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."
Teeth marks on the skin
The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing me that I was him
We like to feel the blood and fat dripping off our gums
She likes to talk directly down the barrel of her gun
Learning to perfect the ancient art of quiet rape
You've always been so warm and calculated I owe you a thanks
Eyes wide shut, I promise not to fall awake
Lick the guillotine and tell you how the gasoline tastes.
The grass is always greener on the other pesticide
solemn precious crept through the mess to shed it's infectious high
Words for me to know and you to find
Guilty, the almighty praised adrenaline,
such an underwhelming thrill.
Where there's a will there's a wake,
Burn me at the stake,
Who the hell am I trying to fool?
I'm a fool I feel so fake.
One last goodbye before I take my .45
Shoot a hole in the sky, rip it open
And climb inside.
Empathy is the poor man's cocaine
And love is just a chemical by any other name
I like the way your pheromones make me sleepy
This far away I still smell you inside me (2x)
Tie me down 'till my sweet nothing's sour
I screwed up trying to squeeze 65 minutes from an hour
Outnumbered by such a large amount
No wonder why we lost the battle, the counter-culture can't count.
Welcome to my private hell
There's no one to fight now enjoy myself
I'd rather drown than ask for help
I wish I was someone else.
Mr. Perfect, Misconstrued
Lead the way, follow through
Probably hate me, I do too
You're so much like me I feel sorry for you.
But I think you're pretty, pretty sure
You will profit you will get hurt,
I eat my words they taste like dirt.
I'm only ashamed because I know what it's worth.
Find my comfort, inside blame
Shove my pride back down my face
My worst habits waking up at least once a day,
Balance barefoot on a needle heaven's just a jump away.
Empathy is the poor man's cocaine
And love is just a chemical by any other name
I like the way your pheromones make me sleepy
This far away I still smell you inside me (2x)
The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing me that I was him
We like to feel the blood and fat dripping off our gums
She likes to talk directly down the barrel of her gun
Learning to perfect the ancient art of quiet rape
You've always been so warm and calculated I owe you a thanks
Eyes wide shut, I promise not to fall awake
Lick the guillotine and tell you how the gasoline tastes.
The grass is always greener on the other pesticide
solemn precious crept through the mess to shed it's infectious high
Words for me to know and you to find
Guilty, the almighty praised adrenaline,
such an underwhelming thrill.
Where there's a will there's a wake,
Burn me at the stake,
Who the hell am I trying to fool?
I'm a fool I feel so fake.
One last goodbye before I take my .45
Shoot a hole in the sky, rip it open
And climb inside.
Empathy is the poor man's cocaine
And love is just a chemical by any other name
I like the way your pheromones make me sleepy
This far away I still smell you inside me (2x)
Tie me down 'till my sweet nothing's sour
I screwed up trying to squeeze 65 minutes from an hour
Outnumbered by such a large amount
No wonder why we lost the battle, the counter-culture can't count.
Welcome to my private hell
There's no one to fight now enjoy myself
I'd rather drown than ask for help
I wish I was someone else.
Mr. Perfect, Misconstrued
Lead the way, follow through
Probably hate me, I do too
You're so much like me I feel sorry for you.
But I think you're pretty, pretty sure
You will profit you will get hurt,
I eat my words they taste like dirt.
I'm only ashamed because I know what it's worth.
Find my comfort, inside blame
Shove my pride back down my face
My worst habits waking up at least once a day,
Balance barefoot on a needle heaven's just a jump away.
Empathy is the poor man's cocaine
And love is just a chemical by any other name
I like the way your pheromones make me sleepy
This far away I still smell you inside me (2x)
Lyrics submitted by conoroberst123
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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.
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"'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/
Page
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i believe only one person can possibly know what these song means, if even that. we all just get our own impression and lesson of some sort from them.