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."
Firefly, can you see me?
Shine on, glowing, brief and brightly
Could you imagine? one summer day,
That same night be on your way
Do you remember? Hearts were too cold
Seasons have frozen us into our souls
People were sayin' the whole world is burning
Ashes have scattered too hard to turn
Upside out or inside down
False alarm, the only game in town
No man's land, the only game in town
Terrible, the only game in town
Passenger, don't you hear me?
Destination seen unclearly.
What is a man deep down inside,
What a raging beast with nothing to hide.
Upside out or inside down
False alarm, the only game in town
No man's land, the only game in town
Terrible, the only game in town
Shine on, glowing, brief and brightly
Could you imagine? one summer day,
That same night be on your way
Do you remember? Hearts were too cold
Seasons have frozen us into our souls
People were sayin' the whole world is burning
Ashes have scattered too hard to turn
Upside out or inside down
False alarm, the only game in town
No man's land, the only game in town
Terrible, the only game in town
Passenger, don't you hear me?
Destination seen unclearly.
What is a man deep down inside,
What a raging beast with nothing to hide.
Upside out or inside down
False alarm, the only game in town
No man's land, the only game in town
Terrible, the only game in town
Lyrics submitted by itsmyownmind
Passenger Lyrics as written by Peter Monk Philip Lesh
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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.
At this late date, surprised (Halloween Day, 2021), surprised no comments on this song. A deep cut off 1977's "Terrapin Station," an album I'm not deeply familiar with (though it includes a number of their well-known standard, e.g. "Estimated Prophet" and their cover of "Sampson and Delilah"). I stopped buying their studio albums with the one immediately preceding, 1975's "Blues for Allah," then also bought "In The Dark," released in 1987.
This is an outlier in the Dead's oeuvre: melody by bassist Phil Lesh with lyrics by the Buddhist monk Peter Monk (that's his actual name)- Monk's only songwriting credit with the Dead, and his only credit listed in AllMusic and Discogs. Though Lesh was the primary band member in the writing, the lead vocal duties are shared by guitarist Bob Weir and vocalist Donna Godchaux. Lesh has said the song began as "a joke," a parody of Fleetwood Mac's "Station Man." It is a good, uptempo rocker featuring Garcia on soaring slide guitar, very reminiscent of his slide work on his song "Deal," which first appeared on a studio album on his solo debut "Garcia," 1972.
In any case, a very unique origin story for this song- written by Lesh (who usually ceded songwriting duties at this point to Garcia or Weir) with lyrics by a one-off contributor, and lead vocals not by the songwriter but by other members of the band.
I'm 66 years old and just heard this song on the radio for the very first time today (as I was driving back from a Covid-19 screening, in fact). Immediately downloaded it from iTunes when I got home. Learn something new every day, even at my age.