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."
Bury the switchblade a foot deep in snow
Silence is golden
She loved him, you know
Fold up his good shirts and dust off his robe
The violence is over, they told her so
Is it over? Is it over, I said, is it over? Is it?
Her mind tears asunder the heartstrings below
Years go by, still she cannot break the code
The trauma has severed the flesh from the bone
Guilt weighs so heavily on her soul
Is it over? Is it over, I said, is it over? Is it?
Veins stretched tight over a heart blue and cold
Silence is made of gold
Hurt is to have and to hold
This is what she has been told
Is it over? Is it over, I said, is it over? Is it?
Someone speaks softly through the horror and pain:
"Love has gone, but it could come again."
Spring arrives quietly, warming her skin
Her heart, now red, is beating again
Oh, it's over
Silence is golden
She loved him, you know
Fold up his good shirts and dust off his robe
The violence is over, they told her so
Is it over? Is it over, I said, is it over? Is it?
Her mind tears asunder the heartstrings below
Years go by, still she cannot break the code
The trauma has severed the flesh from the bone
Guilt weighs so heavily on her soul
Is it over? Is it over, I said, is it over? Is it?
Veins stretched tight over a heart blue and cold
Silence is made of gold
Hurt is to have and to hold
This is what she has been told
Is it over? Is it over, I said, is it over? Is it?
Someone speaks softly through the horror and pain:
"Love has gone, but it could come again."
Spring arrives quietly, warming her skin
Her heart, now red, is beating again
Oh, it's over
Lyrics submitted by Nonny
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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."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
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.
Hannah Fury's Wicked songs are so perfect to the characters in the book. She is true to the characters and further brings them to life.
The first part of the song is about the character Sarima. Sarima is Fiyero's wife through an arranged marriage. Although they have children together there never seems to have be great love between them. Marriage was more of a practical matter. Sill Sarima waits for his return. She seems an unquestioning soul and believes what she is told.
The second part speaks of Elphaba. The "Wicked Witch of the West". She is guided much more by her determination to break the hold of the corrupt system that governs OZ than by her own feelings and emotions. Still she loved Fiyero and feels guilt and responsibility for his death. They were after all looking for her. She embraces her pain and anger as that is really all she has to hold on to.
The final portion is also about Elphaba. There was something that happened that raised her hopes that maybe Fiero was still alive and would return. Her heart hopes this is the case but it was not to be.
Kalki, I like your analysis of the song. I hadn't considered that the first part is about Sarima. I can see that, with the part about folding up his clothes. But I wondered who the "she"s and who the "I" in the song are...
Sometimes, it seems to me like Glinda could be singing and reflecting about her own involvement in Fiyero's death (I think she had him killed). She is saying to bury the switchblade, and keep silent. I think "she loved him, you know" is refering to our dear Elphaba.
I think the "I" in the song is Glinda, asking herself if all the voilence is really over. Or perhaps asking if the deed (killing Fiyero) is done. Or maybe he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time...I dunno.
But Hannah surely expresses the torment that Elphaba felt, years of it. It's very sad. She was so alone. OK I'm going to cry now.
Interesting Katie. I still think the first part is about Sarima. Even the "she loved him, you know". Their marriage may have been arranged but She Love Him, You Know.. lol The part about folding up his clothes I am sure is Sarima. I think she always kept things ready for his return.
I think both Sarima and Elphaba were asking themselves if it is over. They were caught up in something bigger than themselves. Sarima obviously had no control over the situation and the situation got out of hand for Elphaba.
I could be dead wrong but I do not see Glinda in this song. I think Glenda was controlled by a spell and had very little clue that she was being used as a pawn. I think Hannah is switching from 3rd to 1st person in the lyrics and that is where the "I" comes from.