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."
You have the best of me now
But you still want more
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score
We play these games and I always lose
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell you what’s on my mind (A whole lot of thinking going on about you)
But you really do it to me
I swear you’re out to screw me
But I keep coming back for more
Because I’m a sucker for you, yea, I’m a sucker for you
You have the best of me now
But you still want more
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score
We play these games and I always lose
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
Since you’re growing to expect it every time we talk I wreck it
I’ll try to keep my hopes alive
But you lure me in then break me like you’re only there to hate me
But I keep coming back for more
Because I’m a sucker for you, yea, I’m a sucker for you
You have the best of me now
But you still want more
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score
We play these games and I always lose
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
Feels like it’s out of my hands
And I’m too nervous to correct
To find out and be rejected
I’m sitting this one out this time
Sidelined by my own design again (Again)
You have the best of me now (X 4)
You have the best of me now
But you still want more
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score
We play these games and I always lose
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
You have the best of me now (right now)
But you still want more (right now)
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score (right now)
We play these games and I always lose (right now)
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
But you still want more
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score
We play these games and I always lose
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell you what’s on my mind (A whole lot of thinking going on about you)
But you really do it to me
I swear you’re out to screw me
But I keep coming back for more
Because I’m a sucker for you, yea, I’m a sucker for you
You have the best of me now
But you still want more
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score
We play these games and I always lose
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
Since you’re growing to expect it every time we talk I wreck it
I’ll try to keep my hopes alive
But you lure me in then break me like you’re only there to hate me
But I keep coming back for more
Because I’m a sucker for you, yea, I’m a sucker for you
You have the best of me now
But you still want more
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score
We play these games and I always lose
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
Feels like it’s out of my hands
And I’m too nervous to correct
To find out and be rejected
I’m sitting this one out this time
Sidelined by my own design again (Again)
You have the best of me now (X 4)
You have the best of me now
But you still want more
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score
We play these games and I always lose
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
You have the best of me now (right now)
But you still want more (right now)
I can’t catch up if you’re keeping score (right now)
We play these games and I always lose (right now)
I don’t know what I’m suppose to do right now
Lyrics submitted by SwimAndy013
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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.
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.
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.
awesome song, they have others but this is my favorite... go to purevolume.com/specialwhenlit to hear the song, i don't know if the lyrics are a 100% right so post if u think they're wrong, the song is pretty self explanatory but i think it's pretty much about a relationship where the girl is a jerk and keeps playing this guy for a fool and always gets the best of him, he really likes her but she is kinda indifferent i think and just wants someone who's always there for her... but that's just my take