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."
If you pass away,
in the wing fortress there’s a time divider
And a technical team will be at your services
for what that matters.
When the mirror shatters it’s harder for me to see
If there are any answers here we haven’t searched for,
Just type in your code and say a prayer
How could it be, we were so secure?
cause nothing you’ve ever planned on
ever turned out the way you planned
I tried to say
This couldn’t feel more wrong
I can’t believe its happening
or lasting this long
If we know each other
then why should it be so hard to make it stop?
What I tried to say
(this isn’t real, and I feel ashamed that I don’t think that I can heal)
It’s a shame that I would pretend before making amends
But nothing you’ve ever planned on ever turned out the way you planned
You’re still disappointing them.
in the wing fortress there’s a time divider
And a technical team will be at your services
for what that matters.
When the mirror shatters it’s harder for me to see
If there are any answers here we haven’t searched for,
Just type in your code and say a prayer
How could it be, we were so secure?
cause nothing you’ve ever planned on
ever turned out the way you planned
I tried to say
This couldn’t feel more wrong
I can’t believe its happening
or lasting this long
If we know each other
then why should it be so hard to make it stop?
What I tried to say
(this isn’t real, and I feel ashamed that I don’t think that I can heal)
It’s a shame that I would pretend before making amends
But nothing you’ve ever planned on ever turned out the way you planned
You’re still disappointing them.
Lyrics submitted by Muzikboi
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Mountain Song
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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.
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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Page
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
this isn't about relationships. this, like most of the songs on this album, are about religion/god/and green's inability to have faith in any of it.
or at least, in my opinion.
most obvious towards the middle/end:
How could it be, we were so secure? cause nothing you’ve ever planned on ever turned out the way you planned [this line and the two before it seem to be a reference to "Close Your Eyes and See". That is, God created us with a vision and when sin came about or whatever, that vision was lost. He wasn't planning on humanity being full of sin and evil] I tried to say This couldn’t feel more wrong I can’t believe its happening or lasting this long [Green is doubting the reason we exist. Why are we still here after all we've done? Why hasn't God gotten pissed and brought us to an end?] If we know each other then why should it be so hard to make it stop? [Why do we sin if we know its against God. If we're such good friends with him shouldn't we be able to just live sans mistake?] What I tried to say (this isn’t real, and I feel ashamed that I don’t think that I can heal) [Green is ashamed about his disbelief but knows he can't do anything about it. After all, disbelief in God is viewed as "shameful" by many and perhaps he feels guilty?] It’s a shame that I would pretend before making amends [alot of people only pray for self-benefit. perhaps he's said he believed in God efore only so he could pray for what he needs/wants] But nothing you’ve ever planned on ever turned out the way you planned You’re still disappointing them. [God isn't all it's cracked up to be and Green is let down]
...or maybe i'm just crazy. =] either way, this song is amazing.