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."
I want your head.
I want your wicked parts.
I want to wring out your evil thoughts.
I want to eat out your bitter heart.
I want your soul to sing six words harmony
Of all the pigs that might tempt me.
I know you're sick alone and I'm telling everyone everything.
So scratch it on the wall of your coffin on your sick day home:
"And when your lover loves to cheat there's another you can meet
It's a short pier, it's a long walk home"
You gotta show me where it hurts,
There's a beast and a burden
Kicking, spitting on your bathroom floor.
This is your life this is your life and
When I'm done it's over just a little bit more.
Good things die all the time,
So God bless your heart, vengeance is mine.
"Kiss me like you mean goodbye," said the spider to the fly.
All those times you thought that you were wrong, you were right.
So if I fight the good fight will hairlines recede?
Will lines deepen in face to craft a look of defeat?
I feel the end is near my little Monday night whore,
My little Saturday night became a Sunday remorse.
And it's all over America,
God bless the game show heathens.
This is your life, this is your life,
And at last my good friend we are even.
I know I'll never lose an arm, never stay up staring at the phone.
If I ever rot up with disease don't you bury me and leave,
Don't you leave me in the ground alone.
You gotta show me where it hurts, never cremate me to burn,
Never chop me up and throw me to sea.
You'll never have to find the words they come out spilling unrehearsed,
But you and I will never find that peace.
Good things die all the time,
God bless your heart, vengeance is mine.
"Kiss me like you mean goodbye," say the spider to the fly.
When all those times you thought that you were wrong, you were right.
I want your wicked parts.
I want to wring out your evil thoughts.
I want to eat out your bitter heart.
I want your soul to sing six words harmony
Of all the pigs that might tempt me.
I know you're sick alone and I'm telling everyone everything.
So scratch it on the wall of your coffin on your sick day home:
"And when your lover loves to cheat there's another you can meet
It's a short pier, it's a long walk home"
You gotta show me where it hurts,
There's a beast and a burden
Kicking, spitting on your bathroom floor.
This is your life this is your life and
When I'm done it's over just a little bit more.
Good things die all the time,
So God bless your heart, vengeance is mine.
"Kiss me like you mean goodbye," said the spider to the fly.
All those times you thought that you were wrong, you were right.
So if I fight the good fight will hairlines recede?
Will lines deepen in face to craft a look of defeat?
I feel the end is near my little Monday night whore,
My little Saturday night became a Sunday remorse.
And it's all over America,
God bless the game show heathens.
This is your life, this is your life,
And at last my good friend we are even.
I know I'll never lose an arm, never stay up staring at the phone.
If I ever rot up with disease don't you bury me and leave,
Don't you leave me in the ground alone.
You gotta show me where it hurts, never cremate me to burn,
Never chop me up and throw me to sea.
You'll never have to find the words they come out spilling unrehearsed,
But you and I will never find that peace.
Good things die all the time,
God bless your heart, vengeance is mine.
"Kiss me like you mean goodbye," say the spider to the fly.
When all those times you thought that you were wrong, you were right.
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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.
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.
They are a fantastic band. I just hope now that they will get more recognition for their beauty. x