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."
You're kissing me and saying I'm the one you need
To keep you warm and lay with you tonight
Baby, I feel the same way, I don't want to leave
Wanna hold you close and feel your love inside
But I don't wanna play myself
'Cause I know you're with someone else
And I don't need complications in my life
And I don't wanna fall back in
And get caught up in you again
Boy, I'm so conflicted in my mind
Boy, you keep saying stay the night
Just let me rock you 'til the morning light
It's cold outside and much too late to drive
You know I need you, baby, I'm so lost without your love
Obviously, procrastinating just to be
Close to you a little longer now, boy
It's hard for me to break away from you, baby
Never could resist you and I still haven't learned how
And I don't wanna be a fool
But it's hard when it comes to you
And I'm feeling vulnerable tonight
'Cause I don't wanna miss the chance
Of reliving our sweet romance
Boy, I'm so confused down deep inside
Oh, you keep saying stay the night
Just let me rock you 'til the morning light
It's cold outside and much too late to drive
You know I need you, baby, I'm so lost without your love
(Baby stay, baby stay, baby stay)
(Baby stay, baby stay, baby stay)
(Lost without your love)
(Baby stay, baby stay, baby stay)
Oh, you keep saying stay the night
Just let me rock you 'til the morning light
It's cold outside and much too late to drive
You know I need you, baby, I'm so lost without your love
(Baby stay, baby stay, baby stay)
(Stay the night)
(Stay the night) you keep on saying
And you keep on saying
(Stay the night) baby
And you keep on, keep on, keep on saying
(I'm so lost without your love)
And you keep on saying
(Stay the night)
Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh
And you keep on, keep on, keep on saying, baby (stay the night)
And you keep on saying
(Stay the night)
To keep you warm and lay with you tonight
Baby, I feel the same way, I don't want to leave
Wanna hold you close and feel your love inside
But I don't wanna play myself
'Cause I know you're with someone else
And I don't need complications in my life
And I don't wanna fall back in
And get caught up in you again
Boy, I'm so conflicted in my mind
Boy, you keep saying stay the night
Just let me rock you 'til the morning light
It's cold outside and much too late to drive
You know I need you, baby, I'm so lost without your love
Obviously, procrastinating just to be
Close to you a little longer now, boy
It's hard for me to break away from you, baby
Never could resist you and I still haven't learned how
And I don't wanna be a fool
But it's hard when it comes to you
And I'm feeling vulnerable tonight
'Cause I don't wanna miss the chance
Of reliving our sweet romance
Boy, I'm so confused down deep inside
Oh, you keep saying stay the night
Just let me rock you 'til the morning light
It's cold outside and much too late to drive
You know I need you, baby, I'm so lost without your love
(Baby stay, baby stay, baby stay)
(Baby stay, baby stay, baby stay)
(Lost without your love)
(Baby stay, baby stay, baby stay)
Oh, you keep saying stay the night
Just let me rock you 'til the morning light
It's cold outside and much too late to drive
You know I need you, baby, I'm so lost without your love
(Baby stay, baby stay, baby stay)
(Stay the night)
(Stay the night) you keep on saying
And you keep on saying
(Stay the night) baby
And you keep on, keep on, keep on saying
(I'm so lost without your love)
And you keep on saying
(Stay the night)
Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh
And you keep on, keep on, keep on saying, baby (stay the night)
And you keep on saying
(Stay the night)
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
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.
Wow, I can't believe nobody has commented on this song, it's so great!! Her voice is astounding as usual, when she hits those high notes, WOW! Well to me, this song is about her feeling this guy who has a girl already, but he keeps telling her to stay the night with him..and she is really tempted.