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 it's all the treasures that shine in the street
As we drive right over them
And its all the mornings we missed for sleep
As the sun glides over our apartment
And it's all the subtle change in landscape and business
Reminds you of your limited time
This time you'll listen to the movement in your body
How it keeps on despite you and it frightens you
Cause you're barely alive
You're desperate in finding something else to please you
You've been searching your whole life
Something to mute, change, or just distract you
Something to put inside you to give the illusion of life
Cause you've always been barely alive
Cause you're barely alive
Cause you're barely alive
You've always been barely alive
Have you not?
And the greatest escape that you ever did make
With your arms by your side left it up to fate
And the coast that you've seen though you're watching them weekly
You've cursed all perfect days as you walked away
I can hear you say, â??Jenny, you're barely aliveâ??
a metal rods you put in your fucking jaw to keep you from grinding your teeth at night
Cause you're barely alive
You've always been barely alive
Cause you're barely alive
Always been barely alive
As we drive right over them
And its all the mornings we missed for sleep
As the sun glides over our apartment
And it's all the subtle change in landscape and business
Reminds you of your limited time
This time you'll listen to the movement in your body
How it keeps on despite you and it frightens you
Cause you're barely alive
You're desperate in finding something else to please you
You've been searching your whole life
Something to mute, change, or just distract you
Something to put inside you to give the illusion of life
Cause you've always been barely alive
Cause you're barely alive
Cause you're barely alive
You've always been barely alive
Have you not?
And the greatest escape that you ever did make
With your arms by your side left it up to fate
And the coast that you've seen though you're watching them weekly
You've cursed all perfect days as you walked away
I can hear you say, â??Jenny, you're barely aliveâ??
a metal rods you put in your fucking jaw to keep you from grinding your teeth at night
Cause you're barely alive
You've always been barely alive
Cause you're barely alive
Always been barely alive
Lyrics submitted by myslumberingheart
Jenny, You're Barely Alive Lyrics as written by Jenny Lewis Blake Sennett
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
holy shit what a good song! so mixtapeable.
"the metal rods you put in your fucking jaw to keep you FROM GRINDING YOUR TEETH EVERY NIGHT!" sooo awesome live.
When was it played live?
i love how she uses her name in this song/sings directly about herself
I LOVE THIS SONG.
one of my favourite songs. i especially love the scream. mmm.
I think it's a song open to a lot of interpretation, which is good. It can be 'pinned' onto a lot of different things, but I like how it can reach out and span all sorts of disorders and addictions and problems. It could even address different things at once, what with co-morbidity and all. The greatest accomplishment of this song is how it manages to resonate with people on an instinctive level, no matter what's going on. It provides a sort of connection without giving any real answers. And that's cool with me. :)
Something interesting about the metal rods (because I've seen a lot of speculation here)... When people grind their teeth chronically it's usually a symptom of something, not the source of a problem. Bruxism is often found in individuals who smoke or drink; who consume a high amount of caffeine; who use drugs, SSRIs and amphetamines in particular; or who suffer from sleep disorders, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Eating Disorders (more specifically malnutrition), or depression. Most often, it presents itself during sleep, and one popular cure is the insertion of metal rods into the jaw.
Interesting that all of the topics Rilo Kiley tends to address can cause bruxism. Intriguing.
an amazing song, one of my favorites of theirs
"Have you not?" Hm. I always thought it was "Help me out"
"Have you not?" Hm. I always thought it was "Help me out"
It is "help me out."