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."
Party girls don't get hurt
Can't feel anything, when will I learn
I push it down, I push it down
I'm the one "for a good time call"
Phone's blowin' up, ring up my doorbell
I feel the love, feel the love
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
Throw 'em back, 'til I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
Sun is up, I'm a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
Here comes the shame, here comes the shame
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
Throw 'em back 'til I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight
Can't feel anything, when will I learn
I push it down, I push it down
I'm the one "for a good time call"
Phone's blowin' up, ring up my doorbell
I feel the love, feel the love
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
Throw 'em back, 'til I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
Sun is up, I'm a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
Here comes the shame, here comes the shame
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
One, two, three, one, two, three drink
Throw 'em back 'til I lose count
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight
Lyrics submitted by JanzenZane
Chandelier Lyrics as written by Sia Furler Jesse Shatkin
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think many who have struggled with destructive coping mechanisms such as drugs, alcohol, sex, etc might be with me in what I believe Chandelier means.
It's about turning towards destructive outlets to deal, whether it's to forget about what's going on, to chase the high, or just to feel something, anything, that let's us know we're alive. Yet there's a frenzy when you're circling the rabbit hole, and sometimes the people around associate us with the "fun" facade they see, an attraction to the energy that's masking what is really happening inside. Even inside, there's something pushing us to keep doing it, though our mind and soul are saying, "Stop, when will you learn?"
Sia talks about the devastating feeling of guilt as everything is happening, but the rush of it, the high as we're flying through the night - it dries our tears and we keep going until we're lost in the moment - like tomorrow doesn't even exist - like we won't have to deal with anything or any consequences, because for now, its' only tonight. There is no tomorrow, or at least that's how we feel.
And then there's the fall....
It's the moment when we come back down. When we wake up the next morning. When we realize what just happened and the awful decisions we just made. And sometimes we're in denial about it. We try to run from it like it never happened, but we know it happened - it's shameful. It's humiliating.
In the end, it's like we're holding onto this rope for dear life, but we're too afraid to open our eyes and look down because we know we'll see how bad of a situation we've gotten ourselves into. We feel the shame, the resentment, the self-loathing. So we keep our eyes closed and climb higher up the rope, throw 'em back, and fly higher into the night, knowing we'll feel the same way tomorrow, but ignoring the feeling because we're in the now - we're just holding on for tonight.
dude this is exactly what I thought this song means cuz im I am going through this same exact thing right now in my life and this song like describes my life right now . . . <br />
Wow I love this song and what a great interpretation! Thank you for sharing. If you are still coping with these demons, please seek help. Celebrate Recovery is an amazing program that helps people heal their hurts, habits and hang-ups. I don't mean to infringe on your personal territory, but I was getting a nudge to reach out. If you are ok then disregard. Peace.
That's a beautifully written interpretation. I agree and can relate to what you are expressing but you did a great job at putting that into words. That's a gift.
@robertaler Totally agree, but I will add a small twist to your story: the entire night never happened, it's all in her mind. A bit of a psycho call if you wish, but the song still makes perfect sense to me; she's struggling with reality the way it is/it should be.
@robertaler I felt the same thing when I heard this song for the first time, before I even payed attention to all of the lyrics. All I heard was "I want to swing from the Chandelier" and I got chills down my spine. Talk about a song that is dead on.<br /> <br /> Actually been to this place twice in my life.....and I thank GOD I am not there anymore.
@mellanie55 I was wondering the same thing.
@robertaler I completely agree with this analysis of the song. I think the meaning of the song is clear and Sia define toy enhances that with her vocals that sound so desperate and pleading.
@robertaler This is so precisely accurate and eloquent, thank you. I would agree…I have learned it is possible to finally get past these demons and find happiness by learning to love yourself and forgive yourself. Now I look back at this aspect of my life with nostalgia and gratitude that I grew from there into something healthier emotionally.
@robertaler I totally agree with you. It reminded me of my party days and going on a binge because my husband cheated but in the long run all it did for me was wreck my life. I chose to start doing drugs to push all the pain away but hurt so many in the process including my 4 children. I've been sober 9 years and so haven't seen my children. So sad but I caused that pain and that bullshit