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."
And you
Were right to bide your time
And not buy into my misery
Well the good things are never free
Do the colours of the rainbow
Look the same to everyone
An' I
Was rushing round in circles
For a reason to believe
Wipe the slime from off your sleeve
You could follow me for weeks
And I'm not going anywhere
Sometimes it's hard to love someone
Until the day that they are gone
An' I
Just had a dream the other night
I was married to the queen
And Madonna lived next door
I think she took a shine to me
And the kids were all grown up
But I had to turn her down
'Cause I was still in love with you
I'm turning Madonna down
I'm calling it my best move
I'll get her tickets for what she needs
I
Remember doing nothing
On the night, Sinatra died
And the night, Jeff Buckley died
And the night, Kurt Cobain died
And the night, John Lennon died
I remember I stayed up
To watch the news with everyone
And that was a lot of nights
And that was a lot of lives
Who lost the tickets to what they need
An' I
Was busy finding answers while
You just got on with real life
Always hoped you'd be my wife
But I never found the time
For the question to arrive
I just disguised it in a song
And songs
Are never quite the answer
Just a soundtrack to a life
That is over all too soon
Helps to turn the days to night
While I was wrong and you were right
And this was a lesson learned
I'm happy to be your fool
And get your tickets to what you need
I'm turning the lights down low
I'm ready to make my move
I'll get you tickets to what you need
Were right to bide your time
And not buy into my misery
Well the good things are never free
Do the colours of the rainbow
Look the same to everyone
An' I
Was rushing round in circles
For a reason to believe
Wipe the slime from off your sleeve
You could follow me for weeks
And I'm not going anywhere
Sometimes it's hard to love someone
Until the day that they are gone
An' I
Just had a dream the other night
I was married to the queen
And Madonna lived next door
I think she took a shine to me
And the kids were all grown up
But I had to turn her down
'Cause I was still in love with you
I'm turning Madonna down
I'm calling it my best move
I'll get her tickets for what she needs
I
Remember doing nothing
On the night, Sinatra died
And the night, Jeff Buckley died
And the night, Kurt Cobain died
And the night, John Lennon died
I remember I stayed up
To watch the news with everyone
And that was a lot of nights
And that was a lot of lives
Who lost the tickets to what they need
An' I
Was busy finding answers while
You just got on with real life
Always hoped you'd be my wife
But I never found the time
For the question to arrive
I just disguised it in a song
And songs
Are never quite the answer
Just a soundtrack to a life
That is over all too soon
Helps to turn the days to night
While I was wrong and you were right
And this was a lesson learned
I'm happy to be your fool
And get your tickets to what you need
I'm turning the lights down low
I'm ready to make my move
I'll get you tickets to what you need
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Mountain Song
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Magical
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“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.
I can't believe more people havn't posted stuff about this song. I think this is one of Badly Drawn Boy's best songs. When I feel crap I put this song on, crank up the volume and it always makes me feel better, or at least reassured; I think that's the message of the song.