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."
Solitude and I
On such lonesome seas
With our words for sails
And an endless breeze
That's always behind
And I cannot recall
Knowing what we'd find
Though I'd heard of land
I'd hoped that it's nice
Or, or better than this
But everything is so beautiful
And nothing hurts
I tell myself
But I am so lost
and so scared
and so anchorless
But I must carry on
Towards horizon's hinge
Through the waves like oars
So fragile, so thin
Oh, just like my own
And I cannot recall
Knowing what we'd find
Though we'd heard of love
We'd hoped that it's nice
Or, or better than this
But everything is so beautiful
And nothing hurts
I tell myself
But everything is so beautiful
And nothing hurts
I tell myself
But then, from the sea
Came a great many teeth
Is this land?
'Cause I'm scared
And so poorly prepared
I'm dying, then see
A door with my life to be
I'm more than a boy on a wave
Lost in both time and space
On such lonesome seas
With our words for sails
And an endless breeze
That's always behind
And I cannot recall
Knowing what we'd find
Though I'd heard of land
I'd hoped that it's nice
Or, or better than this
But everything is so beautiful
And nothing hurts
I tell myself
But I am so lost
and so scared
and so anchorless
But I must carry on
Towards horizon's hinge
Through the waves like oars
So fragile, so thin
Oh, just like my own
And I cannot recall
Knowing what we'd find
Though we'd heard of love
We'd hoped that it's nice
Or, or better than this
But everything is so beautiful
And nothing hurts
I tell myself
But everything is so beautiful
And nothing hurts
I tell myself
But then, from the sea
Came a great many teeth
Is this land?
'Cause I'm scared
And so poorly prepared
I'm dying, then see
A door with my life to be
I'm more than a boy on a wave
Lost in both time and space
Lyrics submitted by JustPlainNJ, edited by prayingmantis84
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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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,
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.
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
He definitely says "ghosts" and not oars. In a poetic sense, I can see ghosts being described as fragile and thin... Also, if you haven't, check out the acoustic version of this brilliant song from "On A Carousel of Sound, We Go Round." You can catch some of the lyrics a lot more clearly. As far as the last section of the song "But then from the sea-----" that whole part, I really can't figure it out. You guys have done a great job with this, all of the other lyrics posted online are so off the mark it's ridiculous. I've been tempted to take an hour and just copy and paste these lyrics to all of the other pages. Thanks for taking the time to do it right!