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."
I have to sit you down
Let me tell you what it's all about
Cause I've been carrying a torch around
And I've forgotten how to snuff it out
And you have been unkind
And that's a matter I cannot ignore
You have to skirt around the truth sometimes
But it's time I told you what I came here for
To thank you for all the small favors
I'm thinkin' now I hope it doesn't change us
And take us to a time when we were strangers
In a two-station town
You can't get the train to slow down
Small favors
Oh to you as sure as she was honest
And now do you remember when you promised
To forgive me someday
The debts that I can't repay
For debts that I can't repay
And I cannot forget
You looked at me as if I'd lost a bet
And I hadn't opened up my big mouth yet
And I thought of crawling back into the plane
And though it's sad to tell
I still remember how the dry-eye felt
Across the curtains in the cheap hotel
Lit-up dust clouds in the window pane
And I thank you for all the small favors
I'm thinkin' now I hope it doesn't change us
And take us to a time when we were strangers
In a two-station town
You can't get the train to slow down
Small favors
I'm thinkin' now I hope it doesn't change us
And take us to a time when we were strangers
In a two-station town
You can't get the train to slow down
Small favors
Oh to you as sure as she was honest
Now do you remember when you promised
Forgive me someday
For debts that I can't repay
For debts that I can't repay
The debts that I can't repay
Let me tell you what it's all about
Cause I've been carrying a torch around
And I've forgotten how to snuff it out
And you have been unkind
And that's a matter I cannot ignore
You have to skirt around the truth sometimes
But it's time I told you what I came here for
To thank you for all the small favors
I'm thinkin' now I hope it doesn't change us
And take us to a time when we were strangers
In a two-station town
You can't get the train to slow down
Small favors
Oh to you as sure as she was honest
And now do you remember when you promised
To forgive me someday
The debts that I can't repay
For debts that I can't repay
And I cannot forget
You looked at me as if I'd lost a bet
And I hadn't opened up my big mouth yet
And I thought of crawling back into the plane
And though it's sad to tell
I still remember how the dry-eye felt
Across the curtains in the cheap hotel
Lit-up dust clouds in the window pane
And I thank you for all the small favors
I'm thinkin' now I hope it doesn't change us
And take us to a time when we were strangers
In a two-station town
You can't get the train to slow down
Small favors
I'm thinkin' now I hope it doesn't change us
And take us to a time when we were strangers
In a two-station town
You can't get the train to slow down
Small favors
Oh to you as sure as she was honest
Now do you remember when you promised
Forgive me someday
For debts that I can't repay
For debts that I can't repay
The debts that I can't repay
Lyrics submitted by tippy_typewriter
Small Favors Lyrics as written by Chris Collingwood
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.