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'm in the sky when I'm on the floor
The world's a mess and you're my only cure
There's no time for me to act mature
The only words I know are "more, more" and "more"
No one to criticise me then
No one to criticise
No one to criticise me then
No one to criticise
There's no fear when I'm in my room
It's so clear and I know just what I want to do
All day bedroom dancing
To you I want to say
You're my thing
You teach me (x 4)
You only teach me wisely
...only show me why
I remember
I remember everything
I don't want to stop
I remember everything
The world's a mess and you're my only cure
There's no time for me to act mature
The only words I know are "more, more" and "more"
No one to criticise me then
No one to criticise
No one to criticise me then
No one to criticise
There's no fear when I'm in my room
It's so clear and I know just what I want to do
All day bedroom dancing
To you I want to say
You're my thing
You teach me (x 4)
You only teach me wisely
...only show me why
I remember
I remember everything
I don't want to stop
I remember everything
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Okay! This is what Kathleen had to say about the song:
"I've always felt frustrated listening to a band and dancing, and there's some knucklehead who comes up and says, 'Oh, hey, I love how you dance,'" explains the 33-year-old Hanna, who's been the reigning feminist of the indie-rock scene since it exploded ten years ago. "I think, 'Did I ask for that because I was standing in front having such a good time?' And then, 'Maybe I'll stand in the back and dance,' or 'Maybe I'll stay home and listen to the record and dance in my room by myself.'... It's that sort of feeling that even in leisure time you're still on the clock and being looked at through the male gaze--to turn a little Feminist 101 phrase on you," she adds with a laugh.
thank you! That's the quote I was trying to find while everyone else spouted their mouths. Wow, she was 33 then? I think I actually remember reading that quote somewhere when it was fairly fresh (or whatever lol). If she's 39 or 40 now... then 2003, that wouldn't be off I don't think. I managed to see Le Tigre 4 times- once as an opener I think and I forget to who, and once at a festival thing (I don't remember what it was, but there were stages... almost positive unless I'm getting mixed up).<br /> <br /> Then I saw them two seperate times at a smaller theatre, and both were a blast. The last time I saw 'em they dropped confetti from the ceiling during deceptacon and they let some kids got up stage & dance (not sure if they were pre-selected from before the show or not- this venue form past experience isn't the most "user-friendly" or accessible to stage-diving and/or dancing, whereas some shows and smaller clubs I've been to it has happened spontaneously, most notably more than a handful of T(I)NC shows I went to- but they were definitely audiance members and from the crowd. Really memorable show because it was the last time I got to see 'em before they went on hiatus. I think I saw SK that yr put on an amazing show at a similarly-sized theatre, only much nicer and less of a dive + more floor room.<br /> <br /> <br /> But what I was going to say to everyone arguing over the drug/high/whatever debate- KH has written a lot in zines, articles, and spoken about this sort of thing in various interviews in the past. In Bikini Kill time when she had been putting out 'zines, one titled April Fools' day (I know that was only a few days ago, but I'm not kidding) dealt solely about addiction, ways to deal, etc. and a lot centered around her bouts w/ her own addictions. I'm in no way trying to slander her by stating this- infact the zine is one of the most inspiring reads I have had the pleasure to make it through (prolly 'cuz its only like, 30pgs. or so and a lot of lists & pointer-type pages, interviews, etc.) in awhile. I would recommend it to anyone who can find it cheaper than i did, since theyre all published in some libraries- i know a bigger one in ny for certain...<br />