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."
Somewhere, he lost it in a turn
Now trouble seems to fit him like a glove
First come, first served, he's serving it back
He travels light, without a pack, without love
He comes from nowhere and he turns on his own
Late for the hanging, yes he's headed for the moon
And hang 'em high
Leather cross his thighs
Blasting out the night, his cap hides his eyes
One eye on the road, price upon his head
One ear to the ground, he's listening to the dead
He comes from nowhere and he turns on his own
Late for the hanging, yes he's headed for the moon
And hang 'em high
Blind to himself, and he's laughing up his scheme
Looking back in anger, the city is relieved
Vision of light, child of the night passing by
Blind to himself, he's laughing up his scheme
Looking back in anger, the city is relieved
A vision of light, child of the night passing by
Leather cross his thigh
Blasting out the night, his cap hides his eyes
One eye on the road, price upon his head
One ear to the ground, he's listening to the dead
He comes from nowhere, and he turns on his own
Late for the hanging, yes he's headed for the moon
And hang 'em high
Now trouble seems to fit him like a glove
First come, first served, he's serving it back
He travels light, without a pack, without love
He comes from nowhere and he turns on his own
Late for the hanging, yes he's headed for the moon
And hang 'em high
Leather cross his thighs
Blasting out the night, his cap hides his eyes
One eye on the road, price upon his head
One ear to the ground, he's listening to the dead
He comes from nowhere and he turns on his own
Late for the hanging, yes he's headed for the moon
And hang 'em high
Blind to himself, and he's laughing up his scheme
Looking back in anger, the city is relieved
Vision of light, child of the night passing by
Blind to himself, he's laughing up his scheme
Looking back in anger, the city is relieved
A vision of light, child of the night passing by
Leather cross his thigh
Blasting out the night, his cap hides his eyes
One eye on the road, price upon his head
One ear to the ground, he's listening to the dead
He comes from nowhere, and he turns on his own
Late for the hanging, yes he's headed for the moon
And hang 'em high
Lyrics submitted by UseYourIllusion, edited by Scott_T
Hang 'Em High Lyrics as written by Edward Van Halen Alex Van Halen
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Hang 'em high is actually Hang Him High, a double meaning as in kill him (like a hanging) or worshio him, like a god, hung on high, so 2 speak. The song like black sabbath's Master of Realiy "Lord of this world" evil possesor, is what the song is about. "Somewhere lost in time", not a turn- "first come first served" - reference to Garden of Eden's Covering Cherub (Ezekiel chapter 28) Becoming mankind's new god. "Serving it back" - disloyal to the Maker
Somewhere,lost it in Time (from before mankind) Trouble seems to fit him like a glove.(likes evil) First come,First served,he's serving it back, (see above, "first" god in eden) Travels light,without a pack,without love.(without a "pact" not "pack" actually- anti-love) He comes from nowhere,returns on his own, (actaully "turns on his own" - meaning a betrayer) late for the hanging,yes he's heading for the moon (is still alive, though should be dead, and is under a "wanted" poster, which Michael - also an Angel- collects bounty on- rev. 12, heading for the moon? going for the one throne, in insanity) Hang
em High.("Hang him high") Leather,across his thighs, (Rides through the earth- black horse- revelation again) Blasting out the night,he's terrified to drive.(actaully terrified of light- the darkness) One eye on the road, crashed upon his head, (actaully- price upon his head- divine bounty hunter collects, the road 2 nowhere) One ear to the ground,he's listening to the dead.(directs mankind through dead governments and war machines) He comes from nowhere,returns on his own, late for the hanging,yes he's heading for the moon Hangem High. Alone to himself,he's laughing up his sleeve, (selfish personified, laughing at the misery of his tricks) Looking back in anger,the city is rleaved. (remorseless being, but his exit is a relief) Vision of Light, (Lucifer, etc.) Child of the night, (Anti-Life) Passing by (He knows he is temporary)This was a fifth album ode to the devil, not unlike album 1, "runnin' with the Devil" Van Halen was always clear on where their kingship (guitar, music) came from... Judas Priest was similar Tyrant is about a god Starbreaker Exciter Sinner all about the same being
Dude... <br /> This is coming from the guy who can't even remember his own lyrics on stage. <br /> I find it hard to believe that the same Roth that says "Etch-a-sketch" instead of "catch as catch" would be focused enough to write a song riddled with satanic messages.