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."
poor man cry out to his god
his dying and hungry
rich man have a heart attack
worrying about his money
he alienates himself from his family
and points the blame in some other direction
the other never had no one
he only needed affection
from one end of the world
to another I hear them say
they need to find a piece of inner protection
a remedy to take their hurt away
in their on minds they failed
you see them fallen
one shot left at redemption
has got them calling
his dying and hungry
rich man have a heart attack
worrying about his money
he alienates himself from his family
and points the blame in some other direction
the other never had no one
he only needed affection
from one end of the world
to another I hear them say
they need to find a piece of inner protection
a remedy to take their hurt away
in their on minds they failed
you see them fallen
one shot left at redemption
has got them calling
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
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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,
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.
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.
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.
Here's the full lyrics:
Poor man cry out to his god His dying and hungry Rich man have a heart attack Worrying about his money He alienates himself from his family And points the blame in some other direction The other never had no one He only needed affection
From one end of the world To another I hear them say They need to find a piece of inner protection Some remedy to take their hurt away In their own minds they failed You see them fallen One shot left at redemption Has got them calling
A bad man trades aid across the land No regard for anybody A sad man been broken to the bone He's been beaten and so bloody He's tortured by his past and present life He's living in color delusion He only lost someone close He's walking in total confusion
From one end of the world To another I hear them say They need to find a piece of inner protection Some remedy to take their hurt away In their own minds they failed You see them fallen One shot left at redemption Has got them calling
Well I try to be good I know why I know I should but doesn't matter As I watch as this world falls down the evolutionary ladder And yet I still find time to say "People don't listen today" That's what I said. Said. Said
Shout down your love there Shout down your love to them (Ha) to them (Ha) Shout down your love there Shout down your love to them (Ha) to them (Ha) The world of competition there is one thing you can go on It's your faith now That's what I said. Said
Shout down your love there Shout down your love to them (Ha) to them (Ha) Shout down your love there Shout down your love to them (Ha) to them (Ha) In a world of competition there is one thing you can go on It's your faith now That's what I said. GO