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."
Puffy] (Mase) |Kelly|
Yeah, we up now, yeah (Uh c'mon)
Yeah, we up now (Uh, uh c'mon)
We up now |Baby, I like it|
Yeah, yeah (Uh, uh c'mon)
(Uh uh c'mon) |I like it babe|
(Uh uh c'mon)
(C'mon c'mon c'mon)
They're back
[Puffy]
Yo, now nobody party like we party
You wouldn't know 'till you cats see me party
I hardly sip bacardi
So your clique think a nigga to pretty to sip a mixed drink (uh uh)
But chicks think when they see I be a V.I.P. D-I-double D-Y
Be the cat that kick back, bring all the stars out
Same cat you know bring all the cars out (yep yep)
All our street cats buy all the bars out (yep yep)
Don't know whatch'all 'bout but I'm livin' it up
Ten mill' yeah, I'm bigger than what
So you know on the low when I blow, niggas givin' it up (they got to)
They know why everything I touch is so fly
Mult-I so I stay swimmin' in cho-chi
All day the niggas from New York to Norway
My name hold more weight than Broadway
1 - [Kelly Price]
You like the way I do the things I do
It's all for you
No way to fill my shoes
Cuz all I do, I do for you
The more cheddar, the more better
Ever since I was young I was a go-getter
And you should know better to call Puff the coketeller
Knowin' I'm a Hummer wholesaler
And you should know this
I'm a poet, got money won't show it
I'm like Russell plus I got the right hussle
Talk slick, I might bust you
Watch your manners, I be on the cameras
I be the next cat down in Atlantis
Or Pacific to be specific, lifestyle too terrific
Hop in the van shop when we land
Don't worry bout the pilot chattin' in the Chopper's my man
I ain't only from Harlem, I'm from the Heartland
When I got problems I send in a dark van
Cats in the street treat me like a mob man
Been number one so much, call me Mr. Chart Man
Repeat 1
Yo, I tried to hold back, I can't hold back
Y'all could be all that, I want it all back
I sat back, let niggas get they dough
I played the cut and let niggas rip they show
Sip they mo', watch niggas pop they Cris'
Cop they whip, brag about they watch and shit
But watch this shit, I'mma put a stop to this
I got to flip, the v's niggas pop the shit, come on
And I been copped the six, been droppin' hits
Been rock my wrist, and flood my dial
These haters be hatin, but love my style
And ladies go crazy, they love my smile
P. Diddy the man push Bentley Sedan, nigga
Get money, that's simply the plan
True Chocolate Mack who's pocket's fat
You wanna rock nigga, rock to that with Bad Boy
Repeat 1 while:
[Mase] (Puffy)
Yep yep, All Out
Yep yep, H World
Yep yep, Bad Boy
Yep yep, wanna blow
Yep yep, I'm a problem
Yep yep, can I be
Yep yep, Crime Fam'
Yep yep, suga suga
Uh uh uh
Uh uh uh
Uh uh uh
Uh uh, uh uh (Yeah, we up now)
Uh uh uh uh uh (yeah, yeah, true that)
Uh uh uh uh uh
All Out, we back we back
(We gon' see what you could do now cuz we up now)
Yeah Baby Stase, Blinky Blink
(It's our time, come on, come on, come on, come on)
Yeah, we up now, yeah (Uh c'mon)
Yeah, we up now (Uh, uh c'mon)
We up now |Baby, I like it|
Yeah, yeah (Uh, uh c'mon)
(Uh uh c'mon) |I like it babe|
(Uh uh c'mon)
(C'mon c'mon c'mon)
They're back
[Puffy]
Yo, now nobody party like we party
You wouldn't know 'till you cats see me party
I hardly sip bacardi
So your clique think a nigga to pretty to sip a mixed drink (uh uh)
But chicks think when they see I be a V.I.P. D-I-double D-Y
Be the cat that kick back, bring all the stars out
Same cat you know bring all the cars out (yep yep)
All our street cats buy all the bars out (yep yep)
Don't know whatch'all 'bout but I'm livin' it up
Ten mill' yeah, I'm bigger than what
So you know on the low when I blow, niggas givin' it up (they got to)
They know why everything I touch is so fly
Mult-I so I stay swimmin' in cho-chi
All day the niggas from New York to Norway
My name hold more weight than Broadway
1 - [Kelly Price]
You like the way I do the things I do
It's all for you
No way to fill my shoes
Cuz all I do, I do for you
The more cheddar, the more better
Ever since I was young I was a go-getter
And you should know better to call Puff the coketeller
Knowin' I'm a Hummer wholesaler
And you should know this
I'm a poet, got money won't show it
I'm like Russell plus I got the right hussle
Talk slick, I might bust you
Watch your manners, I be on the cameras
I be the next cat down in Atlantis
Or Pacific to be specific, lifestyle too terrific
Hop in the van shop when we land
Don't worry bout the pilot chattin' in the Chopper's my man
I ain't only from Harlem, I'm from the Heartland
When I got problems I send in a dark van
Cats in the street treat me like a mob man
Been number one so much, call me Mr. Chart Man
Repeat 1
Yo, I tried to hold back, I can't hold back
Y'all could be all that, I want it all back
I sat back, let niggas get they dough
I played the cut and let niggas rip they show
Sip they mo', watch niggas pop they Cris'
Cop they whip, brag about they watch and shit
But watch this shit, I'mma put a stop to this
I got to flip, the v's niggas pop the shit, come on
And I been copped the six, been droppin' hits
Been rock my wrist, and flood my dial
These haters be hatin, but love my style
And ladies go crazy, they love my smile
P. Diddy the man push Bentley Sedan, nigga
Get money, that's simply the plan
True Chocolate Mack who's pocket's fat
You wanna rock nigga, rock to that with Bad Boy
Repeat 1 while:
[Mase] (Puffy)
Yep yep, All Out
Yep yep, H World
Yep yep, Bad Boy
Yep yep, wanna blow
Yep yep, I'm a problem
Yep yep, can I be
Yep yep, Crime Fam'
Yep yep, suga suga
Uh uh uh
Uh uh uh
Uh uh uh
Uh uh, uh uh (Yeah, we up now)
Uh uh uh uh uh (yeah, yeah, true that)
Uh uh uh uh uh
All Out, we back we back
(We gon' see what you could do now cuz we up now)
Yeah Baby Stase, Blinky Blink
(It's our time, come on, come on, come on, come on)
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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/
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.