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."
Lines on my head from that one thing she said
She spoke of strangers that don't sleep two a bed
Kept on trying, buying time,not waiting on fate
I somehow got the feeling that I opened my eyes too late
I saw where you came from
Called out your name
But there's no answer
We lived on your doorstep
I made you my wife but I don't need that
Lines on my face,while I laugh lest I cry
Speed city dirt and gritty waving me goodbye
So many people,my family of friends
Trying so hard to make me smile until this heartache mends
I saw where you came from
Called out your name
But there's no answer
We lived on your doorstep
I made you my wife but I don't need that
Ice in her eyes,frozen tears would never be a surprise
You can't erase a dream you can only wake me up
My mind is turning slower,never to accept defeat
It don't matter where I live I still got a house to heat
I saw where you came from
Called out your name
But there's no answer
We lived on your doorstep
I made you my wife but I don't need that
She spoke of strangers that don't sleep two a bed
Kept on trying, buying time,not waiting on fate
I somehow got the feeling that I opened my eyes too late
I saw where you came from
Called out your name
But there's no answer
We lived on your doorstep
I made you my wife but I don't need that
Lines on my face,while I laugh lest I cry
Speed city dirt and gritty waving me goodbye
So many people,my family of friends
Trying so hard to make me smile until this heartache mends
I saw where you came from
Called out your name
But there's no answer
We lived on your doorstep
I made you my wife but I don't need that
Ice in her eyes,frozen tears would never be a surprise
You can't erase a dream you can only wake me up
My mind is turning slower,never to accept defeat
It don't matter where I live I still got a house to heat
I saw where you came from
Called out your name
But there's no answer
We lived on your doorstep
I made you my wife but I don't need that
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
This song drips with pain and calls out for help, but he knows that only time will heal. In the meantime, he's got to deal with practicalities like heating the house and putting on a brave face for the people who are trying to help him through it. Despite the heartache he's going through, he doesn't want the dream erased, even though they wake him up. He will never accept defeat, although this prolongs the agony. The slow beat of the live version tears your heart out even more. Powerful track.
This song sounds like a heartbroken guy who has discovered that his wife is seeing another man. When he tries to talk to her, she just stares at him with ice in her eyes, reminding him that they have become strangers, they don't even sleep together anymore. He accepts that the marriage is over, but he has to find a way to keep going, he still has bills to pay. Now he laughs to keep from crying. Friends try to console him, to make him smile, but it will take time to heal the pain. So sad....
@frampton4evr Spot on M8, pretty sure you nailed it. It is sad and Peter is a humble good-hearted soul. Cheers
In 1969 I was 13 years old and just starting my journey with drugs. Sometime later I heard this song and I was haunted by it. I assumed the song was about speed, meth. 26 years later I was living in Vegas and solidly strung out on meth. I've been nine years clean now. Clean and sober. I'm still haunted by this song and not absolutely sure about the meaning. I know what it meant to me.
In the 70s, the phrase "lines on my face" generally referred to cocaine use (or abuse). When one looked into the mirror with lines on it, there was the effect of lines on one's face. I'm not sure how that fits in here, but I thought I'd add that two cents.
This song reminds me of my own Break up from my ex wife .I emigrated from the UK to Canada to be with my then Fiancé because she didn't like the UK I at to get married in order to stay but I didn't need that but got married to be with her and 11 years later she left me high and dry I know I weren't the best husband but after she left me every time I. Talked to her it was like talking to the ice queen frozen tears would never be a surprise. So every time hear lines on my face it reminds me of my ex wife and the situation I found myself. In all those 23.odd years ago. You can't erase a dream you can only wake me up
So.. I'm a 48 year old man who remembers listening to my older brother play this album over and over. This was one of my favorite tracks off of the album. Although, I will say that I'm very saddened to read the real lyrics (sorry.. not much of a lyrics guy, I play the drums). I always thought (for 48 years now) that last line was "I know I'll be there" not "I don't need that". So this isn't a love song, it's a heartbreak song. Kind of changes it for me in a sad way. Still.. very beautiful.
@BrufordRules I never understood what Frampton was saying there either before today and can't say I like the real lyric better than what I thought it was either. Why doesn't he need her to be his wife after he married her? He doesn't seem to want the relationship to be over, so it beats me.
@BrufordRules Wow this website is difficult to navigate through. I'm trying to reply to Beenlistening, but there's no reply button next to his comment, so...<br /> <br /> Anyhow, The way I read this is as follows...<br /> <br /> "Saw where you came from, called out your name, but there's no answer"<br /> This event is happening AFTER they've been married for a while. He's calling for his wife, but at this point she is uninterested.<br /> <br /> "We lived on your doorstep"<br /> Another way, I believe, of saying they were poor. They didn't even have enough to live INSIDE her home.<br /> <br /> "Made you my wife"<br /> Self-evident<br /> <br /> "I don't need that"<br /> After everything they've been through, the poverty and the love for each other, now she is uninterested in him and he must be at a point in his life where he is having his own troubles and he literally doesn't need his wife to not love him anymore. The icing on the cake".<br /> <br /> I'm probably way off, but that's my interpretation anyhow.
Remembering when I noticed that this song had played over and over for an entire weekend at a house I was at in around 78. it was the time, people were in and out that whole weekend and the record just repeated reset over and over - never stopped playing. it became the silence. of course we were all huge huge fans of the record just like everybody else at the time, but it’s just funny how somebody had went over to the record player, placed the disk on the side with Lines On My Face - Feel Like I Do” On probably Friday night and by Sunday evening It was still playing when I decide to go home finally.. it’s probably still playing or I would imagine the “Stereo” might’ve died sometime in the interim and the music slows and died with it but it might all still be there with an inch of dust buildup
Oh and this song is about cocaine (
@cansong Naw not about cocaine @ all M8, Peter never did cocaine, our families lived 2 doors away from each other, and he was a friend of my older brother ( Peter was 9 months younger or something like that) the story is about the break up with his former wife or fiancé, don't recall, actually.
I thought it was about cocaine(lines), in addition to heroin or meth. Two addicts overcame their addictions long enough to find each other and get married. They slowly became estranged. Before he could repair their relationship, he woke up to realize she had overdosed while crying. He would like to forget his drug-addled days, but if he does he will lose is loving memories of her. He wants to hold on to the painful memories, and doesn't plan to marry again.
While I thought this might be a drug song before I listened to it, when you listen to it and pay attention to the lyrics, it becomes apparent that it's about a man whose wife is cheating on him and their marriage is falling apart but he has to keep going because he's got bills to pay, as the song says.