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."
Well, you're my friend
And can you see
Many times we've been out drinking
Many times we've shared our thoughts
But did you ever, ever notice
The kind of thoughts I got?
Well, you know I have a love
A love for everyone I know
And you know I have a drive
To live, I won't let go
But can you see this opposition
Comes rising up sometimes?
That it's dreadful imposition
Comes blacking in my mind
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
Did you know how much I love you?
Is a hope that somehow you
Can save me from this darkness
Well, I hope that someday, buddy
We have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
And we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Did you know how much I love you?
Is a hope that somehow you
Can save me from this darkness
And can you see
Many times we've been out drinking
Many times we've shared our thoughts
But did you ever, ever notice
The kind of thoughts I got?
Well, you know I have a love
A love for everyone I know
And you know I have a drive
To live, I won't let go
But can you see this opposition
Comes rising up sometimes?
That it's dreadful imposition
Comes blacking in my mind
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
Did you know how much I love you?
Is a hope that somehow you
Can save me from this darkness
Well, I hope that someday, buddy
We have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
And we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Oh no, I see a darkness
Did you know how much I love you?
Is a hope that somehow you
Can save me from this darkness
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
I See a Darkness Lyrics as written by Will Oldham
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Sentric Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Wu-Tang Clan
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
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Ed Sheeran
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“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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I can relate to this song - it's about having some good friends, but at the same time, having a dark side to yourself. You see it eating away at you, maybe it's a deep depression, maybe it's a dark rage or anger problem. But you find yourself hoping your friends and family can save you, because you know you cannot save yourself.
Lyrics are incorrect here and there. I assume these are copied from the original.
Well, you're my friend and can you see, Many times we've been out drinkin', Many times we've shared our thoughts, But did you ever, ever notice, the kind of thoughts I got?
Well, you know I have a love, a love for everyone I know. And you know I have a drive to live, I won't let go. But can you see this opposition comes rising up sometimes? That it's dreadful imposition, comes blacking in my mind.
And that I see a darkness. And that I see a darkness. And that I see a darkness. Did you know how much I love you? Is a hope that somehow you, Can save me from this darkness.
Well, I hope that someday, buddy, we have peace in our lives. Together or apart, alone or with our wives. And we can stop our whoring and pull the smiles inside. And light it up forever and never go to sleep. My best unbeaten brother, this isn't all I see.
Oh, no, I see a darkness. Oh, no, I see a darkness. Oh, no, I see a darkness. Oh, no, I see a darkness. Did you know how much I love you? Is a hope that somehow you, Can save me from this darkness.
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy cover...
meaning couldn't be much more forward. its about depression and friendship, and helping friends to get through hard times
This is a great song and Johnny Cash has a great voice. Its obviously about having dark thoughts/ depression but trying to look to the future
The very meaning of true friendship. Everyone has their secret "dark side" that even those closest to you may not know about... but a true friend will not let you succumb to it.
jimboa i can also relate, this is my current life no one knows me at all
I must mention that "I see a darkness" was written by Will Oldham (aka Bonnie 'prince' Billy.) Great artist! Even so great that Cash himself covered him.
I feel that this song is well accompanied with another text, written by the mother of the late; great singer/songwriter Nick Drake.
The Shell (A Skin Too Few)
Living grows round us like a skin to shut away the outer desolation For if we clearly mark the furthest deep we should be dead long years before the grave. But turning around within the homely shell of worry discontent and narrow joy we grow and flourish and rarely see the outside dark that would confound our eyes some break the shell… I think that there are those who push their fingers through the brittle walls and make a hole…and through this cruel slit stare out across the cinders of the world with naked eyes they look both out and end, knowing themselves and too much else beside.