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."
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
With Danny and Lisa
They take me away from (take me away from)
The strangest places (the strangest places)
Sweet Danny and Lisa (sweet Danny and Lisa)
They take me away from
They take me away from
The strangest places
Sweet Danny and Lisa
They take me away from
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
With Danny and Lisa
They take me away from (take me away from)
The strangest places (the strangest places)
Sweet Danny and Lisa (sweet Danny and Lisa)
They take me away from
They take me away from
The strangest places
Sweet Danny and Lisa
They take me away from
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
With Danny and Lisa
They take me away from
The strangest places
Sweet Danny and Lisa
La-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
With Danny and Lisa
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
With Danny and Lisa
They take me away from (take me away from)
The strangest places (the strangest places)
Sweet Danny and Lisa (sweet Danny and Lisa)
They take me away from
They take me away from
The strangest places
Sweet Danny and Lisa
They take me away from
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
With Danny and Lisa
They take me away from (take me away from)
The strangest places (the strangest places)
Sweet Danny and Lisa (sweet Danny and Lisa)
They take me away from
They take me away from
The strangest places
Sweet Danny and Lisa
They take me away from
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
With Danny and Lisa
They take me away from
The strangest places
Sweet Danny and Lisa
La-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the radio
Hey man, look at me rockin' out
I'm on the video
With Danny and Lisa
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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/
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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Daron Malakian, the group's lead guitarist, is the mastermind behind this song.
This song is about how Daron, along with System of a Down, have become sensationally popular with their music through the last decade. Along with their popularity, comes their songs being played on RADIO stations and shooting VIDEOS for their music. Daron had an epiphany one day while watching a VIDEO of one of his childhood birthday parties. He realized he was at the party with his two best friends or closest cousins, DANNY and LISA. He has not seen them since his childhood. Along with fame comes a lot of stress and hard times, and to help with that, Daron likes to think of the good times when he was younger. THUS, the birthday party with DANNY and LISA - "THEY TAKE ME AWAY FROM THE STRANGEST PLACES, SWEET DANNY AND LISA."
Danny and Lisa haven't seen Daron since childhood and have maybe since forgotten him or don't think of him that much. They probably do now, since SYSTEM has become so popular. The song says, "look at me now." or look how far I've come since our childhood days. "I'M ON THE RADIO/VIDEO!"
To sum it up, System of a Down is famous now, along with fame comes stress, hard times, and strange places. In order to clear his mind, Daron likes to think of his innocent childhood with his pals Danny and Lisa. He likes to go back to the good times and remember them. He simply misses them.
There are no drug references in this song
Ripped from :Smithereenz At lyricinterpretations.com
Ok, I might be completely* wrong on this... but... until I just read these messages posted, I always thought "Sweet Danny and Lisa" stood for "LSD". I thought the song was kinda about drugs and I figured that Sweet Danny and Lisa could be rearranged to spell "LSD". I thought they were doing something like "Lucy in the Sky w/ Diamonds" ya know? Anyway, maybe I'm just being stupid, but that's what I always thought it was about. (To me) The lyrics would fit w/ it being about LSD. ("They take me away from the stranges places...") Maybe I'm wrong though...
I never even thought of it this way... Nice theory.
@LittleSister26 That is an interesting theory. Maybe the Radio and Video reference is the trip taken while on LSD
@LittleSister26 It reminded me of REM saying that "Losing my religion" is about losing his trust or love for a girl. I might and I hope that I'm completely wrong as we're all still kids inside and not all songs must have something to do with drugs.
superstar denotes Its freedom give
Who are Dan and Lisa? Some radio moderators? Though it would be rather untypical for SOAD if that was so easy...
soad are the funniest cunts aye
dude!!¡ mm dude love<br />
This is easily the best song on the new album. does anyone else love the way the intro goes into BYOB? it fits it so well
i know right? this song is up there w/ "Sugar", "BYOB", "She's Like Herion", and "Lost In Hollywood".
Dan and Lisa? his kids? parents?
i think its Danny and Lisa this is my second favorite tune off the new album, first being violent pornography im glad that Darren is singing more on this album
It's actually 'Danny and Lisa'..
They're radio hosts who won't play SOAD on their station, so they made the song to get back at them..
This makes me laugh so much. Knowing its revenge makes me laugh more. I wonder if 'Danny and Lisa' have played this on their radio station?.. I don't know why anybody wouldn't want to play System Of A Down on their raido station? Unelss they're one of those ones that only play mainstream..?
SOAD is mainstream (at least around here). . Anyway it just cracks me up how they put a simple song like this on their album just to spite someone. That's awesome