, Anyway, that\'s all the time I have for this, Have fun listening to and dissecting this epic prog rock track, all 19 glorious minutes. And have a safe trip!
[II. Didacts and Narpets]
Stay! Go! Work! No! Learn! Live! Earn! Give! Stay or fight? What's right? Listen!
there were some lyrics missing, there they are
i can't belive nobody has said anything about this song, some new rush fans might be intimidated by the length, but if you havn't listened to it yet, just give it a try, it is, in my oppinion, the best rush song, and if you don't agree with that, at least agree that its one of their best
the song's pretty straight forward, it says the meaning near the end: "Life is just the candle, and a dream must give it flame."
To me this song is about life in general."I am born" gives a hint. And that "life is a candle"and that dreams need to fuel it. The first Rush that made me realize how special Rush is
I had not listened to Caress of Steel in a few years and happily just went through it a few times over the weekend. One of their "weakest" recordings by the band memebers' own admission, I think it rocks ass. Sounds quite dated in 2012 of course but for anyone looking for rock music with depth you can't go wrong.
Didacts and Narpets basically means teachers and parents. Neil mentions it in an interview. You can look didact up in the dictionary or online. Narpets is an anagram for parents. The title along with the lyrics tells me that this section is about the protagonist going through adolescence, trying to form an understanding of right and wrong through interactions and conflicts with authority figures. As for LSD references, I'm still doubtful. 99% of the supposed references on that egodeath link are just BS. Anyone who's not currently on LSD should be able to see that for themselves. That link also seems to be the only place trying to link "Cask of '43" with the initial LSD experiments. Cask of '43 to me always just sounded like the sort of thing Tolkien would have written, and I always assumed that was where Peart got it. The idea that the "eyes open very wide" line is another reference seems incredibly far-fetched. Given the placement in the song, between birth and being introduced to "the one who soothes and feeds"(mother), I don't think he's talking about an acid trip here either.
@Stickymongoose You are probably a Frank Zappa fan as well. Please see the Grateful Dead\'s Steal Your Face logo and make note of the large lightning bolt between the skulls eyes. This is what \'eyes open very wide\' is referring to and, yes, the writers and performers of this song were experienced LSD users, probably high on acid while recording it and certainly during the writing process. So yes, sex, drugs and rock and roll was the overwhelming theme of this great epic track.
Totally agree with you. Definitely one of Rush's best songs!
Amazing piece of music. Unlike other "epic" songs by the likes of Opeth, this one actually manages to hold your attention, until its conclusion. Bacchus Plateau is just fantastic, what a melody! Further evidence, if it were ever needed, that Rush are the best band ever.
I think that the song is more so about how we all try so hard in life to reach a goal, only to not be satisfied with it when we get it, hence the lines "Now at last I fall before The Fountain of Lamneth. I thought I would be singing, but I'm tired, out of breath." and "I'm forever at the start"