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."
Big Will and Tra-Knox
Yo yo yo yo jump
When I tell you make your way up to the front
Addicted to the way I kick it I know what you want
The don jiggy catering to what your feeling
Pack it to the floor up to the ceiling
Shake
What ya momma gave you baby don't let nothing break
Yo watch cause we don't care how much time it's gonna take
Dance floor packed and it's looking like a lake
It's abduction here's your instructions
Slide
Get up off that wall girl stop trying to hide
Tracking aphrodisiac won't be denied
Chill with that cigarette take it outside
Messing with my vibe
I don't like that
Bounce
I'm a press your player when it counts
Party like a lamb and a wolf about to pounce
The don jiggy catering to what you're feeling
Pack it to the floor up to the ceiling
[Chorus]
Bring it on the nothing
Ain't no time for fun things (come on)
Just let it flow (jump on)
Act like you know
The only floor is jumping
Ooh these girls are something (come on)
Just let it flow (jump on)
Act like you know
I-I-I-I called Jazzy Jeff on the phone
I said, "I'm downstairs waiting Jeff come on"
I told him there's this hot spot we gotta burn
He said, "Man after last weekend haven't you learned?"
Yo look here last week was a mistake
That mommy trying to dish out what she couldn't take
Come back me dancing like wow like this thing is a game
One little move on her and she bust into flames (whoosh)
The whole club running trying to ruin my night
I told her roll around little she'll be alright
Then everybody mad at me all up in my face
Somebody should've told that girl to stay in her place
You feel a little heat baby girl I'm behind ya
And hopefully your burnt Gucci dress will remind ya
Of how serious I am maybe it's crazy why yall
But if you want to play hunny go get a baby doll
Holla at me
[Chorus]
Uh uh huh
Check and make sure I'm looking cute for huh
Check and make sure I'm packing lute for huh
Cause I'm about to shut down the bar for huh
And later open up my car door for huh
7 PM I leave the set and then
No more acting back to rapping again
Red carpet hectic getting me in
What happened last week sure it could happen again
Mos def full funk when ya looking at the front looking like a jet magazine beauty of the month
Shades low laying liggy low on the cut
Told myself you're the one to shake it up with
Bounce
Over to your table can get me on announce
Observe the curves body fat about an ounce
Hormones pumping out dangerous amounts
Grabbed ya arm turn around girl
Jump
Move when I tell ya make your move up to the front
Addicted to the way I kick it I know what ya want
The don jiggy catering to what you're feeling
Pack it from the floor up to the ceiling
Come on
[Chorus: x2]
Come on
Jump on
The only floor is jumping
Come on
Just let it flow (jump on)
Act like you know
Big Will uh
Tra-Knox uh
Foundation laid to the rock why yall
One time we out what
Yo yo yo yo jump
When I tell you make your way up to the front
Addicted to the way I kick it I know what you want
The don jiggy catering to what your feeling
Pack it to the floor up to the ceiling
Shake
What ya momma gave you baby don't let nothing break
Yo watch cause we don't care how much time it's gonna take
Dance floor packed and it's looking like a lake
It's abduction here's your instructions
Slide
Get up off that wall girl stop trying to hide
Tracking aphrodisiac won't be denied
Chill with that cigarette take it outside
Messing with my vibe
I don't like that
Bounce
I'm a press your player when it counts
Party like a lamb and a wolf about to pounce
The don jiggy catering to what you're feeling
Pack it to the floor up to the ceiling
[Chorus]
Bring it on the nothing
Ain't no time for fun things (come on)
Just let it flow (jump on)
Act like you know
The only floor is jumping
Ooh these girls are something (come on)
Just let it flow (jump on)
Act like you know
I-I-I-I called Jazzy Jeff on the phone
I said, "I'm downstairs waiting Jeff come on"
I told him there's this hot spot we gotta burn
He said, "Man after last weekend haven't you learned?"
Yo look here last week was a mistake
That mommy trying to dish out what she couldn't take
Come back me dancing like wow like this thing is a game
One little move on her and she bust into flames (whoosh)
The whole club running trying to ruin my night
I told her roll around little she'll be alright
Then everybody mad at me all up in my face
Somebody should've told that girl to stay in her place
You feel a little heat baby girl I'm behind ya
And hopefully your burnt Gucci dress will remind ya
Of how serious I am maybe it's crazy why yall
But if you want to play hunny go get a baby doll
Holla at me
[Chorus]
Uh uh huh
Check and make sure I'm looking cute for huh
Check and make sure I'm packing lute for huh
Cause I'm about to shut down the bar for huh
And later open up my car door for huh
7 PM I leave the set and then
No more acting back to rapping again
Red carpet hectic getting me in
What happened last week sure it could happen again
Mos def full funk when ya looking at the front looking like a jet magazine beauty of the month
Shades low laying liggy low on the cut
Told myself you're the one to shake it up with
Bounce
Over to your table can get me on announce
Observe the curves body fat about an ounce
Hormones pumping out dangerous amounts
Grabbed ya arm turn around girl
Jump
Move when I tell ya make your move up to the front
Addicted to the way I kick it I know what ya want
The don jiggy catering to what you're feeling
Pack it from the floor up to the ceiling
Come on
[Chorus: x2]
Come on
Jump on
The only floor is jumping
Come on
Just let it flow (jump on)
Act like you know
Big Will uh
Tra-Knox uh
Foundation laid to the rock why yall
One time we out what
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
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,
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.