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."
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
Yo, I had a Queen named Amina, height 5'7"
Caramel-complected, body like Heaven
Met her through the sister of my man, Big Vince
Like some shit from out the flicks, we been in love ever since
She called me her "Chocolate Brotha", I call her my "Sugar Sista"
Knew shorty could work it since before I ever kissed her
I never dissed her, painted my picture to hit
But because sex she wasn't with, she started flippin an' shit
Like, "Listen man, I'm Queen Amina, Amina's not no freak and
That game is weak and keep tryin to hit I could quit speakin'
Tariq in fact, you bein' Black Thought, don't get ya closer
I dig ya but won't bone ya because I'm so-called supposed ta
Most of them would, but that couldn't be me, that's not my flavor
Go home and think about that, maybe later on I'll page ya"
I contemplated, and then concluded she was bluffin'
Steady pursuin' screwin', gettin' nothin' but the silent treatment
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently
Crazy frustration, about my lovin' situation
When patience was a virtue, but I wasn't used to waitin'
I want some Marvin Gaye healin', feelin' is real inside
I slip and slide, my ride'll keep you occupied, I'd
Love to get wit' it like that, but my baby's kitty cat's capped
And locked, Love Boat is docked at the shore
And what for? Later for groupies on tour
Why won't my sugar call me no more?
I mean, my queen gets upset, rejectin' and sexually neglect
Then sayin' I'm more sewer than Das EFX, and closed-minded
It's like I'm blinded by the skinnin'
I'm into women because of that, this one's into communication
Temptation played the vandal, freakin' my brain, my mind
Rippin' the handle on physically scandalous acts
Yo! She knew what I wanted, but she fronted
Bust it
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently
Well, um
Movin' right along with the song, plus the strong
Feelings on my mind, desire to intertwine
Combine and blend, baby bust a message that I send
Ain't no need to pretend, 'cause shit is real 'til the end
I provide a place to hide from crime, hard times
And livin' trife, while I open ya mind, you're in my life
Like love, it ain't no way no one can rise above what's real
That's why I'm feelin' like you're makin' me bugged
I puff a L on fifty deuce while I walk in the rain
Heart feelin' killer pain while I hop the train
Dial her number to the rest, and ain't no messages left
Regardless, my chest thumps from stress, yo it's a mess
I don't know what I got to do to make you understand
I'm for real and that's no question, no frontin' or no guessin'
Undressin', carressin', in the span, that I contain in my hand
Could touch and make you say that I'm such a man
And call my name, so let me set your body aflame
I'll never treat you like a dame or run game
Now, who's to blame?
I know you're not a hoe for niggas with a lot of dough
But I just wanted you to know
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently, silently
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
Yo, I had a Queen named Amina, height 5'7"
Caramel-complected, body like Heaven
Met her through the sister of my man, Big Vince
Like some shit from out the flicks, we been in love ever since
She called me her "Chocolate Brotha", I call her my "Sugar Sista"
Knew shorty could work it since before I ever kissed her
I never dissed her, painted my picture to hit
But because sex she wasn't with, she started flippin an' shit
Like, "Listen man, I'm Queen Amina, Amina's not no freak and
That game is weak and keep tryin to hit I could quit speakin'
Tariq in fact, you bein' Black Thought, don't get ya closer
I dig ya but won't bone ya because I'm so-called supposed ta
Most of them would, but that couldn't be me, that's not my flavor
Go home and think about that, maybe later on I'll page ya"
I contemplated, and then concluded she was bluffin'
Steady pursuin' screwin', gettin' nothin' but the silent treatment
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently
Crazy frustration, about my lovin' situation
When patience was a virtue, but I wasn't used to waitin'
I want some Marvin Gaye healin', feelin' is real inside
I slip and slide, my ride'll keep you occupied, I'd
Love to get wit' it like that, but my baby's kitty cat's capped
And locked, Love Boat is docked at the shore
And what for? Later for groupies on tour
Why won't my sugar call me no more?
I mean, my queen gets upset, rejectin' and sexually neglect
Then sayin' I'm more sewer than Das EFX, and closed-minded
It's like I'm blinded by the skinnin'
I'm into women because of that, this one's into communication
Temptation played the vandal, freakin' my brain, my mind
Rippin' the handle on physically scandalous acts
Yo! She knew what I wanted, but she fronted
Bust it
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently
Well, um
Movin' right along with the song, plus the strong
Feelings on my mind, desire to intertwine
Combine and blend, baby bust a message that I send
Ain't no need to pretend, 'cause shit is real 'til the end
I provide a place to hide from crime, hard times
And livin' trife, while I open ya mind, you're in my life
Like love, it ain't no way no one can rise above what's real
That's why I'm feelin' like you're makin' me bugged
I puff a L on fifty deuce while I walk in the rain
Heart feelin' killer pain while I hop the train
Dial her number to the rest, and ain't no messages left
Regardless, my chest thumps from stress, yo it's a mess
I don't know what I got to do to make you understand
I'm for real and that's no question, no frontin' or no guessin'
Undressin', carressin', in the span, that I contain in my hand
Could touch and make you say that I'm such a man
And call my name, so let me set your body aflame
I'll never treat you like a dame or run game
Now, who's to blame?
I know you're not a hoe for niggas with a lot of dough
But I just wanted you to know
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently
Girl, you know that you need
To stop givin' me the silent treatment, baby
Can't you see what you mean to me?
I want to love you constantly, but you keep neglecting me
And treating me silently, silently, silently
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
i find this song so ironic now...when i first saw it was on some show about the good stuff from the 90's this song being one of them. the song is total poetry in motion-but the predicament is quite interesting. even though, as the hook comes in, you'd think oh the girl is just simply holding off (no pun intended). but then you realise that Black Thought is actually speaking of his sexual desires towards the girl. he loves her, truly, you can tell by the speech ('Knew Shorty could work it since before I ever kissed her') but when he wants to go to bed with her-she refuses. that's all in the first verse. the second verse is about the torment he went through because of it. He remains faithful even though oppurtunity arises ('Temptation played the vandal, freakin my brain, my mind'). in the final verse he speaks more of his feelings-how totally real they are ('Ain't no need to pretend, cause shit is real til the end ')...and all in all the song's telling the story of a man who has to deal with a woman who gives him the silent treatment...because she's better than having sex with him-and that's not what she wants. him asking for it is what turns her off in the first place. -i would love more females like this to exist, can i tell ya?
Yeah, I would love for more women to exist like that now; there probably is, we've just never met them. Damn, there's no other song that has touched me the most the first time I heard it.