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."
When the sun is in the mid-sky, well, he wears a golden crown
And he soaks the world with sunshine as he makes another round
Been a faster year than yesterday, all things that I had planned
And when I think I might be gaining, I'm in the sunshine once again, yeah
Well I walk the road of life among the strong, among the weak
And I ask them for the shortcut to the answers that I seek
But no one seems understands what is and what will be
For the questions of my childhood weave a web of mystery
Just a web of mystery
Can you get me through these changes?
Well I sure don't know about life
But one thing for sure
All I need is you (baby)
We can find the golden key to unlock the door
I don't wanna face a world of disillusion
I've come to one conclusion that I know you know is true
In a game of silent searching, the cost of love is rising
And I'm just now realizing I'd be better off with you
Better off with you, ooh
It's a game that I've been living, now I need to know what's real
Can you help me find the answers, can you tell the way I feel?
Will you stay with me forever, or just stay with me tonight?
And we can talk about tomorrow, if it all works out alright
Yes, if it all works out alright
Can you get me through these changes?
Well I sure don't know about life
But one thing for sure
All I need is you (baby)
We can find the golden key to unlock the door
And he soaks the world with sunshine as he makes another round
Been a faster year than yesterday, all things that I had planned
And when I think I might be gaining, I'm in the sunshine once again, yeah
Well I walk the road of life among the strong, among the weak
And I ask them for the shortcut to the answers that I seek
But no one seems understands what is and what will be
For the questions of my childhood weave a web of mystery
Just a web of mystery
Can you get me through these changes?
Well I sure don't know about life
But one thing for sure
All I need is you (baby)
We can find the golden key to unlock the door
I don't wanna face a world of disillusion
I've come to one conclusion that I know you know is true
In a game of silent searching, the cost of love is rising
And I'm just now realizing I'd be better off with you
Better off with you, ooh
It's a game that I've been living, now I need to know what's real
Can you help me find the answers, can you tell the way I feel?
Will you stay with me forever, or just stay with me tonight?
And we can talk about tomorrow, if it all works out alright
Yes, if it all works out alright
Can you get me through these changes?
Well I sure don't know about life
But one thing for sure
All I need is you (baby)
We can find the golden key to unlock the door
Lyrics submitted by Idan, edited by Octavarium64
Questions of My Childhood Lyrics as written by Steve Walsh Kerry Livgren
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
To me, Questions of My Childhood is exactly that. This song is sung from the perspective of a just maturing adult, just away from "mom and dad" and making his way in this world.
'He' realizes that all his childhood questions weren't really answered. The answers he got were all half lies intended to shelter him from the harsh realities.
Now he's grown up, and he is realizing, not only the harsh true answers to all his childhood questions, but exactly why he wasn't told the truth from the beginning.
Verse 1 - see Pink Floyd's "Time" song. The singer is realizing the nature of time. Verse 2 - The singer is realizing he doesn't know everything, which is the beginning of true wisdom. Chorus - The singer realizes that the "road of life" is easier when you walk it with a lover, spouse, and/or companion. Last Verses - The singer is talking to a potential lover/companion, and trying to convince the person to join 'him' and they can grow wise together. That's what I get out of it. IMHO