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."
Everything is so complex
Everyday is like a test
For the obstacles that I’m seem almost impossible
And I'm thinking, Just another breath.
Not a minute left, how long have I been drifting!.
Pass the glass pipe, hit the flashlight, now I break it
People say I'm a star, but I still think I'll never make it
And I'm thinking, Just another prayer.
Not a second left. I feel there's something missing.
Sometimes I hate that chaos surrounds me
When all the answers that I seek are around me
Am I drowning, Am I fading away, Or am I living up to all your dreams that made
me this way
Am I drowning, Am I drowning, Am I drowning, Am I drowning..
I've been to hell and back, looking for the answers to life.
Looking at myself trying to get things right
And I'm feeling, Just another breath.
Not a minute left, I feel the darkness lifting!
There was a time that I questioned if I'll ever be all right
Running getting high, staying tracked by sleepless nights
And I'm thinking, Just another breath.
Not a minute left. I feel there's something missing.
I'm running from myself and all the things I don't like.
Living every night like it's the last night.
And I'm thinking. Just another prayer.
Not a second left. I need to stop resisting.
Sometimes I hate that chaos surrounds me
When all the answers that I seek are around me
Am I drowning, Am I fading away,
Or am I living up to all your dreams that made me this way
Am I drowning, Am I drowning, Am I drowning, Am I drowning..
Drowning in the drama, lost in the light
Trapped by the currents of life, caught in the riptide.(x4)
Am I drowning, am I drowning, am I drowning, am I drowning.
Sometimes I hate that chaos surrounds me
When all the answers that I seek are around me
Am I drowning, Am I fading away,
Or am I living up to all your dreams that made me this way
Am I drowning, am I drowning, am I drowning, am I drowning.
Drowning in the drama, lost in the light
Trapped by the currents of life, caught in the riptide.(x2)
Everyday is like a test
For the obstacles that I’m seem almost impossible
And I'm thinking, Just another breath.
Not a minute left, how long have I been drifting!.
Pass the glass pipe, hit the flashlight, now I break it
People say I'm a star, but I still think I'll never make it
And I'm thinking, Just another prayer.
Not a second left. I feel there's something missing.
Sometimes I hate that chaos surrounds me
When all the answers that I seek are around me
Am I drowning, Am I fading away, Or am I living up to all your dreams that made
me this way
Am I drowning, Am I drowning, Am I drowning, Am I drowning..
I've been to hell and back, looking for the answers to life.
Looking at myself trying to get things right
And I'm feeling, Just another breath.
Not a minute left, I feel the darkness lifting!
There was a time that I questioned if I'll ever be all right
Running getting high, staying tracked by sleepless nights
And I'm thinking, Just another breath.
Not a minute left. I feel there's something missing.
I'm running from myself and all the things I don't like.
Living every night like it's the last night.
And I'm thinking. Just another prayer.
Not a second left. I need to stop resisting.
Sometimes I hate that chaos surrounds me
When all the answers that I seek are around me
Am I drowning, Am I fading away,
Or am I living up to all your dreams that made me this way
Am I drowning, Am I drowning, Am I drowning, Am I drowning..
Drowning in the drama, lost in the light
Trapped by the currents of life, caught in the riptide.(x4)
Am I drowning, am I drowning, am I drowning, am I drowning.
Sometimes I hate that chaos surrounds me
When all the answers that I seek are around me
Am I drowning, Am I fading away,
Or am I living up to all your dreams that made me this way
Am I drowning, am I drowning, am I drowning, am I drowning.
Drowning in the drama, lost in the light
Trapped by the currents of life, caught in the riptide.(x2)
Lyrics submitted by the Edge
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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,
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.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
Sunglasses at Night
Corey Hart
Corey Hart
In the 1980s, sunglasses were a common fashion for people who wanted to adopt a "tough guy" persona (note all the cop shows from that era -- Simon & Simon, Miami Vice, etc. -- where the lead characters wore shades). So I think this song is about a guy who wears shades as a way of hiding his insecurity after learning that his girlfriend is cheating on him. He's trying to pretend that he's a "tough guy" to hide the fact that his girlfriend's affair is disturbing him.
Love crazy town, if you go by the video this song is about getting bullied and finally retaliating.
One of the few Crazy Town songs that are different from the rest.. a great song
Its suprising how many people say this song is shit when i cant get enough of it and its catchy
who said the song was shit??? i love this song
All crazytowns songs are so meaningful. Sick band. Class Albums. Love em.
ok i hate crazy town, but this song is amazing. ive like it for a long time now, and i still never get bored of it. the music video is really good too, but i cant get it to work on like any websites at all
when life gets too much for you when you feel your brain goes numb
Totally agreeing with Chris337, definitely about bullying. Amazing song. Pretty much the only really good one from them.