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 learned half of what I know
From the worst teacher goin'
Experience
That school's too slow
An' I know folks
Smart ones from the city
Who gone and made a life's work
And a decade later
they still do it shitty
Experience
That's experience for ya
Moves kinda slow
You get off the bus
The same guy that got on 20 years ago
And as I feel it
Is it art or imitating?
'Cause if it's art
Then all my life's been finger painting
Had my best luck, though
With a big easel
I'd rather be an art project, babe
Than just weasel out with wearin' one
And come to suspect the whole experience
Experience, I think I understand
Is it like doin' 90
Her top's down
An' wind's in your beer can
That single moment on a bungee jump
You're down goin' down
You're comin' up now
I think I felt that before
It was kind of an experience
One shining moment lost in time
The one with the showroom shine
Well, I'm sorry girl
Yes, I'm sorry boy
But I feel that way all the time
Till I finally made it
Life was kinda hit or miss
But after I made it
Life was "Take a hit of this"
And I'd love to talk philosophy
But I've gotta take a piss
Man, that philosophy runs right through ya
Take it from me baby
I've got experience
All right
Experience, Do I understand
Is it like doin' a hundred
Her top's down
An' wind's in your beer can
That single moment, babe, on a bungee jump
You're down goin' down
You're comin' up now
Don't look down
That special moment lost in time
The one with the showroom shine
I'm sorry babe
Yes, I'm sorry babe
But I feel that way all the time
From the worst teacher goin'
Experience
That school's too slow
An' I know folks
Smart ones from the city
Who gone and made a life's work
And a decade later
they still do it shitty
Experience
That's experience for ya
Moves kinda slow
You get off the bus
The same guy that got on 20 years ago
And as I feel it
Is it art or imitating?
'Cause if it's art
Then all my life's been finger painting
Had my best luck, though
With a big easel
I'd rather be an art project, babe
Than just weasel out with wearin' one
And come to suspect the whole experience
Experience, I think I understand
Is it like doin' 90
Her top's down
An' wind's in your beer can
That single moment on a bungee jump
You're down goin' down
You're comin' up now
I think I felt that before
It was kind of an experience
One shining moment lost in time
The one with the showroom shine
Well, I'm sorry girl
Yes, I'm sorry boy
But I feel that way all the time
Till I finally made it
Life was kinda hit or miss
But after I made it
Life was "Take a hit of this"
And I'd love to talk philosophy
But I've gotta take a piss
Man, that philosophy runs right through ya
Take it from me baby
I've got experience
All right
Experience, Do I understand
Is it like doin' a hundred
Her top's down
An' wind's in your beer can
That single moment, babe, on a bungee jump
You're down goin' down
You're comin' up now
Don't look down
That special moment lost in time
The one with the showroom shine
I'm sorry babe
Yes, I'm sorry babe
But I feel that way all the time
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Experience Lyrics as written by Terry Kilgore David Lee Roth
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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No Surprises
Radiohead
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.