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."
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
They're in the business of illusion
An empire built on pain
The Almighty's inquisition
They're a fire burning out of control
A thousand years of praying
Of faith, morality
A thousand years of slaying
Of terror in the name of the cross
Will you pray - will you cry
Thou shalt not bear the false witness
When brothers in faith
Turn to brothers in arms
Thou shalt not make unto thee
any graven images
How many more have to die
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
You pay for your salvation
You have to bend your knees in pain
No surrender to temptation
You're a slave to the eye of the Lord
Will you pray - will you cry
Thou shalt not take the name
of the Lord thy God in vain
When brothers in faith
Turn to brothers in arms
Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbour's oxen
How many more have to die
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror - they are protectors
They are protectors of terror
Fear not those who dare to tread
upon the ashes of the chosen ones
They will drink the spillage of the blood
Behind closed doors the darkest one
prepares his altar of death
They are protectors - will you pray - will you cry
Of terror - when brothers in faith turn to brothers in arms
They are protectors - how many more have to die
Laws carved in stone are rewritten in blood
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror - they are protectors
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
They're in the business of illusion
An empire built on pain
The Almighty's inquisition
They're a fire burning out of control
A thousand years of praying
Of faith, morality
A thousand years of slaying
Of terror in the name of the cross
Will you pray - will you cry
Thou shalt not bear the false witness
When brothers in faith
Turn to brothers in arms
Thou shalt not make unto thee
any graven images
How many more have to die
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
You pay for your salvation
You have to bend your knees in pain
No surrender to temptation
You're a slave to the eye of the Lord
Will you pray - will you cry
Thou shalt not take the name
of the Lord thy God in vain
When brothers in faith
Turn to brothers in arms
Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbour's oxen
How many more have to die
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror - they are protectors
They are protectors of terror
Fear not those who dare to tread
upon the ashes of the chosen ones
They will drink the spillage of the blood
Behind closed doors the darkest one
prepares his altar of death
They are protectors - will you pray - will you cry
Of terror - when brothers in faith turn to brothers in arms
They are protectors - how many more have to die
Laws carved in stone are rewritten in blood
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror - they are protectors
They are protectors of terror
They are protectors of terror
Lyrics submitted by Ice
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.