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."
Huh, flashy jam
Steppin' out, steppin' out
Steppin' out, steppin' out
Open Sesame, here comes Rastaman
Abracadabra, catch me if you can
I know
You find it hard to believe that
I am
The genie of your lamp and
I can do anything you wish but
Right now I am commanding you to dance
Steppin' out, steppin' out (wow, I'm stepping)
Steppin' out, steppin' out
Invisible music
Beam me up to the cradle of sound
Riddle me this, yeah
You cannot see it
Nowhere on Earth
Can this reggae be found, I said
I know
You find it hard to believe that
I am
The genie of your lamp and
I can
Do anything you wish but
Right now (right now)
Commanding you to dance
Rain down
Rain down, rain down
Brimstone
Thunder and lightning
Hurricane, uh-uh
Cyclone
Ask me this I tell you why
I know
You find it hard to believe that
I am
The genie of your lamp and
I can
Do anything you wish but
Right now (right now)
Commanding you to dance
Steppin' out, steppin' out (says I'm steppin')
Steppin' out, steppin' out
Says I'm stepping
Journey through the tunnel of love
Wisdom is respected hatred is rejected
From the planet dread I said it rains dub
Climb Aladin's ladder hotter reggae hot
Open Sesame
Here comes Rastaman
Abracadabra, catch me if you can
Open Sesame
Here comes Rastaman
Abracadabra, catch me if you can, hey
Steppin' out
Says I'm steppin' (steppin' out)
I says I steppin'
I steppin', steppin', eh (steppin' out)
Says I steppin' (steppin' out)
I says I steppin'
I steppin', steppin' (steppin' out, steppin' out)
Highest heights and hottest hot (steppin' out)
Rasta this and Dreadlocks that (steppin' out, steppin' out)
The move man's just can't stop (steppin' out)
I'm in the groove and I just can't stop (steppin' out, steppin' out)
'Cause I'm
In love with Jah music (steppin' out)
(Steppin' out, steppin' out)
Invisible music (steppin' out)
I says I steppin'
I steppin', steppin', eh (steppin' out, steppin' out)
Steppin' out, steppin' out
Steppin' out, steppin' out
Open Sesame, here comes Rastaman
Abracadabra, catch me if you can
I know
You find it hard to believe that
I am
The genie of your lamp and
I can do anything you wish but
Right now I am commanding you to dance
Steppin' out, steppin' out (wow, I'm stepping)
Steppin' out, steppin' out
Invisible music
Beam me up to the cradle of sound
Riddle me this, yeah
You cannot see it
Nowhere on Earth
Can this reggae be found, I said
I know
You find it hard to believe that
I am
The genie of your lamp and
I can
Do anything you wish but
Right now (right now)
Commanding you to dance
Rain down
Rain down, rain down
Brimstone
Thunder and lightning
Hurricane, uh-uh
Cyclone
Ask me this I tell you why
I know
You find it hard to believe that
I am
The genie of your lamp and
I can
Do anything you wish but
Right now (right now)
Commanding you to dance
Steppin' out, steppin' out (says I'm steppin')
Steppin' out, steppin' out
Says I'm stepping
Journey through the tunnel of love
Wisdom is respected hatred is rejected
From the planet dread I said it rains dub
Climb Aladin's ladder hotter reggae hot
Open Sesame
Here comes Rastaman
Abracadabra, catch me if you can
Open Sesame
Here comes Rastaman
Abracadabra, catch me if you can, hey
Steppin' out
Says I'm steppin' (steppin' out)
I says I steppin'
I steppin', steppin', eh (steppin' out)
Says I steppin' (steppin' out)
I says I steppin'
I steppin', steppin' (steppin' out, steppin' out)
Highest heights and hottest hot (steppin' out)
Rasta this and Dreadlocks that (steppin' out, steppin' out)
The move man's just can't stop (steppin' out)
I'm in the groove and I just can't stop (steppin' out, steppin' out)
'Cause I'm
In love with Jah music (steppin' out)
(Steppin' out, steppin' out)
Invisible music (steppin' out)
I says I steppin'
I steppin', steppin', eh (steppin' out, steppin' out)
Lyrics submitted by AzWeThinkIam
Steppin' Out Lyrics as written by Robert Hinds David
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
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,
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.
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.
Excellent song!