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."
Put your face up to the window
Tell me all about your "gay folks"
It feels better when you're in it
If you're nervous use the pay phone
Put your face where we can see it
Put it on a show on cable
You can really show it all there
Turn it on when you are able
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Put your life into a bubble
We can pick you up on radar
"Hit " a satellite with feeling
Give the people what they paid for
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Tell me all about your "gay folks"
It feels better when you're in it
If you're nervous use the pay phone
Put your face where we can see it
Put it on a show on cable
You can really show it all there
Turn it on when you are able
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Put your life into a bubble
We can pick you up on radar
"Hit " a satellite with feeling
Give the people what they paid for
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Turn it on
Turn it on and all the way up
Turn it on
In your houses when you wake up
Turn it on
When you ain't got no relation
To all those other stations
Turn it on
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Turn It On Lyrics as written by Ronald Jones Michael Ivins
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
on the recent "itunes originals" with Flaming Lips, Wayne talks about the meaning of this song. Basically, it's about being exactly who you are, whoever, however, whichever type of person you are, BE IT 100% Turn it on and turn it all the way up! I had never thought about this song that way before, I kind of agreed with previous posts, but re-reading the lyrics after hearing Wayne's explanation, it definitely makes sense. It's also cool, because the song can really mean whatever you want, so for me, it's like 2 diff songs now!
Haha, it's "gay pose". I see it misquoted everywhere. The above comment from Wayne Coyne makes a lot more sense in that light though.
how has nobody commented on this freaking awesome song yet????????? amazing song amazing
has anyone heard the bluegrass version its cool
I agree with the first comment however I think it's more specifically meant for in the closet homosexuals to come out to their parents and the rest of the world and stop hiding so they can be freed from their anxiety. "tell me about your "gay folks" if your nervous use the pay phone." That's what it sounds like to me. I know that when he says "gay folks" it sounds like tell me about your happy folks. However I believe it was meant to be a clever double meaning (universal and specific to gay people in the closet.)
This song has to be about how when people can't think of anything better to do in life, they sit in front of the tv and turn it on so they can tune out of their life and tune in to fake tv land
From the beginning lyrics, I always thought it was about seedy talkshows and people wanting to be on TV at any cost. Perhaps it's also about the voyeurism people experience when they also like peering into the lives of those they feel superior to.