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."
Who, who do you serve?
For whose empire and for whose whims?
Is your honor judged by men?
Will you lie?
Will you lie if they say it`s their will?
Will you die or continue to kill?
Until the generals all have their fill
Craven cowards
Armchair warriors
You will serve them well
What, what will you write?
For whose pleasure, for whose delight?
Will your readers see your light?
Will you say... That the singer can`t blow you away?
That we hate people just `cause they`re gay
Women and children all stay away
To whom, whom do you pray?
Do dollars wash your sins away?
Does God love cold hard cash?
Do you say... If we all just continue to pay
All our ailments will go away
And our souls will be saved
God`s not with you
"Holy Roller"
Your heart dwells in Hell
Why, Why do you run?
Our awareness has spoiled your fun
Our eyes see you too clear
Will you hide
From the joy of expressing our pride
For the leaders and people who`ve died
While combating your genocide
Chains are breaking
Minds are waking
Soon we`ll serve no more...
For whose empire and for whose whims?
Is your honor judged by men?
Will you lie?
Will you lie if they say it`s their will?
Will you die or continue to kill?
Until the generals all have their fill
Craven cowards
Armchair warriors
You will serve them well
What, what will you write?
For whose pleasure, for whose delight?
Will your readers see your light?
Will you say... That the singer can`t blow you away?
That we hate people just `cause they`re gay
Women and children all stay away
To whom, whom do you pray?
Do dollars wash your sins away?
Does God love cold hard cash?
Do you say... If we all just continue to pay
All our ailments will go away
And our souls will be saved
God`s not with you
"Holy Roller"
Your heart dwells in Hell
Why, Why do you run?
Our awareness has spoiled your fun
Our eyes see you too clear
Will you hide
From the joy of expressing our pride
For the leaders and people who`ve died
While combating your genocide
Chains are breaking
Minds are waking
Soon we`ll serve no more...
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Servitude Lyrics as written by Jones
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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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,
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.
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.
noones commented this song?! WHAT!!!!!!
The heavy fishbone is the best, they're great, can pull of totally different styles.
Anyhow the song is about the average fella letting himself be pushed around by people 'higher' than him/her. Pretty obvious really, plus the nme is servitude. It simply questions peoples morals, in particularly those in the army.
Great lines in this song: like 'Will you die or continue to kill?' and 'Does God love hard cold cash?' I love the way it's questioning the soldier in question too :)
I have to wonder if "God's not with you, Holy Roller" is a shot at former guitarist Kendall Jones. He left the band and joined a cult at around the time the band started recording this album.
The song is written by Kendall Jones. He's taking a shot at the 'powers that be' corrupting everything. He sees mainstream religion as a corruption of true Christianity or true faith in general. He's taking a shot at all the 'yes man' people out there that blindly follow corrupt leaders in various facets (government, churches, etc).
This is definitely my favorite song off of Give a Monkey. I like it because (in my opinion) it talks about how people have blind faith, which leads to violence.
Ratanx...get your facts straight...he co-wrote the song and recorded it with them. A Holy Roller is someone who tries to buy their way into heaven. Its a jab at the greedy...and a wake up call to those who think they know God and live life in a dark place. ....its actually interesting that they still play this considering Kendall and Angelo's differing views on who Jesus is.
Every body worships something or someone whether it be God, money, power/prestige, yourself, or whatever. Who do YOU serve?
I think they are including a few subjects in one song. This line seems to be about music critics:
What, what will you write? For whose pleasure, for whose delight? Will your readers see your light? Will you say... That the singer can
t blow you away? That we hate people justcause they`re gay Women and children all stay away