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."
Good arms versus bad arms will win hands down, down
They are built to hold and fit, look how far they go around
You don't need these now that you've found another pair
And the difference is astounding, I should expect, except
Leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favourite dress
Leave the rest at arm's length
When they reach out, don't touch them, don't touch them
I decided this decision some six months ago
So I'll stick to my guns, but from now on it's war
I am armed with the past, and the will, and a brick
I might not want you back, but I want to kill him
Leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favourite dress
Leave the rest at arm's length
When they reach out, don't touch them, don't touch them
And leave the rest at arm's length
Don't brush with him, he might have diseases
Leave the rest at arm's length
Steer clear of the grasp, girl, run, run away
Leave the rest at arm's length
Just roll over, boy, and don't make me do this
Leave the rest at arm's length
I am armed to the teeth and I'm heavy-set
Leave the rest at arm's length
I'm not ready to see you this happy
Leave the rest at arm's length
I am still in love with you, can't admit it yet
They are built to hold and fit, look how far they go around
You don't need these now that you've found another pair
And the difference is astounding, I should expect, except
Leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favourite dress
Leave the rest at arm's length
When they reach out, don't touch them, don't touch them
I decided this decision some six months ago
So I'll stick to my guns, but from now on it's war
I am armed with the past, and the will, and a brick
I might not want you back, but I want to kill him
Leave the rest at arm's length
Keep your naked flesh under your favourite dress
Leave the rest at arm's length
When they reach out, don't touch them, don't touch them
And leave the rest at arm's length
Don't brush with him, he might have diseases
Leave the rest at arm's length
Steer clear of the grasp, girl, run, run away
Leave the rest at arm's length
Just roll over, boy, and don't make me do this
Leave the rest at arm's length
I am armed to the teeth and I'm heavy-set
Leave the rest at arm's length
I'm not ready to see you this happy
Leave the rest at arm's length
I am still in love with you, can't admit it yet
Lyrics submitted by calvins_hobbies, edited by smallwonderrobot, brisingr47
Good Arms vs. Bad Arms Lyrics as written by Scott John Hutchison Grant David Hutchison
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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 Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
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.
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.
This is a great song and there are some great comments already, but I thought I'd toss in my two cents. I think Good Arms vs. Bad Arms refers in part to his two natures, the side of him that wants his ex-love back (back in his arms' embrace), and the side that wants to grab the guy she's with and beat him senseless. And so the song is about wrestling with those two opposite emotions, the little good angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other. These hands can give love or they can give pain, and he don't know which one he wants more.
The repeating "arms" motif recurs again when he expresses the need to keep both of them "at arm's length," or far enough way that something becomes not immediately reachable. He doesn't want to get to close. For his ex, it's because he remembers her flesh too clearly, because seeing her brings up too many painful memories. He still wants her and he can't have her. He wants to touch her but he cannot. And the reason he has to keep her man away is because he's afraid he might "kill" the guy, or at least beat him senseless.
The middle of the song swells with rage. The arms are now munitions. War is declared. The path of anger seems the clearer one. He doesn't know if he wants her back, but he does know that he hates him. Is that the solution then?
The final act is the confrontation. The first time he actually has to walk up to the two of them and smile. Can he keep his cool or is something going to give? It's a flash of images. Him beating the guy, telling him to roll over and not fight back. Him looking at his ex, seeing her happy and hating it. Realizing that he still loves her. All the while still keeping everything at arms length. He hasn't given in yet. He's still keeping his cool. But he's right there on the edge, about to snap.
And then the song ends, and we still don't know which half of his nature won out. Did he confess his love? Start a brawl? Just turn and walk away? That's the mystery.
Great explanation, thanks for that. The complexity of Scott's lyrics always amazes me, such a great song writer.