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."
well she wakes up every morning
to the sound of sarah records
on a compilation tape
her friend had sent to her from paris
well it's not to say she didn't like
the college station
but her days left in this town
were counting down to graduation
she said hey hey hey
with less than three weeks to go
she tried to justify the goth scene
but the relevance was low
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
she packed her little teddy totebag
saved some tickets for herself
picked out her favorite lucksmiths single
took the Cher Doll off the shelf
she grabbed her slumberland guitar case
and her 14 iced bears ring
took down her IFOJ poster
and 'the band who would be king'
and she said hey hey hey
I'm taking 2nd to steal
you know you won't meet barker's beauties
unless you learn to spin the wheel
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
she said i may not beat my sister
at this stupid game of uno
but at least i know the difference
between a boscoe and a bruno
sick of stickin' around just like those magnets on the fridge
but when i finally leave this town
please don't throw aggi from the bridge
she said hey hey hey
there's just one thing i know
you'll find more posies in the used bin
than there are people at the show
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
to the sound of sarah records
on a compilation tape
her friend had sent to her from paris
well it's not to say she didn't like
the college station
but her days left in this town
were counting down to graduation
she said hey hey hey
with less than three weeks to go
she tried to justify the goth scene
but the relevance was low
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
she packed her little teddy totebag
saved some tickets for herself
picked out her favorite lucksmiths single
took the Cher Doll off the shelf
she grabbed her slumberland guitar case
and her 14 iced bears ring
took down her IFOJ poster
and 'the band who would be king'
and she said hey hey hey
I'm taking 2nd to steal
you know you won't meet barker's beauties
unless you learn to spin the wheel
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
she said i may not beat my sister
at this stupid game of uno
but at least i know the difference
between a boscoe and a bruno
sick of stickin' around just like those magnets on the fridge
but when i finally leave this town
please don't throw aggi from the bridge
she said hey hey hey
there's just one thing i know
you'll find more posies in the used bin
than there are people at the show
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
Lyrics submitted by BIGFONTSAVANT
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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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Sarah Records: Indipendent record label from 87 to 95 Little Teddy: Indiependent record label from 91 to present. The Lucksmiths: Australian indiepop/twee band. Slumberland: Indiependent record label from 89 to present. 14 Iced Bears:British indiepop band IFOJ: Incredible Force Of Junior: American indiepop band The Band That Would Be King: Documentary on the band Half Japanese. and she said hey hey hey Barker's beauties: A term used to describe American models 1972-present "boscoe and a bruno": Frank Boscoe: Lead member of indie band Vehical Flips, Franklin Bruno: Lead member of indie band Nothing Painted Blue Don't throw aggi off the bridge: Reference to Black Tamborine song; Throw Aggi Off The Bridge
I think that's it. All the ones I know anyway.
"Barker's beauties: A term used to describe American models 1972-present"<br /> <br /> "Barker's Beauties" was what Bob Barker, former long time host of the day time game show "Price Is Right" called the models on the show who stood by washers, refigerators, and cars. The line "You won't meet Barker's Beauties unless you learn to spin the wheel" probably references the wheel contestants spin during the "Showcase Showdown" on the show.
"dont throw aggi from the bridge" is a ref to Black Tambourine's song "throw aggi off the bridge"
i want a t shirt written Fuck Me I'm Twee on it (:
This song is a love song to sub-genre of "Twee" music (the type of music Tullycraft plays) and most of the lines refrence either a band, a record company somehow connected with Twee music. Refrences I know: Sarah Records, Cher Doll, Little Teddy, Slumberland, and 14 Iced Bears are all record companies. Lucksmiths and Posies are bands "Don't throw Aggi off from bridge" is a refrence, I belive to The Pixies.
..Uh, I thought 14 Iced Bears was a band. Not a record company.
Anyways, this is a -great- song. Way to tribute! :D
Oh, Tullycraft is just good times. I love really jangly pop-culture infused pop music, and that's exactly what they are. Hell if I know what any of their songs mean, except maybe...yeah, I don't know. It's just sweet music.
twee?
you're right; 14 Iced Bears is definitely a band.
this song is pretty straightforwardly about the 'twee' lifestyle and it namedrops popular twee record labels, bands and songs.
good call on the black tambourine song, fantastic band.
'The Band That Would Be King' is the name of a documentary on the band Half Japanese. Boscoe is an Irish children's show about a puppet. Bruno, I think, is either a reference to the Sesame Street character or to the character from Lewis Carrol's book Sylvie and Bruno. IFOJ - The Incredible Force Of Junior, a Seattle indie band.