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 see you hidden in the night I found you
I see you separate from the others.
Bent crooked in the light around you
Bathing in the sight of the others.
I couldn't say what I was thinking my
Heart shrinking, two sad sparks blinking in the sun
Wait one minute I
Had to listen for it
It was hidden in the fall
Hidden in the fall
Waiting on love to call
Hidden in the fall
I met you in the dead of winter
I stood stranded in the water
Dug deeper than a crooked splinter
I turned away from all the others
I couldn't say what I was thinking my
Heart shrinking, two sad sparks blinking in the sun
Wait one minute I
Had to listen for it
It was hidden in the fall
Hidden in the fall
Waiting on love to call
Hidden in the fall
Sad hopes I'd hidden under
Tangled inside of me
You spoke like broken thunder
Deep into the center of me.
I couldn't say what I was thinking my
Heart shrinking, two sad sparks blinking in the sun
Wait one minute I
Had to listen for it
It was hidden in the fall
Hidden in the fall
Waiting on love to call
Hidden in the fall
I hear it call in the center of it all
You're the love of my life, the love of my life
I hear it all in the center of my heart
You're the love of my life, the love of my life
I hear it call in the center of it all
You're the love of my life, the love of my life
I hear it all in the center of my heart
You're the love of my life, the love of my life
I see you separate from the others.
Bent crooked in the light around you
Bathing in the sight of the others.
I couldn't say what I was thinking my
Heart shrinking, two sad sparks blinking in the sun
Wait one minute I
Had to listen for it
It was hidden in the fall
Hidden in the fall
Waiting on love to call
Hidden in the fall
I met you in the dead of winter
I stood stranded in the water
Dug deeper than a crooked splinter
I turned away from all the others
I couldn't say what I was thinking my
Heart shrinking, two sad sparks blinking in the sun
Wait one minute I
Had to listen for it
It was hidden in the fall
Hidden in the fall
Waiting on love to call
Hidden in the fall
Sad hopes I'd hidden under
Tangled inside of me
You spoke like broken thunder
Deep into the center of me.
I couldn't say what I was thinking my
Heart shrinking, two sad sparks blinking in the sun
Wait one minute I
Had to listen for it
It was hidden in the fall
Hidden in the fall
Waiting on love to call
Hidden in the fall
I hear it call in the center of it all
You're the love of my life, the love of my life
I hear it all in the center of my heart
You're the love of my life, the love of my life
I hear it call in the center of it all
You're the love of my life, the love of my life
I hear it all in the center of my heart
You're the love of my life, the love of my life
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
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.
This song is so ironic in ways that could actually relate to what I've been going through. There's this guy I know who is interested in me which reminds me SO much of this song.
To begin with and state the obvious... the speaker likes a girl but can not seem to gather himself enough to speak to her. He could also tell that she is different from the others which attracts him even more. Perhaps she is an introvert for being "bent crooked in the light" and is the apple of many eyes "bathing in the sight of others." He's observing her from a distance.
"I see you hidden in the night I found you I see you separate from the others. Bent crooked in the light around you Bathing in the sight of the others.
I couldn't say what I was thinking My heart shrinking Two sad sparks blinking in the sun Wait one minute I had to listen for it It was hidden in the fall Hidden in the fall Waiting on love to call Hidden in the fall"
Maybe this situation happened in the fall? Who knows... that's exactly when this similar situation had occurred to me o_O
In this verse, he finally "met her" in the dead of winter, when nothing happens and you feel the most loneliest. He turned away from everyone and perhaps tried not to make it seem so obvious that he liked her.
I met you in the dead of winter I stood stranded in the water Dug deeper than a crooked splinter I turned away from all the others
Then again, he feels remorseful and regretful for not taking the opportunity to talk to her. Until ...
Sad hopes I'd hidden under Tangled inside of me You spoke like broken thunder Deep into the center of me.
SHE FINALLY APPROACHES HIM!! It was truly fate for them two as she was "deepening into the center of me." As things were tangling inside of him and when he wanted her the most, she appeared. AHH, such a heart wrencher :')
I hear it call in the center of it all You're the love of my life, the love of my life I hear it all in the center of my heart You're the love of my life, the love of my life I hear it call in the center of it all You're the love of my life, the love of my life I hear it all in the center of my heart You're the love of my life, the love of my life
He finally realizes that it wasn't for all of the madness and shyness. She is the love of his life after all. Moral of the story here is, take every chance you can. You'll never know who could turn into the possible love of your life unless you try. There's never a need to be shy or have anyone hold you back just because someone is different according to others.
Now will I ever speak like broken thunder to the guy who stares blushes at me from afar?
I think yes :)