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."
it rains and pours in twos
I wonder if I'll come home
no strength left to battle you
run to the open arms
of anyone
of anyone
I'm watching you fall from grace
breaking a heart of gold
don't ever try saving face
run with your heart of stone
it rains and pours in twos
I wonder if I'll come home
no strength left to battle you
run to the open arms
of anyone
of anyone
I'm watching you fall from grace
breaking a heart of gold
don't ever try saving face
run with your heart of stone
don't keep waiting up for me
don't keep hoping I'll come home
I'm watching you fall from grace
breaking a heart of gold
don't ever try saving face
run with your heart of stone
I'm watching you fall from grace
breaking a heart of gold
don't ever try saving face
run with your heart of stone
I wonder if I'll come home
no strength left to battle you
run to the open arms
of anyone
of anyone
I'm watching you fall from grace
breaking a heart of gold
don't ever try saving face
run with your heart of stone
it rains and pours in twos
I wonder if I'll come home
no strength left to battle you
run to the open arms
of anyone
of anyone
I'm watching you fall from grace
breaking a heart of gold
don't ever try saving face
run with your heart of stone
don't keep waiting up for me
don't keep hoping I'll come home
I'm watching you fall from grace
breaking a heart of gold
don't ever try saving face
run with your heart of stone
I'm watching you fall from grace
breaking a heart of gold
don't ever try saving face
run with your heart of stone
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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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
this song is perfect, I looooove the chorus. me and my friend were debating the meaning though, does anybody else have any thoughts on what they think it's about?
Sounds like someone who ran away, or thought about it, something around there
sounds like someone who has ran from who doesn't want to come back but is thinking about coming back.. but doesn't have the strength to face them again
Well, it might be biased cuz' i think it applies to MY love life but...I think it's about a girl and a guy. The guy had very optimistic views of this girl, hence he's watching her fall from grace. But her actions of infidelity and i guess, immaturity and confusion forces her to look for "help" from other sources...this help being the love and affection of another, hence, run to the open arms of anyone. he can't stand facing her or being with her ever again, so naturally he doesn't wanna return "back home." These optimistic views are again undermined cuz he now believes she's a liar, and trying to "save face" is futile now. Well i dunno if it's right but you know...this kinda reminds me of dashboard confessional's "screaming infidelities"...
It's " No Strenghth left to battle you."... good song though..
This is my favorite song off of the new album. And I don't care what anyone else says. On A Wire is absolutely brilliant. It was so wonderfully done. I like their new sound. I still like the older stuff better, but the new stuff is just as great. It's the Get Up Kids.
I love this song, its everything I feel towards him. "run with your heart of stone.."
This is my favorite song from On a Wire.. it was especially good live. I definently like the change in their sound, even though I like the older CDs as well.
This song is perfect for me. This one of their best songs. they rock.
This song is perfect for me. This one of their best songs. they rock.