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."
Oh
Whenever I step outside
Somebody claims to see the light
It seems to me that all of us have lost our patience
'Cause everyone thinks they're right
And nobody thinks that there just might
Be more than one road to our final destination
But I'm not ever going to know if I'm right or wrong
'Cause we're all going in the same direction
And I'm not sure which way to go
Because all along we've been going in the same direction
I'm tired of playing games
Of looking for someone else to blame
For all the holes in answers that are clearly showing
For something to fill the space
Was all of the time I spent a waste?
'Cause so many choices point the same way I was going
But I'm not ever going to know if I'm right or wrong
'Cause we're all going in the same direction
And I'm not sure which way to go
Because all along we've been going in the same direction
Going in the same direction
Same direction (same direction)
So why does there only have to be
One correct philosophy?
I don't want to go and follow you just to end up like one of them
And why are you always telling me
What you want me to believe?
I'd like to think that I can go my own way and meet you in the end
Go my own way and meet you in the end
But I'm not ever going to know if I'm right or wrong
'Cause we're all going in the same direction
And I'm not sure which way to go
Because all along we've been going in the same direction
Going in the same direction
Going in the same direction
Same direction (same direction)
Whenever I step outside
Somebody claims to see the light
It seems to me that all of us have lost our patience
'Cause everyone thinks they're right
And nobody thinks that there just might
Be more than one road to our final destination
But I'm not ever going to know if I'm right or wrong
'Cause we're all going in the same direction
And I'm not sure which way to go
Because all along we've been going in the same direction
I'm tired of playing games
Of looking for someone else to blame
For all the holes in answers that are clearly showing
For something to fill the space
Was all of the time I spent a waste?
'Cause so many choices point the same way I was going
But I'm not ever going to know if I'm right or wrong
'Cause we're all going in the same direction
And I'm not sure which way to go
Because all along we've been going in the same direction
Going in the same direction
Same direction (same direction)
So why does there only have to be
One correct philosophy?
I don't want to go and follow you just to end up like one of them
And why are you always telling me
What you want me to believe?
I'd like to think that I can go my own way and meet you in the end
Go my own way and meet you in the end
But I'm not ever going to know if I'm right or wrong
'Cause we're all going in the same direction
And I'm not sure which way to go
Because all along we've been going in the same direction
Going in the same direction
Going in the same direction
Same direction (same direction)
Lyrics submitted by prayingmantis84
Same Direction Lyrics as written by Daniel B. Estrin Chris Light Hesse
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
only heard it once but i LOVE it