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."
Can you feel it crush you? Does it seem to bring the worst in you out?
There's no running away from these things that hold you down
Do they complicate you because they make you feel like this?
Of all the colors that you've shined, this is surely not your best
But you should know these colors that you're shining are
Surely not the best colors that you shine
Surely not the best colors that you shine
I know you feel alone, yeah, and no one else can figure you out
But don't you ever turn away from the ones that help you down
Well they'd love to save you, don't you know they love to see you smile?
But these colors that you've shined are surely not your style
But you should know these colors that you're shining are
Surely not the best colors that you shine
Surely not the best colors that you shine
I know you're feeling like you're lost
But you should know these colors that you're shining are
I know you're feeling like you're lost, you feel you've drifted way too far
Did you know these colors that you're shining are
Surely not the best colors that you shine
Surely not the best colors that you shine
Surely not the best (I know you're feeling like you're lost)
Colors that you shine (But you should know these colors that you're shining are)
Surely not the best (I know you're feeling like you're lost)
(You feel you've drifted way too far)
Did you know these colors that you're shining are
There's no running away from these things that hold you down
Do they complicate you because they make you feel like this?
Of all the colors that you've shined, this is surely not your best
But you should know these colors that you're shining are
Surely not the best colors that you shine
Surely not the best colors that you shine
I know you feel alone, yeah, and no one else can figure you out
But don't you ever turn away from the ones that help you down
Well they'd love to save you, don't you know they love to see you smile?
But these colors that you've shined are surely not your style
But you should know these colors that you're shining are
Surely not the best colors that you shine
Surely not the best colors that you shine
I know you're feeling like you're lost
But you should know these colors that you're shining are
I know you're feeling like you're lost, you feel you've drifted way too far
Did you know these colors that you're shining are
Surely not the best colors that you shine
Surely not the best colors that you shine
Surely not the best (I know you're feeling like you're lost)
Colors that you shine (But you should know these colors that you're shining are)
Surely not the best (I know you're feeling like you're lost)
(You feel you've drifted way too far)
Did you know these colors that you're shining are
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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,
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I think it is about a person who is acting differently than usual or is just doing something really wrong. Or it could just be about someone who just changes sometimes and becomes really pissy, kinda like me when I'm P.M.S.ing. Just kidding, sorry had to add that. Anyway, great song, not my favorite Crossfade though.