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."
- Hi, I was in here about 10 minutes ago? I just bought this boombox, it's playing at the totally wrong speed, uh, I don't want a refund, or...
- Ah, I'm sorry son...
- ...Can you just, uh, give me another one?
- ...No
The sale is final, no rebates
If you're a member you can come and say
Sir would you help me or give me a break in credit (credit)
You read the fine print and you signed
No we're not authorized, the card's declined (Oh!)
If you'll just sign here, we can change your dimes in credit (credit)
In credit we win you lose
In credit our choices by you
In credit, go buy something used
Credit, credit credit credit (check it)
The warranties do not suffice
You bought at cost, oh well, you paid the price
The policy is clear, it says ""you break, you buy"" - some credit (credit)
We'll send you coupons in the mail
It's quite a mark-off so don't buy retail
Go get a loan for what we get wholesale in credit (credit, credit)
Credit, do what you're told
In credit, returned when you're old
In credit, to have and to hold
In credit, get that check, check it, credit
Uh, credit (may I help?)
Your driving record is not clean
Your mortgage payments remain outstanding
Give us your body or we'll dock nineteen in credit (credit, credit!)
All is fair and fair's a game
The game is buying and you're forced to play
When you're old your kids will trade your brains for credit (credit, a lotta credit)
For credit we'll always come back
With credit you'll never keep track
Do credit, it's better than crack
Bad credit, no turning back
Credit (Oh, I've got bad credit, woah!)
Credit, uh huh, oh (What's that?)
Credit, oh (To have and to hold, it hurts me)
Credit (Makes me so hot)
Take it back, take it back, take it back
Then go right away, to an ATM machine, just right away
Could go right away and check your credit, check it, check your balance
While you're at it, check your credit
No, give me some credit, quit being retarded at least
- Ah, I'm sorry son...
- ...Can you just, uh, give me another one?
- ...No
The sale is final, no rebates
If you're a member you can come and say
Sir would you help me or give me a break in credit (credit)
You read the fine print and you signed
No we're not authorized, the card's declined (Oh!)
If you'll just sign here, we can change your dimes in credit (credit)
In credit we win you lose
In credit our choices by you
In credit, go buy something used
Credit, credit credit credit (check it)
The warranties do not suffice
You bought at cost, oh well, you paid the price
The policy is clear, it says ""you break, you buy"" - some credit (credit)
We'll send you coupons in the mail
It's quite a mark-off so don't buy retail
Go get a loan for what we get wholesale in credit (credit, credit)
Credit, do what you're told
In credit, returned when you're old
In credit, to have and to hold
In credit, get that check, check it, credit
Uh, credit (may I help?)
Your driving record is not clean
Your mortgage payments remain outstanding
Give us your body or we'll dock nineteen in credit (credit, credit!)
All is fair and fair's a game
The game is buying and you're forced to play
When you're old your kids will trade your brains for credit (credit, a lotta credit)
For credit we'll always come back
With credit you'll never keep track
Do credit, it's better than crack
Bad credit, no turning back
Credit (Oh, I've got bad credit, woah!)
Credit, uh huh, oh (What's that?)
Credit, oh (To have and to hold, it hurts me)
Credit (Makes me so hot)
Take it back, take it back, take it back
Then go right away, to an ATM machine, just right away
Could go right away and check your credit, check it, check your balance
While you're at it, check your credit
No, give me some credit, quit being retarded at least
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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/
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.
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.