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."
This is the story bout a boy named Ted
If his mother said
Ted be good (Be good Ted)
He would (Alright)
Ted used to tell about his soldier dad
But it made her sad
And she cried
Oh my
Ted used to tell her he'd be twice as good
And he knew he could
'Cause in his head
He said
Momma don't worry your Teddy Boy's here
Taking good care of you
Momma don't worry your Teddy Boy's here
Teddy's gonna see you through
Then came the day she found herself a man
Teddy turned and ran
So far away oh yay
He couldn't stand it just to be around
So he left the town
Far away Yay yay
Ted used to tell her he'd be twice as good
And she knew he could
'Cause in her head
She said
Teddy don't worry your mommy is here
Taking good care of you
Teddy don't worry now your mommy is here
Momma's gonna see you through
And he said Momma
Momma don't worry your Teddy Boy's here
Taking good of you
Momma don't worry your Teddy Boy's here
Teddy's gonna see you through
Take yer partner and docey-doe
Hold it tight and don't let go
When you've got it drop
Take yer partner and docey-doe
When you've got it then ya let it go
Hold it tight and... A-ha!
If his mother said
Ted be good (Be good Ted)
He would (Alright)
Ted used to tell about his soldier dad
But it made her sad
And she cried
Oh my
Ted used to tell her he'd be twice as good
And he knew he could
'Cause in his head
He said
Momma don't worry your Teddy Boy's here
Taking good care of you
Momma don't worry your Teddy Boy's here
Teddy's gonna see you through
Then came the day she found herself a man
Teddy turned and ran
So far away oh yay
He couldn't stand it just to be around
So he left the town
Far away Yay yay
Ted used to tell her he'd be twice as good
And she knew he could
'Cause in her head
She said
Teddy don't worry your mommy is here
Taking good care of you
Teddy don't worry now your mommy is here
Momma's gonna see you through
And he said Momma
Momma don't worry your Teddy Boy's here
Taking good of you
Momma don't worry your Teddy Boy's here
Teddy's gonna see you through
Take yer partner and docey-doe
Hold it tight and don't let go
When you've got it drop
Take yer partner and docey-doe
When you've got it then ya let it go
Hold it tight and... A-ha!
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced 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.
I have wondered if this was Paul making fun of John Lennon. In the 1980 Playboy interview, Lennon said, in discussing "How do you sleep" that McCartney would throw write songs that were insulting to him but do it subtle and in musical ways. Maybe also "Dear Boy?"
As I recall, Teddy Boys were the 1950's toughs who wore leather jackets in Britain.