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."
Make no mistake I don't do anything for free
I keep my enemies closer than my mirror ever gets to me
And if you think that there is shelter in this attitude
Wait til you feel the warmth of my gratitude
I get the feeling that it's two against one
I'm already fighting me, so what's another one
The mirror is a trigger and your mouth's a gun
Lucky for me, I'm not the only one
And if it looks to me like you in your reflection
Plan to add your own fight to this dimension
Then tell it this ain't no free-for-all to see
There's only three, it's just you and me against me
I get the feeling that it's two against one
I'm already fighting me, so what's another one
The mirror is a trigger and your mouth's a gun
Lucky for me I'm not the only one
Lucky for me I'm not the only one
And if your foot's on to sick a thousand "yes men"
Plan to break into the middle of this little plan
Then there's your plan to hear me say
That I won't play around the way
Anyway, I plan to plan around them
I get the feeling that it's two against one
I'm already fighting me, so what's another one
The mirror is a trigger and your mouth's a gun
Lucky for me I'm not the only one
Lucky for me I'm not the only one
I keep my enemies closer than my mirror ever gets to me
And if you think that there is shelter in this attitude
Wait til you feel the warmth of my gratitude
I get the feeling that it's two against one
I'm already fighting me, so what's another one
The mirror is a trigger and your mouth's a gun
Lucky for me, I'm not the only one
And if it looks to me like you in your reflection
Plan to add your own fight to this dimension
Then tell it this ain't no free-for-all to see
There's only three, it's just you and me against me
I get the feeling that it's two against one
I'm already fighting me, so what's another one
The mirror is a trigger and your mouth's a gun
Lucky for me I'm not the only one
Lucky for me I'm not the only one
And if your foot's on to sick a thousand "yes men"
Plan to break into the middle of this little plan
Then there's your plan to hear me say
That I won't play around the way
Anyway, I plan to plan around them
I get the feeling that it's two against one
I'm already fighting me, so what's another one
The mirror is a trigger and your mouth's a gun
Lucky for me I'm not the only one
Lucky for me I'm not the only one
Lyrics submitted by fraexx, edited by ContextualInfo, life_aint_chess, MistyDay, catcando75
Two Against One Lyrics as written by Daniele Luppi Brian Joseph Burton
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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 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.
Head > Heels
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think this song is about someone who is not only haunted by his own demons, but can only see the lies from those around him, how fake people can be, and these things are all he can really see in the world. He has gotten to the point that he can't trust the world, can't trust himself and his own point of view, can't trust anyone, and he's just gotten caught in this downward spiral of loathing, mistrust, and apathy. It's just become a vicious cycle, basically.
The song is about one person who is his own worst enemy (and maybe a little crazy). I know he gets all the way up to three people in the song but those three people are one and the same. He's against himself, that's two people, and then there's that bastard in the mirror. That makes three.
He'll be fine in another month and on his way out the door... then all will return to normal.
Great song!
I agree, this is an awesome song and a fantastic collaboration.
I'm a little confused on what the song means...
The first line of the third verse is:
"And if your foot soldiers, sycophants, and yes-men".
I interpret the song as being about battling inner demons and/or being your own worst enemy.
This is an absolutely fantastic song. And if you haven't seen the music video, I highly recommend it. The animation is incredible.
As for the song meaning... It definitely looks like it's about a man who is struggling with his 'inner demons', so to speak. However, I believe he is talking to someone who is attempting to help him. Perhaps a psychologist or just a caring friend.
"Make no mistake I don't do anything for free I keep my enemies closer than my mirror ever gets to me" He is telling this person that he is a cautious man. Un-trusting. Maybe even paranoid?
"Wait til you feel the warmth of my gratitude." Asking for help, or just accepting an offer of help.
"I get the feeling that it's two against one" Two real people fighting his mirror self/inner demon/problems.
"The mirror is a trigger and your mouth's a gun Lucky for me, I'm not the only one" Looking in the mirror must trigger his self hatred. He also thinks that the person who is helping him has the ability to end his struggle.
"And if it looks to me like you in your reflection Plan to add your own fight to this dimension Then tell it this ain't no free-for-all to see There's only three, it's just you and me against me" Basically, he doesn't want anyone else to help.
"And if your foot soldiers, sycophants, and yes-men Plan to break into the middle of this little plan Then there's your plan to hear me say That I won't play around the way Anyway, I plan to plan around them" This one is a bit fuzzy. Perhaps it means that... if this person does bring others in to help... that he'll pretend like nothing is wrong?
I interpreted that last stanza as hospital personnel "foot soldiers (Nurses), sycophants (Residents or Medical Students), yes men ( Consultants) & his planned suicide, how he was going to outsmart "them" by planning "around them" for a successful demise.
I think this is a person battling inner demons and their path crosses with a manipulative, destructive person and an unequal battle then takes place. These lyrics make sense In this theory... The mirror is a trigger (negative self image) and your mouth's a gun (that person putting words to your inner fears about yourself) Manipulative people have an army of followers they draw around themselves who only ever see the things the manipulator wants them to see. These are the sycophantic yes men in the song. It's no free for all to see, this makes sense because this sort of a situation happens invisible to others as it's often mental abuse and not apparent. It's a warning song, if you are your own worst enemy then you risk meeting someone even worse who will use it against you further and destroy you. After all as Jack White reminds us he's not the only one.