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."
Anthony, bullied at school
Get your own back, now you are cool
Or are you scared?
Bunking off though you're a toff
It's all gone wrong again, you've got double maths
And the teacher's got no control so
The boys will run riot, you will stay quiet
Or you will die
Tony at the back of the gym
Smoke another one, your chances are slim
Cause here they come again
And they got you on the ground
Tasting blood again, at least it's your own
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
You may as well take it in the guts, it can't get worse
Take it in the guts, it can't get worse than this
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
Tony, you're a bit of a mess
Melted Toblerone under your dress
And if the boys could see you they would pass you right bye
Blue mascara running over your eye
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
They call you Lord Anthony
But hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it kind of suits you anyway
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
Get your own back, now you are cool
Or are you scared?
Bunking off though you're a toff
It's all gone wrong again, you've got double maths
And the teacher's got no control so
The boys will run riot, you will stay quiet
Or you will die
Tony at the back of the gym
Smoke another one, your chances are slim
Cause here they come again
And they got you on the ground
Tasting blood again, at least it's your own
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
You may as well take it in the guts, it can't get worse
Take it in the guts, it can't get worse than this
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
Tony, you're a bit of a mess
Melted Toblerone under your dress
And if the boys could see you they would pass you right bye
Blue mascara running over your eye
When will you realize that it never pays
To be smarter than teachers
Smarter than most boys?
Shut your mouth, start kicking the football
Bang on the teeth, you're off for a week boy
They call you Lord Anthony
But hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it could be worse than
Lord Anthony, but hey, it kind of suits you anyway
You'll soon be old enough to leave them
And without a notion of a care
You'll lift two fingers in the air to linger there
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Wow, it feels like this song was written for me. In high school, I was always the quiet guy that nobody ever understood or paid attention to. I always felt different than everyone else. I would always get higher grades than most other kids and I was often bullied. Also, the part about sneaking out and smoking cigarettes completely describes me. At least I can laugh at all of those idiots from high school, because I like better music than them. Also, to top it off, my name is Anthony!