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."
Lay back baby and we'll do this right
There's blankets in back we can use
I'll start the car, but we'll stay in park
The cold can kill us before fumes
Now's the right time for a good song
Get something to say what I can't
Do you feel bad, like I feel bad?
We'll pour us a road, we'll both drink and drive
Kiss me with your cherry lipstick
Never wash you off my face
Hit me I can take your cheap shots
Leave you with the love we made
Come alive on the driver's side
So close I taste your breath
Your lips go dry, but they're sweet inside
Wine must go right to your head
It'd be easy if you get mad
But three fingers point back to you
We could stay here
Stay out all night
No one will know us and the moonlight
Kiss me with your cherry lipstick
Never wash you off my face
Hit me, I can take your cheap shots
Leave you with the love we made
I set my watch by a street-side clock
A needle in echo groove
You pierce my heart like a willing arm
Your ticking makes my blood move
There's no way out, this fade out
Be happy to get what you do
Make him notice with both fists
'Cause quitting alone will never get you dry
Never get you dry
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
Give me everything you've got now
I don't feel a single thing
Drag me out into the cold rain
Let it hover over me
Kiss me with your cherry lipstick
Never wash you off my face
Hit me, I can take your cheap shots
Leave you with the love we made
Hit me, I can take your cheap shot
Leave you with the love we made
Hit me, I can take your cheap shot
Leave you with the love we made
There's blankets in back we can use
I'll start the car, but we'll stay in park
The cold can kill us before fumes
Now's the right time for a good song
Get something to say what I can't
Do you feel bad, like I feel bad?
We'll pour us a road, we'll both drink and drive
Kiss me with your cherry lipstick
Never wash you off my face
Hit me I can take your cheap shots
Leave you with the love we made
Come alive on the driver's side
So close I taste your breath
Your lips go dry, but they're sweet inside
Wine must go right to your head
It'd be easy if you get mad
But three fingers point back to you
We could stay here
Stay out all night
No one will know us and the moonlight
Kiss me with your cherry lipstick
Never wash you off my face
Hit me, I can take your cheap shots
Leave you with the love we made
I set my watch by a street-side clock
A needle in echo groove
You pierce my heart like a willing arm
Your ticking makes my blood move
There's no way out, this fade out
Be happy to get what you do
Make him notice with both fists
'Cause quitting alone will never get you dry
Never get you dry
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
Give me everything you've got now
I don't feel a single thing
Drag me out into the cold rain
Let it hover over me
Kiss me with your cherry lipstick
Never wash you off my face
Hit me, I can take your cheap shots
Leave you with the love we made
Hit me, I can take your cheap shot
Leave you with the love we made
Hit me, I can take your cheap shot
Leave you with the love we made
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Mountain Song
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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,
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I don't see suicide in it whatsoever. Just that one line, "the cold will kill us quicker than the fumes" is about, you know, keeping the car on when they parked. I don't even think they were in a place where fumes could get to them; remember, "No one will know us and the moonlight." They'll probably in a secluded place in the woods.
These lyrics ARE really incorrect...
I agree with prayingmantis and alissandra in a sense. When I heard the first stanza, it seemed delicious, a beautiful JEW song about love, like any other. but by the chorus I was starting to get iffy. By the second I was sure it was getting lusty, but by the end of the third my jaw dropped - I think it's about rape. Instead of "quitting alone will never get you drowning" I think it's dry...
I think it did start out about love. I think my first impressions are sorta right - it's teenage love, then they get drunk - could be literally, but in all likelihood figuratively - on their passion. The girl seems to come to her senses, becoming "dry" either literally or figuratively, or both, and she doesn't like what's going on. "Cheap shots," "make him notice with both fists." I'm not so sure as Alissandra on this being figurative but, you know...
And whether it's about a girl coming to her senses in the throwes of passion or not, This song did start with love, to me. I believe he didn't mean to go too far, it's just that she wasn't ready.
And at any rate, even if you don't agree with me, it is a dark song. It's gorgeous, for sure. I love it. But I can't imagine relaxing or driving aroudn with this song playing. It makes me uneased.