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."
Baby, baby why can't you sit still?
Who killed that bird out on you window sill?
Are you the reason that he broke his back?
Did I see you laugh about that?
If I come on like a dream?
Will you let me show you what I mean?
Will you let me come on inside?
Will you let it glide?
Can I have some remedy?
Remedy for me please
Cause if I had some remedy
I'd take enough to please me
Baby, baby why did you dye your hair?
Why you always keeping with your mother's dare?
Baby why's who's who, who know you too?
Did the other children scold on you?
If I come on like a dream?
Would you let me show you what I mean?
If you let me come on inside?
Will you let it slide?
Who killed that bird out on you window sill?
Are you the reason that he broke his back?
Did I see you laugh about that?
If I come on like a dream?
Will you let me show you what I mean?
Will you let me come on inside?
Will you let it glide?
Can I have some remedy?
Remedy for me please
Cause if I had some remedy
I'd take enough to please me
Baby, baby why did you dye your hair?
Why you always keeping with your mother's dare?
Baby why's who's who, who know you too?
Did the other children scold on you?
If I come on like a dream?
Would you let me show you what I mean?
If you let me come on inside?
Will you let it slide?
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Remedy Lyrics as written by Christopher Mark Robinson Chris Robinson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.
This song absolutely rocks. But to me it's about this good girl who has a wild streak that wants to be explored. And there's this bad boy who wants to bring out that wild side and his, and therefore making it hers, remedy is deflowering this diamond in the rough.
This is another song by the Black Crowes about a girl who is strung out on heroin. The guys part is supposed to be the words of "heroin" speaking to her.
"Baby, baby, why can't you sit still?" is about how in withdrawal you become more and more uncomfortable until you can't seem to stop squirming to try to find a comfortable position which you will never find. (similar to how they describe restless leg syndrome on those commercials)
The transition, "If I come on like a dream, will you let me show you what I mean, will you let me come inside, will you let it glide?" This all basically means, will she shoot some heroin (come inside, let it glide) so she won't feel dopesick anymore.
The girl's part is the response. "Can I have some remedy, I'd take enough to please me." Basically she is saying "Yes, can I have some heroin?" "If I did have some heroin right now, not only would I use it to make myself stop being dopesick, I would take enough to get me really high."
This is my absolute favorite song right now. To me it's about a girl who's unhappy and she tries to hide it by always being on the go, or up to no good.
i like this song but in the vid the lead singer has the microphone IN his mouth making it hard to understand what he is singing without the lyrics right in front of you! it's about what BeautifulDisaster said(i think)
i think its a girl who hatres her last boyfriend and the singer needs a girl (remedy) and hes asking her if she will be his girl(remedy)
just my take
I've always thought this song was about getting some physical relief of some sort. Whether that be chemical, sexual, whatever..... The song has a lot of sexual overtones.
It's funny what some of the thoughts are on a lot of these heroin songs. Next, I think I'll check out that one by Unkle Craker (sp?) you know..."follow me". Should be interesting.
Sry double post >
It's a song comparing the craving for chemicals with sensual lust for easy women. You can never get enough.<br /> It's straight up the Jagger/Richards' alley.
I stumbled across this on youtube. . .they explain the song a little. Love these guys so much. Got to see them in September!
youtube.com/watch
Remedy is my favorite Black Crowes song. (And that's a bold statement, cause I LOVE them all.) I am a little annoyed with all of the heroin references on this forum. I don't think every song is about freaking heroin, and when I read those posts, it makes me sad. (I'm sure some songs are about drug use, but come on...) Can't anyone have a positive outlook on a song anymore? Geez.
When I was like 14 my older brother told me he heard this song was about Aids relief I think it was. I have no idea if thats true but I've always thought that cuz I was young and thats what he told me. You can kinda see that in the lyrics, like I said I have no idea if its right or not but maybe something to think about. Also, I always thought let me come inside will you let it glide was a sexual thing. I can't imagine how its not, and that could relate to aids. Debate amongst yourselves