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."
My body, my hand
My heaven, my land
My guardian angel is mine
And You say
My dreams, my head
My sex, my bed
And it's my Corona with lime
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe my animals live in Your Zoo
And You say
My hate, my frown
My kingdom, my crown
My palace and court is mine
And You say
My lights, my show
My years to grow
The time that I spend is fine
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe my animals live in Your Zoo
But then I say maybe
Maybe I'm in love with You, You, You, You, You
And You say
My coat, My hat
My bones, My fat
My zipper is shut by me
And You say
My skin, my blood
My devil, my God
My freedom is what You see
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe my animals live in Your Zoo
But then I say maybe
Maybe I'm in love with You, You, You, You, You
My God
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe my animals live in Your Zoo
Bu then I say maybe
Maybe I'm in love with You, You, You, You, You
My begining, my end
My nuclear bomb to pretend, to pretend, to pretend
My begining, my end
My nuclear bomb
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe
My heaven, my land
My guardian angel is mine
And You say
My dreams, my head
My sex, my bed
And it's my Corona with lime
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe my animals live in Your Zoo
And You say
My hate, my frown
My kingdom, my crown
My palace and court is mine
And You say
My lights, my show
My years to grow
The time that I spend is fine
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe my animals live in Your Zoo
But then I say maybe
Maybe I'm in love with You, You, You, You, You
And You say
My coat, My hat
My bones, My fat
My zipper is shut by me
And You say
My skin, my blood
My devil, my God
My freedom is what You see
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe my animals live in Your Zoo
But then I say maybe
Maybe I'm in love with You, You, You, You, You
My God
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe my animals live in Your Zoo
Bu then I say maybe
Maybe I'm in love with You, You, You, You, You
My begining, my end
My nuclear bomb to pretend, to pretend, to pretend
My begining, my end
My nuclear bomb
But then I say
Maybe we could divide it in two
Maybe
Lyrics submitted by Felena
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
No Surprises
Radiohead
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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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
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.
Indeed a fantastic melody.
I love it. :]