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."
Valjean, at last, we see each other plain
M'sieur le maire, you'll wear a different chain
Before you say another word, Javert
Before you chain me up like a slave again
Listen to me, there is something I must do
This woman leaves behind a suffering child
There is none but me who can intercede
In mercy's name, three days are all I need
Then I'll return, I pledge my word
Then I'll return
You must think me mad
I've hunted you across the years
Men like you can never change
A man, such as you
Believe of me What you will (Men like me can never change)
There is a duty that I'm sworn to do (Men like me can never change)
No! (24601) You know nothing of my life)
All I did was steal some bread (My duty's to the law You have no rights Come with me, 24601
Now the wheel has turned around (You know nothing of the world You would sooner see me dead)
Jean Valjean is nothing now)
I am warning you, Javert (Dare you talk to me of crime)
I'm a stronger man by far (And the price you had to pay
There is power in me yet (Every man is born in sin)
Every man must choose his way (My race is not yet run!)
I am warning you, Javert (You know nothing of Javert)
There is nothing I won't dare I was born inside a jail
If I have to kill you here I was born with scum like you
I'll do what must be done! (I am from the gutter, too)
And this I swear to you tonight
There is no place for you to hide
Your child will live within my care
Wherever you may hide away
And I will raise her to the light
I swear to you, I will be there
M'sieur le maire, you'll wear a different chain
Before you say another word, Javert
Before you chain me up like a slave again
Listen to me, there is something I must do
This woman leaves behind a suffering child
There is none but me who can intercede
In mercy's name, three days are all I need
Then I'll return, I pledge my word
Then I'll return
You must think me mad
I've hunted you across the years
Men like you can never change
A man, such as you
Believe of me What you will (Men like me can never change)
There is a duty that I'm sworn to do (Men like me can never change)
No! (24601) You know nothing of my life)
All I did was steal some bread (My duty's to the law You have no rights Come with me, 24601
Now the wheel has turned around (You know nothing of the world You would sooner see me dead)
Jean Valjean is nothing now)
I am warning you, Javert (Dare you talk to me of crime)
I'm a stronger man by far (And the price you had to pay
There is power in me yet (Every man is born in sin)
Every man must choose his way (My race is not yet run!)
I am warning you, Javert (You know nothing of Javert)
There is nothing I won't dare I was born inside a jail
If I have to kill you here I was born with scum like you
I'll do what must be done! (I am from the gutter, too)
And this I swear to you tonight
There is no place for you to hide
Your child will live within my care
Wherever you may hide away
And I will raise her to the light
I swear to you, I will be there
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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.
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.
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.
wow. lots of energy in this song, truly a battle of wills.