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."
Doin' it right, day and night.
Doin' it right, day and night.
Doin' it right, day and night.
Yeah, tell it, tell it, tell it like it T-I-is.
I gotta feel it.
You gotta move it.
You gotta move it, move it, move it,
To the deep, deep rhythm.
Tell it, tell it, tell it like it T-I-is.
Seems like things are gettin' so bad,
That you can smell it.
Yeah, so open those eyes
And get the real picture,
It's time to tell it.
I wanna talk, baby.
I wanna say something.
I've got to tell it like it
T-IE-IE-IE-I is.
[Chorus]
Tell it, tell it, tell it, like it T-I-is.
Like it T-I-isTell it, tell it, tell it, like it T-I-is.
Like it T-I-is.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, like it T-I-is.
Like it T-I-is.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, like it T-I-is.
Like it T-I-is.
Whoahh!
Tell it, tell it.
I've got to tell it.
I want to tell it-whoo!
You got me talkin'.
I wanna say something.
Got me talkin'.
I wanna say somethin', yeah!
If you're looking for a moving sidewalk
Dreamin' 'bout a monorail to take you away.
Well, the day is now,
And here's the biz:
You better get the real picture;
Tell it like it T-I-is.
I'm spinnin' to the rhythm of the earth,
And the ocean.
See the situation.
Oh what a sight.
I wanna talk, baby.
I wanna say something.
I've got to tell it like it is.
T-IE-IE-IE-is.
Like it T-I-is.
[Chorus]
Oh, don't upset
The balance of your nature.
Make the jump when the coast is clear
Oh, don't upset
The balance of your nature.
Reach the level above your fears.
Can you feel the movement?
Hear the untamed melody.
Tell it like it is and was and
Always should be-yeah!
Like it is and was, and always should be.
Is and was, and always should be.
Is and was, and always should be.
Is and was, and always should be.
Tell it, tell it.
I've got to tell.
I wanna tell it-whoo!
You got me talkin'.
I wanna say something'.
Got me talkin'.
I wanna say somethin'
Tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it.
Like it T-I-is
T-I-is!
Doin' it right, day and night.
Doin' it right, day and night.
Yeah, tell it, tell it, tell it like it T-I-is.
I gotta feel it.
You gotta move it.
You gotta move it, move it, move it,
To the deep, deep rhythm.
Tell it, tell it, tell it like it T-I-is.
Seems like things are gettin' so bad,
That you can smell it.
Yeah, so open those eyes
And get the real picture,
It's time to tell it.
I wanna talk, baby.
I wanna say something.
I've got to tell it like it
T-IE-IE-IE-I is.
[Chorus]
Tell it, tell it, tell it, like it T-I-is.
Like it T-I-isTell it, tell it, tell it, like it T-I-is.
Like it T-I-is.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, like it T-I-is.
Like it T-I-is.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, like it T-I-is.
Like it T-I-is.
Whoahh!
Tell it, tell it.
I've got to tell it.
I want to tell it-whoo!
You got me talkin'.
I wanna say something.
Got me talkin'.
I wanna say somethin', yeah!
If you're looking for a moving sidewalk
Dreamin' 'bout a monorail to take you away.
Well, the day is now,
And here's the biz:
You better get the real picture;
Tell it like it T-I-is.
I'm spinnin' to the rhythm of the earth,
And the ocean.
See the situation.
Oh what a sight.
I wanna talk, baby.
I wanna say something.
I've got to tell it like it is.
T-IE-IE-IE-is.
Like it T-I-is.
[Chorus]
Oh, don't upset
The balance of your nature.
Make the jump when the coast is clear
Oh, don't upset
The balance of your nature.
Reach the level above your fears.
Can you feel the movement?
Hear the untamed melody.
Tell it like it is and was and
Always should be-yeah!
Like it is and was, and always should be.
Is and was, and always should be.
Is and was, and always should be.
Is and was, and always should be.
Tell it, tell it.
I've got to tell.
I wanna tell it-whoo!
You got me talkin'.
I wanna say something'.
Got me talkin'.
I wanna say somethin'
Tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it.
Tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it.
Like it T-I-is
T-I-is!
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Mountain Song
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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"'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/
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.