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."
All spangled up, glittering on
There's a monster in the kitchen his light's turned on
Thanks for coming it meant a lot
But you sure do know how to put me on the spot
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You came into the kitchen - a rose held high
I never want to see young flowers die
And hearing all that made me feel like a spy
To tell you any different would be to lie
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
"Merry Christmas" you said to me
Empty drawers nothing left for me
We turned around now and what did we see?
All our whispers and transparencies
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
So green
So green
So green
There's a monster in the kitchen his light's turned on
Thanks for coming it meant a lot
But you sure do know how to put me on the spot
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You came into the kitchen - a rose held high
I never want to see young flowers die
And hearing all that made me feel like a spy
To tell you any different would be to lie
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
"Merry Christmas" you said to me
Empty drawers nothing left for me
We turned around now and what did we see?
All our whispers and transparencies
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
You're so green
So green
So green
So green
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
Buffalo Tom have a wonderful ability to convey an emotion without telling directly what it is. The lyrics to Mineral don't give a lot away but I do identify with it somehow. What comes across to me is the feeling of nervous dread at facing someone but you know that you have too. Maybe a relationship is ending or it's a relationship that's never really begun
It sounds as if it's happening in a kitchen at a party and the two people aren't really allowed to say what they really mean and that creates a little bit of unspoken tension.
Why the song is called "Mineral" and has the lyric "You're so green" in not sure but Emerald is a green mineral. I have a feeling though that it is something between Bill Janovitz and who the song is about.
"Another very personal one. I actually felt that people would recognize themselves in songs like this and confront me on it. Still nothing. Maybe they don't listen" ~ Bill Janovitz.
ARGH! How comes noone else has commented on this song?! It is beautiful. Also the first verse of this song is spectacular. It does drag on with the whole "You're so green" stuff.. but hey, still rocks
BT are so good at regretful reminiscence and this song is up there with the best of them. The "You're so green" part is a bit wierd... I haven't thought about too much but calling someone green usually means either a) they're naive or b) they're jealous. I'm not sure if either fits the context of this song. And calling the "Mineral"... either way, it's a few things to think about!
One request if you're reading this. Go to Itunes. Spend the 99 Cents. Natalie (Garden State) was wrong. This is the song that will change your life.
I don't know if this has anything to do with the song, but if you go to the beach at night, down to where the water and the sand meet, and you run your hands through the sand, you see green lights, like sparkles.
This is due to the minerals in the salt water meeting the minerals in the sand.
This song always reminds me of that - the little green sparkles.
He plucked an excited virgin in the kitchen and didn’t have the same feelings for her as her youthful exuberance did for him and he bailed on her. She’s disappointed. Been there. We men are pigs.