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."
Red Black Green, Red Gold Green
Dat's how we know we a fe we dream team
(repeat)
The other day
A friend gave me a call
He said that the dream team was playin basketball
Was so excited / That I hadda get a Witness
The first time the NBA was in the 'lympics
players from the east/ players from the west
And you can bet that they took the very best
("Except they left Tim Hardaway at home"
"Yeah that was hella fucked up!")
But Anyway
I tuned in because I was hella psyched
To see Magic Johnson on the same team as Mike
Gettin crazy / Havin lots of fun
makin sure that they got the job done
Fans were wavin the red white end blue
It seemed strange to me / was it strange to you?
Brotha's on the street / And everyone is scared a ya
So how could ten Africans represent America?
Bullshit / It didn't mean a thing
'Cause in the same year / we saw Rodney King
So I thought / That I would put a team together
A team that I have been waitin for forever
Some a you / May know what I mean
But if you don't then / Lemme introduce you to...
MY DREAM TEAM!
"SPEARHEAD IN THE AREA!"
(chorus)
THIS IS MY DREAM TEAM, MY DREAM TEAM
MY DREAM TEAM, MY DREAM TEAM
Well Chuck D's announcin'/ Flava's doin' color
halftime enterntainment by Dre and Ed Lover
Malcolm X is the coach he's drawin' up the strategy
he's choppin up America's anatomy
'cause they're the ones/ we're up against of course
are general manager is Chief Crazy Horse
Huey Newton/ 'cause he was extra hard
he's the one/ who would be playin at the shootin' guard
I dreamed Charles Barkley would be
played by Marcus Garvey
he'd be throwin people off his back and makin
sure they never got a rebound rebound / and
he'd throw it to the outlet
Nat Turner/ 'cause he can turn the corner when
he's out there
he be flyin through the air/ throwin passes like
he really doesn't care/behind the back /and in
between the legs
he's handlin the rock /as gently as an egg
he's throwin it in/ to Angela Davis's neighborhood
she's postin up down in the extra hard wood
she grabs the pill/ and then she puts her shoulder down
get out the way/ 'cause she's gonna throw down now
boom /oh my god! I just can't believe it
get anotha backboard or bettah yet leave it.
we always play for fun /but we always play for keeps
the game is over and the loser's gotta sweep.
up the glass/ that we busted in the ass
Set the record straight /about America's past
THIS IS MY DREAM TEAM
"SPEARHEAD IN THE AREA!"
(chorus)
DREAM TEAM'S IN THE HOUSE
DREAM TEAM'S IN THE HOUSE
Well after doin that /we be headin for the ceremony
hand on the heart /is a bunch of baloney
the spirit of/ the '68 olympics
Black power people/ can I get a witness
fist in the air/ this is proper manners
while Jimi Hendrix/ is fuckin' up the spangled banner
up into the sky/ Miles Davis blows a horn
Look into the bleachers/ It's Bill Clinton sellin popcorn
so now we jump! and we have a celebration!
Shaquille 0'neal would provide the entertainment
to some of you this is a far fetched scheme
but to me... I'll tell you what it is...
This is my Dream Team...
"spearhead in the area"
(chorus)
Yeah Sista Rosa Perks she gets the first seat
on the bench!
and Dr. King, webring him in in a pinch.
Because I like to shoot hoops not brothas!
Beceuse I like to shoot hoops not brothas!
Because I like to shoot hoops not brothas!
Because I like to shoot hoops not brothas!
Dat's how we know we a fe we dream team
(repeat)
The other day
A friend gave me a call
He said that the dream team was playin basketball
Was so excited / That I hadda get a Witness
The first time the NBA was in the 'lympics
players from the east/ players from the west
And you can bet that they took the very best
("Except they left Tim Hardaway at home"
"Yeah that was hella fucked up!")
But Anyway
I tuned in because I was hella psyched
To see Magic Johnson on the same team as Mike
Gettin crazy / Havin lots of fun
makin sure that they got the job done
Fans were wavin the red white end blue
It seemed strange to me / was it strange to you?
Brotha's on the street / And everyone is scared a ya
So how could ten Africans represent America?
Bullshit / It didn't mean a thing
'Cause in the same year / we saw Rodney King
So I thought / That I would put a team together
A team that I have been waitin for forever
Some a you / May know what I mean
But if you don't then / Lemme introduce you to...
MY DREAM TEAM!
"SPEARHEAD IN THE AREA!"
(chorus)
THIS IS MY DREAM TEAM, MY DREAM TEAM
MY DREAM TEAM, MY DREAM TEAM
Well Chuck D's announcin'/ Flava's doin' color
halftime enterntainment by Dre and Ed Lover
Malcolm X is the coach he's drawin' up the strategy
he's choppin up America's anatomy
'cause they're the ones/ we're up against of course
are general manager is Chief Crazy Horse
Huey Newton/ 'cause he was extra hard
he's the one/ who would be playin at the shootin' guard
I dreamed Charles Barkley would be
played by Marcus Garvey
he'd be throwin people off his back and makin
sure they never got a rebound rebound / and
he'd throw it to the outlet
Nat Turner/ 'cause he can turn the corner when
he's out there
he be flyin through the air/ throwin passes like
he really doesn't care/behind the back /and in
between the legs
he's handlin the rock /as gently as an egg
he's throwin it in/ to Angela Davis's neighborhood
she's postin up down in the extra hard wood
she grabs the pill/ and then she puts her shoulder down
get out the way/ 'cause she's gonna throw down now
boom /oh my god! I just can't believe it
get anotha backboard or bettah yet leave it.
we always play for fun /but we always play for keeps
the game is over and the loser's gotta sweep.
up the glass/ that we busted in the ass
Set the record straight /about America's past
THIS IS MY DREAM TEAM
"SPEARHEAD IN THE AREA!"
(chorus)
DREAM TEAM'S IN THE HOUSE
DREAM TEAM'S IN THE HOUSE
Well after doin that /we be headin for the ceremony
hand on the heart /is a bunch of baloney
the spirit of/ the '68 olympics
Black power people/ can I get a witness
fist in the air/ this is proper manners
while Jimi Hendrix/ is fuckin' up the spangled banner
up into the sky/ Miles Davis blows a horn
Look into the bleachers/ It's Bill Clinton sellin popcorn
so now we jump! and we have a celebration!
Shaquille 0'neal would provide the entertainment
to some of you this is a far fetched scheme
but to me... I'll tell you what it is...
This is my Dream Team...
"spearhead in the area"
(chorus)
Yeah Sista Rosa Perks she gets the first seat
on the bench!
and Dr. King, webring him in in a pinch.
Because I like to shoot hoops not brothas!
Beceuse I like to shoot hoops not brothas!
Because I like to shoot hoops not brothas!
Because I like to shoot hoops not brothas!
Lyrics submitted by Akhenaton
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Mountain Song
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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,
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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.
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“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.
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
This song is awesome! i can't believe no-one's commented. obviously it's about america's past (and present) of racial discrimination turned into a mint song about a kickass basketball team. Favourite line: "Because i like to shoot hoops, not brothers"