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."
Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
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.
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.
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.
This was one of the first songs that protested or even dealt with racism in america. Its about the lynchings in the south. I think that was extremely brave of her given racism was still very much apart of the world. One of the reasons she's my hero
@Beltane such strong, emotive and poignant lyrics too for that time (1939)
I have enough reseach on this song to write a short volume. It was wrote by a white man who wanted to give it to Billie but did not want to offend her. He finally did muster up the courage & the rest is history.
Cra4ford, I think your history teacher might have been mistaking. My understanding is Billie did NOT "hate it" she was truly thankful for the song. But it took a lot out of her and you are correct "she cried afterwards". Yes she did. I have read many articles that she cried a lot after singing it (I cry just hearing it).
Q Magazine, named "Strange Fruit" one of 10 songs that actually changed the world.
Sly
I guess I am beleaguering a topic that was already beautifully addressed by SLYcrafts but this is such an important song and Billie Holiday's strength and bravery are greatly misrepresented when a History teacher claims that she did not want to do it and was pressured into doing it. The opposite happened. People were trying to prevent her. Her own label refused to record it Some clubs would not allow her to sing it. There were a few times when people in the audience physically attacked her. So it was through her own indomitable will that the song ever came out for us to hear it
This article briefly describes the history of Strange Fruit You'll understand why Billie Holiday cried after singing it:
ladyday.net/stuf/vfsept98.html
i'm not usually affected by songs, but this one affected me. i'm not even american... when she sings: "Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze", you can't help but picturing the scene. this song really hurts.
The song began as a poem written by a jewish school teacher Abel Meeropol. Inspired by a photograph of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abraham Smith. He put it to music himself because no one else had the "balls" to do it at the time...Billie of course had the "balls" to perform it, even when she was forbidden to do it..........The song of course is heart breaking and inspires so many different feelings depending on the race and/or experiences of the listener. God, I love Billie Holiday and the paradox of strength and weakness she represented in both her personal and professional life. Rest in peace honey..
I first heard this song 3 days ago, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since then. I saw the photograph of Thomas Shipp and Abraham Smith that inspired the lyrics, and it gave me chills. Why haven't I ever heard of this until now, as an 18 yr old who found it by chance? I think every person who goes through high school should be exposed to this poem. It can alter and has altered lives and history. It has helped me to put things into perspective, and I know that anytime I want a reality check, all I have to do is think of these lyrics. It's just so incredible and terrible at the same time. Brilliant.
It's a sad, sad reality.
Wanna see her singing Strange Fruit?
youtube.com/w/strange-fruit-billie-holiday
A true blues song. Even today, it can still affect people...even people like me, who have hardly had to deal with racism.
Beltane, racism is still very much a part of the world.