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."
Why are you striving these days?
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you crying?
Let me lift up your face, just don't turn away
Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?
To where will you go child?
Tell me where will you run, to where will you run?
'cause I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Look at these hands at my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in and give you life
I wanna give you life
And I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
'Cause I, I love you, I want you to know
That I, yeah I love you, I'll never let you go
No, no
And I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Here at my side
My hands are holding you
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you crying?
Let me lift up your face, just don't turn away
Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?
To where will you go child?
Tell me where will you run, to where will you run?
'cause I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Look at these hands at my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in and give you life
I wanna give you life
And I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
'Cause I, I love you, I want you to know
That I, yeah I love you, I'll never let you go
No, no
And I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Here at my side
My hands are holding you
Lyrics submitted by thatshot135
By Your Side Lyrics as written by Michael Donehey Phillip Larue
Lyrics © ESSENTIAL MUSIC PUBLISHING, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Spirit Music Group, Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
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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,
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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 song is gorgeous. I don't think you have to necessarily look at this song from a religious view, maybe I'm being biased because I'm Atheist, but I think you can look at it from any point of view of just... having someone there.
Not necessarily; it says "look at these hands and my side that swallowed the grave on that night ... to give you life" When Jesus was crucified, his wrists (aka hands) were pierced when he was nailed to the cross, and they made a hole in his side with a spear, draining the blood and water from his body (showing that he is truly dead, which makes his ressurection all the more amazing!). And he died that we might have eternal life in heaven through him. :)<br /> <br /> However, yes, it could be seen sort of as having someone there for you. It's just that that someone is Jesus.
^I know you've heard about Jesus and his crucifiction otherwise you wouldn't have chosen to be an atheist. This song is definately a promise from God that we are never alone. He loves you, even if you don't love him back, what amazing grace! You'll be in my prayers
You are correct--this song can be viewed from another view. For all other commentators please read carefully; MayaMoo never said that this wasn't a Christian band and did not argue with any of your views but simply stated that there could be another view. I have been a follower of Christ for 5 years and I am now a Worship leader for my church, so I look at this song through many of your same views and I know that it is about Christ. But, I often have to look at a song and think of the audience it is playing to. A song like this never says Christ, Jesus, or almost any other reference to who it is from other than the facts that only we who are studied up on His word know. For those who do not see things through our Christian worldview, things are not as black and white. Just because it said, "Look at these hands and my side they swallowed the grave on that night When I drank the world's sin So I could carry you in" doesn't mean it is clear to everyone. Before I knew Christ these lines would have said nothing to me, and I could've interpreted them any way I wanted. Remember that your view is not the only one, even if it is the right one.