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."
Oh, your brown eyes shine a sure light on the way to go
And the sun tries you, reeling home against your glow
And we lost sight of it, breath tied up in summer's hold
And your eyes screamed it, Burgh Island, in sepia tones
And if I was ever to leave, I'd say before I go
That you're the best woman I have ever known
Oh, your brown eyes shine a sure light on the way to go
And the sun chides you, so long
And we've lost sight of it, breath tied up in summer's hold
And the world break for it, Burgh Island, in sepia tones
And if I was ever to leave, I'll say before I go
That you're the best woman I ever known
Oh, I bite my tongue
That you may be the first to ruin
'Cause I heard it sung
That man is a fickle child
The wind blew in
Oh, I bite my tongue
That you may be the first to ruin
'Cause I heard it sung
That man is a fickle child
The wind blew in
And the sun tries you, reeling home against your glow
And we lost sight of it, breath tied up in summer's hold
And your eyes screamed it, Burgh Island, in sepia tones
And if I was ever to leave, I'd say before I go
That you're the best woman I have ever known
Oh, your brown eyes shine a sure light on the way to go
And the sun chides you, so long
And we've lost sight of it, breath tied up in summer's hold
And the world break for it, Burgh Island, in sepia tones
And if I was ever to leave, I'll say before I go
That you're the best woman I ever known
Oh, I bite my tongue
That you may be the first to ruin
'Cause I heard it sung
That man is a fickle child
The wind blew in
Oh, I bite my tongue
That you may be the first to ruin
'Cause I heard it sung
That man is a fickle child
The wind blew in
Lyrics submitted by Joshjoss, edited by mentalism, batmoab, britebluedress
Burgh Island Lyrics as written by Benjamin John Howard
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I am only going based off of a circle back moment - from 5 years ago where this song hit me to right now given my current situation.
He is speaking about how her brown eyes are steadied on the journey ahead to where she is leading him. He follows her, her eyes set a sure light on the way to go. (Not sure if she is a person- or this could also be a boat? Maybe whatever vessel is taking them across the water)
He watches the sun upon her face & as it casts back it reflects in her brown eyes (I picture my own when sun hits them just right - they turn almost an amber color) reeling all against your glow (i will speak as if she is a person from here forward) the glow of the sun from the water envelops her - almost jealous of her 'glow'. He says the sun chides her - rebuking her (critizing her for being as beautiful as she is - if anyone wants to debate me - I am also a Leo- the sun - the lioness - the only - the sun always is spoken of in the most beautiful regard) so he watches the sun become jealous of her.
They lost sight of it within that moment upon coming to the shore of burgh island- I think this is just plainly referring to the moment taking them both in being lost there together like they may have been previously (or still are) (romantically) & they couldn't or weren't looking along the shore for the Island any longer. Breath tied up in summers hold - I think this is referring to the etherealness of this moment where they are just lost within one another - I also feel like if (romantically) they had something - & when they lost sight maybe from the time they started what ever it is between them (maybe she has to leave? Or burgh island is her home) both of them encapsulated by what the summer had brought to them (maybe a chance meeting while visiting where he lived over her summer break- & now they have to part as the summer ends?)
Then as he peers back at her in this moment they are lost in & her eyes reflecting Burgh Island (her eyes screamed it) her eyes reflected the amber color (sepia tones) & he saw it there through her eyes - this is SUCH a fucking deep thing to imagine if you think of how he saw beauty through her eyes. In reference to the summer romance (parting ways) on burgh island - her eyes screaming - maybe in total disappointment or disdain for the island because she has to return (I say she is going because he speaks so surely that she knows where she is going & he speaks of leaving - but she doesn't seem to be going if that happens) & he seems to be going back & when he leaves (if) to reassure or let her know she is everything to him, such wonder, all of what makes her what she is to him, how he sees her - he wants her to know, as a parting.
Maybe this takes so long because they both want to stay in the moments that don't take them from one another - but the sun the sun continues to scold her upon this return to the island - yet there they are lost in the hold of summer where they were - & this is their goodbye.
Just my take - also if we're looking into her words ... maybe she finds his love for her foolish & she thinks he is fickle for admiring her as he does - & maybe he just being 'fickle' like the wind blowing in - he is fickle in part that he is far from sempiternal - but he changes & very fast - uncertain but carried in moments easily ... idk that's where my head goes today.
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