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."
You make me feel out of my element
Like I'm walkin' on broken glass
Like my worlds spinnin' in slow motion
And you're movin' too fast
Were you right, was I wrong
Were you weak, was I strong, yeah
Both of us broken
Caught in a moment
We lived and we loved
And we hurt and we joked, yeah
But the planets all aligned
When you looked into my eyes
And just like that
The chemicals react
The chemicals react
You make me feel out of my element
Like I'm drifting out to the sea
Like the tides pullin' me in deeper
Makin' it harder to breathe
We cannot deny, how we feel inside
We cannot deny
Were you right, was I wrong
Were you weak, was I strong, yeah
Both of us broken
Caught in a moment
We lived and we loved
And we hurt and we joked, yeah
But the planets all aligned
When you looked into my eyes
And just like that
The chemicals react
The chemicals react
Kaleidoscope of colors
Turning hopes on fire, sun is burning
Shining down on both of us
Don't let us lose it (don't let us lose it...)
Were you right, was I wrong
Were you weak, was I strong, yeah
Both of us broken
Caught in a moment
We lived and we loved
And we hurt and we joked, yeah
We lived
We loved
We hurt
We joked
We're right
We're wrong
We're weak
We're strong
We lived to love
But the planets all aligned
When you looked into my eyes
And just like that
Watch the chemicals react
And just like that
The chemicals react
(The chemicals react)
Like I'm walkin' on broken glass
Like my worlds spinnin' in slow motion
And you're movin' too fast
Were you right, was I wrong
Were you weak, was I strong, yeah
Both of us broken
Caught in a moment
We lived and we loved
And we hurt and we joked, yeah
But the planets all aligned
When you looked into my eyes
And just like that
The chemicals react
The chemicals react
You make me feel out of my element
Like I'm drifting out to the sea
Like the tides pullin' me in deeper
Makin' it harder to breathe
We cannot deny, how we feel inside
We cannot deny
Were you right, was I wrong
Were you weak, was I strong, yeah
Both of us broken
Caught in a moment
We lived and we loved
And we hurt and we joked, yeah
But the planets all aligned
When you looked into my eyes
And just like that
The chemicals react
The chemicals react
Kaleidoscope of colors
Turning hopes on fire, sun is burning
Shining down on both of us
Don't let us lose it (don't let us lose it...)
Were you right, was I wrong
Were you weak, was I strong, yeah
Both of us broken
Caught in a moment
We lived and we loved
And we hurt and we joked, yeah
We lived
We loved
We hurt
We joked
We're right
We're wrong
We're weak
We're strong
We lived to love
But the planets all aligned
When you looked into my eyes
And just like that
Watch the chemicals react
And just like that
The chemicals react
(The chemicals react)
Lyrics submitted by x0xReady4Youx0x
Chemicals React Lyrics as written by Amanda Michalka Alyson Michalka
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
cathcy song like the tune to it
I think the song is about a couple. And they loved each other, but were complete opposites, so they clashed, and it hurt so much, but there was so much passion, that they were addicted to each other. :) Just an opinion.
the lyrics are correct...I don't know why everyone thinks its "and we joked".... this is a great song, though :]
This song was a little confusing. But what I think it means is that they make a good couple, because they went through a lot together. Sometimes people say when they don’t like each other is “the chemicals aren’t there” or “the chemicals aren’t working out” But in the song it means that that the chemicals are working together, they’re reacting to eachother. They cannot deny that they like eachother.
“We can not deny, how we feel inside WE CANNOT DENY!!”
That’s what I think this song means.
This totally fits my current situation. It's a very meaningful song. One about a confusing relationship.
To me this song is about a hookup that meant more in the end...like spending an entire night with someone and having a lot of fun but in the end it was just one night. "Both of us broken.. caught in a moment"... "But the planets all aligned, when you looked into my eyes And just like that The chemicals react..." thats just my view though =)
Cool song. I like music that is meaningful and Aly & AJ have meaningful songs.
i really like this song, the lyrics are very pretty.
"But the planets all aligned, when you looked into my eyes And just like that, the chemicals react" if only all relationships were like that.
My opinion is that it's about a couple that is dysfunctional enough to break up, but then realise they can't live without the other person. I love this song, I must admit.
yea.... its really nice song coz they are saying they mean alot to each other