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."
Sweet Lucy was a dancer
But none of us would chance her
Because she was a samurai
She made electric shadows
Beyond our fingertips
And none of us could reach that high
She came on like a teaser
I had to touch and please her
Enjoy a little paradise
The lock was in my pocket
When Lucy met the rocket
She never knew the reason why
I can't deny it
With that smile on her face
Oh, it's not the kill
It's the thrill of the chase
Feel it coming
It's knocking at the door
You know it's no good running
It's not against the law
The point of no return
And now you know the score
And now you're learning
What's knockin' at your back door
Sweet Nancy was so fancy
To get into her pants we
Had to be the aristocracy
The members that she toyed with
At her city club were something in diplomacy
So we put her on the hit list
Of a common cunning linguist
A master of many tongues
And now she eases gently
From her Austin to her Bentley
Suddenly she feels so young
I can't deny it
With that smile on her face
Oh, it's not the kill
It's the thrill of the chase
Feel it coming
It's knocking at the door
You know it's no good running
No, it's not against the law
The point of no return
Now how you know the score
And now you're learning, aha
What's knockin' at your back door
Sweet Lucy was a dancer
But none of us would chance her
Because she was a samurai
She made electric shadows
Beyond our fingertips
And one of us could reach that high
I can't deny it
With that smile on my face
Oh oh, it's not the kill
It's the thrill of the chase
Feel it coming
Knocking at your door
You know it's no good running
Now it's knocking at your door
Ah ha, knockin' at your back door
But none of us would chance her
Because she was a samurai
She made electric shadows
Beyond our fingertips
And none of us could reach that high
She came on like a teaser
I had to touch and please her
Enjoy a little paradise
The lock was in my pocket
When Lucy met the rocket
She never knew the reason why
I can't deny it
With that smile on her face
Oh, it's not the kill
It's the thrill of the chase
Feel it coming
It's knocking at the door
You know it's no good running
It's not against the law
The point of no return
And now you know the score
And now you're learning
What's knockin' at your back door
Sweet Nancy was so fancy
To get into her pants we
Had to be the aristocracy
The members that she toyed with
At her city club were something in diplomacy
So we put her on the hit list
Of a common cunning linguist
A master of many tongues
And now she eases gently
From her Austin to her Bentley
Suddenly she feels so young
I can't deny it
With that smile on her face
Oh, it's not the kill
It's the thrill of the chase
Feel it coming
It's knocking at the door
You know it's no good running
No, it's not against the law
The point of no return
Now how you know the score
And now you're learning, aha
What's knockin' at your back door
Sweet Lucy was a dancer
But none of us would chance her
Because she was a samurai
She made electric shadows
Beyond our fingertips
And one of us could reach that high
I can't deny it
With that smile on my face
Oh oh, it's not the kill
It's the thrill of the chase
Feel it coming
Knocking at your door
You know it's no good running
Now it's knocking at your door
Ah ha, knockin' at your back door
Lyrics submitted by rsvpdiddy, edited by ShadeBlade, chefgroovy, LeeLee1498, michaelt8j
Knocking At Your Back Door Lyrics as written by Ritchie Blackmore Ian Gillan
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Unison Rights S.L., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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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.
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.
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.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
it is not: "To get into her pantry had to be the aristocracy"
it is "To get into her pants we had to be the aristocracy"
And some of you dudes have some pretty sick ideas about what these lyrics mean. There is nothing about conquering, dominating, pounding or any kind of aggressive and violent sexual activity where the woman does not have as much fun as the man. You think Coverdale wrote these lyrics?
And Longwoodgator, if it said that it would not be a good pun!
~
It's definitely "pantry," and I can't believe I'm listening to this song 30 years later. It has held up well, especially if you enjoy fits of laughter with your listening. The intro and outro are kinda epic.
When he repeats the first verse at the end of the song, he says "one of us could reach her" and then "I can't deny with that smile on MY face".
I love that line "We put her on the hitlist of a common cunning linguist," with the double meaning of a master of "cunnilingus." Great lyrics!
@MusicalManiac1 I noticed that play on words too
According to the greatest hits liner notes they wrote the song as a joke and never expected it to get any airplay.
This is such an awesome song!
This song is so full of sexual references regarding anal and oral sex. Cool tune.
Song is kind of funny somehow... tho it does kick ass.. But highway star is their best.
i got a log in MY pocket, but do i get any? no
Yeah,Kinda weird but its an awesome song,especially the opening riff.
When DP played this song in concert about 15 years ago, Ian Gillan did a "jerkoff" motion with his hand while singing the line "the log was in my pocket". Classic.
Also, I always though the lyrics were a "common cunnilinguist" rather than a "common cunning linguist".
It IS "common cunnilinguist". This site had it wrong. With the song's subject matter, what else could it be?
It is absolutely "cunning linguist." It's a pun. And it sets up the next line with the "master of many tongues."<br /> <br /> The wordplay makes it clever. And radio-friendly.<br /> <br /> Now if someone can explain the references to the Austin and the Bentley, besides the fact that they're cars that would be driven by someone in the aristocracy. (Which makes it a little unlikely that this would take place in a strip club.)
I don't think the make of the cars are as important as much as when he refers that "now she eases gently"......meaning that her ass could be tender when sitting, and she very may feel refreshed and "young" after a good shagging.<br /> Obviously the two cars are well known in British aristocracy as you mentioned.<br /> cheers