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."
One, two, three, four (roll that faster, man)
One, two, three, four (oh, we gotta time that)
(The whole point of a count is that it's in time, in it?)
One, two, three, four
Well, I watch you tangle every weekend
It might start different but it ends up the same
One minute, you're casually speaking
The next it all goes up and you pour fuel on the flame
With your jerry can of words and tones
And no one's gonna start a revolution
So we best leave it well alone
And there's something that Frankie used to say
Apparently
Oh, he said, settle for a draw
Well, you're not gonna get no more
So you should settle for a draw
I told you once I'm sure, I told you once I'm sure
You should settle for a draw
Why don't you settle for a draw?
Well, you're right, it is one set of rules for her
And then another set for you
But that's just the way it is, I suppose
And there's nowt you can do
And let's not fall in the trap of answering back
I am just a beginner but she'll be the only winner
That's for sure, so take the draw, if it's available
And if it sets on fire
Don't get out your jerry can of words and tones
And no one's gonna start a revolution
So we best leave it well alone
And there's something that Frankie used to say
Apparently
Oh, he said, settle for a draw
Well, you're not gonna get no more
So you should settle for the draw
I told you once I'm sure, I told you once I'm sure
You should settle for a draw
Why don't you settle for a draw?
One, two, three, four (oh, we gotta time that)
(The whole point of a count is that it's in time, in it?)
One, two, three, four
Well, I watch you tangle every weekend
It might start different but it ends up the same
One minute, you're casually speaking
The next it all goes up and you pour fuel on the flame
With your jerry can of words and tones
And no one's gonna start a revolution
So we best leave it well alone
And there's something that Frankie used to say
Apparently
Oh, he said, settle for a draw
Well, you're not gonna get no more
So you should settle for a draw
I told you once I'm sure, I told you once I'm sure
You should settle for a draw
Why don't you settle for a draw?
Well, you're right, it is one set of rules for her
And then another set for you
But that's just the way it is, I suppose
And there's nowt you can do
And let's not fall in the trap of answering back
I am just a beginner but she'll be the only winner
That's for sure, so take the draw, if it's available
And if it sets on fire
Don't get out your jerry can of words and tones
And no one's gonna start a revolution
So we best leave it well alone
And there's something that Frankie used to say
Apparently
Oh, he said, settle for a draw
Well, you're not gonna get no more
So you should settle for the draw
I told you once I'm sure, I told you once I'm sure
You should settle for a draw
Why don't you settle for a draw?
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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.
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/
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.
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.
"Noone's gonna start a revolution So why do we even moan?"
its "So we best leave it well alone"
and its not "Jeri can of words and songs" its "Jerry can on words and tones"