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've been sinning
I've been livin'
I've been beaten
By Saturdays
On a diamond
I lay on a diamond
On a diamond
I lay awake
D'Artagnan
Good ol' D'Artagnan
He ain't got a thing on me
I've been minding
To my field of timing
Too bad your time in
It just never came
Well I don't know how else to say it
In a different way
But why don't you just fade away
'Cause there's a battle going on
Down south of Babylon
So why don't you just fade away
I've been dealing
I've been healing
I've been dealing
A crooked game
Thieving pirates
I've been livin'
I've been beaten
By Saturdays
On a diamond
I lay on a diamond
On a diamond
I lay awake
D'Artagnan
Good ol' D'Artagnan
He ain't got a thing on me
I've been minding
To my field of timing
Too bad your time in
It just never came
Well I don't know how else to say it
In a different way
But why don't you just fade away
'Cause there's a battle going on
Down south of Babylon
So why don't you just fade away
I've been dealing
I've been healing
I've been dealing
A crooked game
Thieving pirates
Lyrics submitted by pnkseashel
D'Artagnan's Theme Lyrics as written by Clarence Greenwood
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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,
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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.
ok, here's my final idea. the first verse and chorus is D'Artagnan's wife speaking to/of D'Artagnan. The second verse and chorus is his reply to her. i still don't understand the south of Babylon reference though.
@clhatch13 South of babylon would be anywhere south of NYC. Someone else here earlier mentioned that Cities have specific names within RAP music and while in Reggae, Babylon means ANY city here on earth that is too wordly or simply the evil world of men in general, in RAp, it specifically means NYC. Cope was living in DC AND New Orleans after having spent time in a relationship with a woman in NYC. "The battle goin' on somewhere south of babylon" seems to be a reference to his own personal struggles at the time and his move back south. Just my guess.