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."
On the talk back show
On the radio
At the local bar
In the hot traffic
By the red tail lights
Everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands
And we take it down
To the end of town
Where they have control
But they're losing touch
When the lights go out
Everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
It's all in your hands
Everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
For the end results
But who needs that
When you've got it
All in your hands
It's all in your hands
It's all in your hands
You are all you need
You are all you need
And that is everything
So don't hesitate
There's no time to waste
You just do it for yourself
I said, everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands
You got it all, you got it all
It's all in your hands
You got it all, you got it all
I said, everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands
On the radio
At the local bar
In the hot traffic
By the red tail lights
Everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands
And we take it down
To the end of town
Where they have control
But they're losing touch
When the lights go out
Everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
It's all in your hands
Everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
For the end results
But who needs that
When you've got it
All in your hands
It's all in your hands
It's all in your hands
You are all you need
You are all you need
And that is everything
So don't hesitate
There's no time to waste
You just do it for yourself
I said, everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands
You got it all, you got it all
It's all in your hands
You got it all, you got it all
I said, everybody's down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it's all in your hands
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Listen Like Thieves Lyrics as written by Andrew Farriss Michael Hutchence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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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,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
"It's all in your hands"-life is what you make of it?
This song kicks an insane amount of ass.
This is my all time fav song, from my all time fav album!
good song it was condsider a wierd one when it came out but I always liked it.
Atheism. They're saying people are looking for god, but there isn't one.
@wichitavor Well, Michael knows now, doesn't he?
"But who needs that? When it's all in your hands"? Great song.Chorus rocks. :)
No one cares about your opinion on whether it is a good song or not, your post on song meanings is about the meaning of the song not whether you like it.
When thieves are breaking in to a dwelling/store they are probably listening very intently for the sound of someone coming back home (car pulling in to driveway, police sirens, etc.).
So, MY guess is that "listen like thieves" means to listen very carefully. Thoughts?