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."
On a river where old money clings to the banks
There’s a nine-to-five army and I joined the ranks
It’ll beat you down if you don’t fight back
because London swings like a big grey axe
But live long enough and the city surprises
Up pops a palace amidst the highrises
High-art Imperial, strawberries and cream
London swings like a ball off the seam
Hard voices ring out along tenement streets
That are harsher than hail and sharper than sleet
Winter is wet and depressingly loud
London swings like a big grey cloud
But spring brings buds in a slow green tide
and summer sends people and pints outside
'Til the changing leaves of autumn burn
London swings like the seasons turn
This is older than Westminster Abbey and bigger than the dome
I’m going to use the knowledge of a London cabby to get me the fast way home
I’ll swing back to you sweet love of mine
Through the cosmetropolis estuarine
Through the working week we all grit our teeth
But there are fast trains travelling underneath
We’re drawn towards Friday, insects to the light
London swings into Saturday night
All over the city our lives carry on
Small hopes are defeated, small battles are won
As we swim through the fog and the fear and the feuds
London swings like a lover’s moods
There’s a nine-to-five army and I joined the ranks
It’ll beat you down if you don’t fight back
because London swings like a big grey axe
But live long enough and the city surprises
Up pops a palace amidst the highrises
High-art Imperial, strawberries and cream
London swings like a ball off the seam
Hard voices ring out along tenement streets
That are harsher than hail and sharper than sleet
Winter is wet and depressingly loud
London swings like a big grey cloud
But spring brings buds in a slow green tide
and summer sends people and pints outside
'Til the changing leaves of autumn burn
London swings like the seasons turn
This is older than Westminster Abbey and bigger than the dome
I’m going to use the knowledge of a London cabby to get me the fast way home
I’ll swing back to you sweet love of mine
Through the cosmetropolis estuarine
Through the working week we all grit our teeth
But there are fast trains travelling underneath
We’re drawn towards Friday, insects to the light
London swings into Saturday night
All over the city our lives carry on
Small hopes are defeated, small battles are won
As we swim through the fog and the fear and the feuds
London swings like a lover’s moods
Lyrics submitted by stonechip
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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."
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.