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 bring thunder and rain
Six foot two, the black John Wayne
I walk with a cannon, big enough to stop a train
Insane, prepared for the worst, pushin a hearse
Thinkin I'll burn into flames if I step in that church
My destiny is evident, Ima rule this game
See I walk with an army who protects they king
Street beat militainment
Welcome to the arraignment
Of these wack motherfuckers who ain't got it no more
It's a brand new day, consider yourself warned
I done sold more grass than they got on the White House Lawn
We come through, motherfucker hit the deck
Fuck a dynasty fool, this is my project.
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
I understand if you've never really delt with pain
Take a walk and find out who really is hard as the claim
I heard some motherfuckers ain't respectin my name
Oh not now, you ain't gone do that
I'll put two up in yo doo rag, nigga
Understand who the fuck I am
Alktaraz, I am what they say I am
Black man who makes sure he keeps a drink in his hand,
[please insert line]
You need to stop playin
'Fore them Glocks stop sprayin
Who wanna see your moms and you and me on our knees prayin
I'm sayin you motherfuckers better recognize and realize
This is beyond rap, this is about trying to survive
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
I told you before, don't you know?
We too raw
I told you before, don't you know?
We too raw
I told you before, don't you know?
We too raw
I told you before, don't you know?
We too raw
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
walk away
Six foot two, the black John Wayne
I walk with a cannon, big enough to stop a train
Insane, prepared for the worst, pushin a hearse
Thinkin I'll burn into flames if I step in that church
My destiny is evident, Ima rule this game
See I walk with an army who protects they king
Street beat militainment
Welcome to the arraignment
Of these wack motherfuckers who ain't got it no more
It's a brand new day, consider yourself warned
I done sold more grass than they got on the White House Lawn
We come through, motherfucker hit the deck
Fuck a dynasty fool, this is my project.
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
I understand if you've never really delt with pain
Take a walk and find out who really is hard as the claim
I heard some motherfuckers ain't respectin my name
Oh not now, you ain't gone do that
I'll put two up in yo doo rag, nigga
Understand who the fuck I am
Alktaraz, I am what they say I am
Black man who makes sure he keeps a drink in his hand,
[please insert line]
You need to stop playin
'Fore them Glocks stop sprayin
Who wanna see your moms and you and me on our knees prayin
I'm sayin you motherfuckers better recognize and realize
This is beyond rap, this is about trying to survive
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
I told you before, don't you know?
We too raw
I told you before, don't you know?
We too raw
I told you before, don't you know?
We too raw
I told you before, don't you know?
We too raw
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
Said we all walk away under the street lights,
We are the ghetto
The lost and forgotten,
My spirit is rotten
walk away
Lyrics submitted by josef
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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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
Lyric notes: there were a couple of parts on the song that I had difficulty understanding. If someone would like to go to onedayleft.com and listen to walk away and fix these, that would be great; Verse 1: "street beat militainment" I'm not sure about this one, it's the best i could do Verse 2: [please insert line] i absolutely could not understand what he said hear. a little help please -Joe