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 never want you to be a sailor's girl
To be a truckers wife
To be left behind
You should know
You should know I'm thinking of you
Up and down I-5 more than a serial killer
Like a smuggler, like a trucker
Drinking when I should be sleeping
Sleeping when I should be waking up
Never hung over
Either wide awake or way too drunk
The only thing
The only thing that I ever wanted
Is going to fuck you over
Is going to fuck us up
The only thing that I ever wanted
I never want you (I never want you)
To be a sailor's girl (To be a sailor's girl)
To be a trucker's wife (To be a trucker's wife)
To be left behind (To be left behind)
You should know
You should know I'm thinking of you
Up and down I-5 more than a serial killer
Like a smuggler, like a trucker
Drinking when I should be sleeping
Sleeping when I should be waking up
When I should be waking up
The only thing
Only thing that I ever wanted
Is going to fuck you over
Is going to fuck us up
I never want you (I never want you)
To be a sailor's girl (To be a sailor's girl)
To be a trucker's wife (To be a trucker's wife)
To be left behind
To be left behind
And I wonder if you'll be there when I get back
Or will you leave me like I left you
Over and over and over
I never want you to be left behind
To be left behind
I never want you
To be a sailor's girl
To be a trucker's wife
To be left behind
And I wonder
I wonder if you'll be there when I get back
Or will you leave me like I left you
Over and over
Like I left you
Over and over
Over and over
Over and over
To be a truckers wife
To be left behind
You should know
You should know I'm thinking of you
Up and down I-5 more than a serial killer
Like a smuggler, like a trucker
Drinking when I should be sleeping
Sleeping when I should be waking up
Never hung over
Either wide awake or way too drunk
The only thing
The only thing that I ever wanted
Is going to fuck you over
Is going to fuck us up
The only thing that I ever wanted
I never want you (I never want you)
To be a sailor's girl (To be a sailor's girl)
To be a trucker's wife (To be a trucker's wife)
To be left behind (To be left behind)
You should know
You should know I'm thinking of you
Up and down I-5 more than a serial killer
Like a smuggler, like a trucker
Drinking when I should be sleeping
Sleeping when I should be waking up
When I should be waking up
The only thing
Only thing that I ever wanted
Is going to fuck you over
Is going to fuck us up
I never want you (I never want you)
To be a sailor's girl (To be a sailor's girl)
To be a trucker's wife (To be a trucker's wife)
To be left behind
To be left behind
And I wonder if you'll be there when I get back
Or will you leave me like I left you
Over and over and over
I never want you to be left behind
To be left behind
I never want you
To be a sailor's girl
To be a trucker's wife
To be left behind
And I wonder
I wonder if you'll be there when I get back
Or will you leave me like I left you
Over and over
Like I left you
Over and over
Over and over
Over and over
Lyrics submitted by pnkdaffodil
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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/
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.
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.
pure fucking poetry. I think Murder City Devils is one of the best bands I've ever heard. Spencer has a perfect voice. Check out Dead Low Tide and Pretty Girls Make Graves.
Such a jammin song, it may be my favorite Devil's song. The meaning is obvious - life can be tough on the road.
Spencer pours so much emotion into his lyrics... i got to see them twice this year in Philly & NY. The meaning is plain, hes sorry he's gotta leave his girl all the time, because he loves her, but a job is a job and he's gotta be on the road.