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."
Well it's a silly thing
That I've been wondering
Shall we drink a toast to
Absent minded friends
To all who turn the corner and
To those who went round the bend
Everybody raise your glasses
Drink and drown
Melancholy for the masses
Love come down
Well it's a silly thing
That I've been wondering
Maybe you will never
Bbridge the gulf
Baby you are just too sensitive
Are you numb enough?
Can we ever feel this
Impending void?
Have we become what we intended
To avoid?
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching
Have you ever laughed till you cried?
Till your heart is breaking.
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching
Have you ever laughed till your heart is breaking.
Well it'a a silly thing that I've been wondering.
Love is always riddled with
Selfishness
Few will find joy In their
Big success
From the sublime to the ridiculous in the
Blink of an eye.
Funny all too funny
You're a funny guy
If it'a too much to feel
Come this way my friend
Try to keep it unreal
Feels good to let yourself descend to pretend
We can transcend our everyday existances
No distances
How did we come undone?
Became what we've become
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching.
Have you ever laughed till you cried?
Till your heart is breaking.
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching.
Have you ever laughed till your heart is breaking.
How did we come undone?
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching.
Became what we've become
Have you ever laughed till you cried?
Till your heart is breaking.
How did we come undone?
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Became what we've become
Have you ever laughed till your heart is breaking.
How did we come undone?
Became what we've become
How did we come undone?
Became what we've become
That I've been wondering
Shall we drink a toast to
Absent minded friends
To all who turn the corner and
To those who went round the bend
Everybody raise your glasses
Drink and drown
Melancholy for the masses
Love come down
Well it's a silly thing
That I've been wondering
Maybe you will never
Bbridge the gulf
Baby you are just too sensitive
Are you numb enough?
Can we ever feel this
Impending void?
Have we become what we intended
To avoid?
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching
Have you ever laughed till you cried?
Till your heart is breaking.
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching
Have you ever laughed till your heart is breaking.
Well it'a a silly thing that I've been wondering.
Love is always riddled with
Selfishness
Few will find joy In their
Big success
From the sublime to the ridiculous in the
Blink of an eye.
Funny all too funny
You're a funny guy
If it'a too much to feel
Come this way my friend
Try to keep it unreal
Feels good to let yourself descend to pretend
We can transcend our everyday existances
No distances
How did we come undone?
Became what we've become
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching.
Have you ever laughed till you cried?
Till your heart is breaking.
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching.
Have you ever laughed till your heart is breaking.
How did we come undone?
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Till you're aching.
Became what we've become
Have you ever laughed till you cried?
Till your heart is breaking.
How did we come undone?
Have you ever smiled for too long?
Became what we've become
Have you ever laughed till your heart is breaking.
How did we come undone?
Became what we've become
How did we come undone?
Became what we've become
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
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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.
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.
Another Love
Tom Odell
Tom Odell
I think the meaning is pretty clear. This person got really burned in a previous relationship, and because of this is unable to love and show care in his present one, even though he so badly wants to. It's lovely song, and very sad. You can really feel how defeated and frustrated he is with himself.
this song is incredible.
One of my favourites from Moloko. It has the most amazing atmosphere; low acoustic piano and electronic all mixed in from the start. I really love the piano sound in this, it's so rich. One of its best uses I've ever seen. Normally the low keys clash with whatever else is playing but here it's perfect, almost like drums.
It feels wrong to try and define this song. It's very eclectic; I don't think it has one central theme but many. The one thing it does make me think of, though, is alcohol. From the beginning where she says "shall we drink a toast" and "to those who went round the bend", which has a second meaning of becoming intoxicated. Much of the lyrics sound like they're coming from a drunk person, too, but I don't know if that just the song or Roisin's natural style xP