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."
The end of the century
I said my goodbyes
For what it's worth
I always aim to please
But I nearly died
For what it's worth
Come on lay with me
'Cause I'm on fire
For what it's worth
I tear the sun in three
To light up your eyes
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
Broke up the family
Everybody cried
For what it's worth
I have a slow disease
That sucked me dry
For what it's worth
Come on walk with me
Into the rising tide
For what it's worth
Filled a cavity
Your god shaped hole tonight
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
No one cares when you're out on the street
Picking up the pieces to make ends meet
No one cares when you're down in the gutter
Got no friends got no lover
No one cares when you're out on the street
Picking up the pieces to make ends meet
No one cares when you're down in the gutter
Got no friends got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
Got no friends got no lover
I said my goodbyes
For what it's worth
I always aim to please
But I nearly died
For what it's worth
Come on lay with me
'Cause I'm on fire
For what it's worth
I tear the sun in three
To light up your eyes
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
Broke up the family
Everybody cried
For what it's worth
I have a slow disease
That sucked me dry
For what it's worth
Come on walk with me
Into the rising tide
For what it's worth
Filled a cavity
Your god shaped hole tonight
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
For what it's worth
No one cares when you're out on the street
Picking up the pieces to make ends meet
No one cares when you're down in the gutter
Got no friends got no lover
No one cares when you're out on the street
Picking up the pieces to make ends meet
No one cares when you're down in the gutter
Got no friends got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
For what it's worth
Got no lover
Got no friends got no lover
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Mountain Song
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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/
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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.
No, I think it's a good point of view, it's risking something very important (like your life, your career, your time, your heart) for something that you consider worthy but in the end, it's like "every man for himself"