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."
He found a simple way to express himself
He explained it in a note
And then he settled down to excuse himself
With the simple words he wrote
And when he came around he was lying down
In a bed that's not his own
And as the doctor signed his bill of health
These were the words the doctor spoke
He said, "this, this is your life
And you can either make the most of what you have
Or you can throw it all away
But there are people here who'd give anything
Just to live another day."
And the patient cried, the doctor sighed
As he turned and walked away
And he left the patient lying there
In the lonely bed he made
Somewhere something went missing
Still-life, static, and distant
Steadily losing its feeling
Stale eyes stare at the ceiling
Too much to say with simple words
He found a simple way to express himself
And he wrote it in a song
About a better world than the one we have
And the path that seems so long
It's just another way to find the words to say
That the hopeless days are gone
And that you take this life and make the most of it
And find a meaning all your own
This, this is your life; you can accept it or change it
If you just make up your mind
Somewhere something went missing
Still-life, static, and distant
Steadily losing its feeling
Stale eyes starte at the ceiling
Too much to say with simple words
You found yourself; your sight is clearing
The veil is gone. you stand alone.
He explained it in a note
And then he settled down to excuse himself
With the simple words he wrote
And when he came around he was lying down
In a bed that's not his own
And as the doctor signed his bill of health
These were the words the doctor spoke
He said, "this, this is your life
And you can either make the most of what you have
Or you can throw it all away
But there are people here who'd give anything
Just to live another day."
And the patient cried, the doctor sighed
As he turned and walked away
And he left the patient lying there
In the lonely bed he made
Somewhere something went missing
Still-life, static, and distant
Steadily losing its feeling
Stale eyes stare at the ceiling
Too much to say with simple words
He found a simple way to express himself
And he wrote it in a song
About a better world than the one we have
And the path that seems so long
It's just another way to find the words to say
That the hopeless days are gone
And that you take this life and make the most of it
And find a meaning all your own
This, this is your life; you can accept it or change it
If you just make up your mind
Somewhere something went missing
Still-life, static, and distant
Steadily losing its feeling
Stale eyes starte at the ceiling
Too much to say with simple words
You found yourself; your sight is clearing
The veil is gone. you stand alone.
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/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.