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."
This isn't who I am
From confidence to self doubt in sixty seconds
Storming stages and stereos from here to there
Trying to prove that I belong
Trying to win approval from people that I don't know
And I look so strong
When the weight of all the world
Don't take its toll
And I'd choose my sides
If I believed in what was right
But I'm all wrong
I'm not larger than life, I'm not taller than trees
Do I mean what I say?
Is it just this disease where I never go home
Never telling the truth how this life eats away
Not admitting I'm fake
And I'm questioning whether this whole thing was worth it to die poor and all alone?
And I look so strong
When the weight of all the world
Don't take its toll
And I'd choose my sides
If I believed in what was right
But I'm all wrong
Just don't tell me this doesn't mean the world
Cause my ears would bleed and my heart would hit the floor
And I look so strong
When the weight of all the world
Don't take its toll
And I'd choose my sides
If I believed in what was right
But I'm all wrong
From confidence to self doubt in sixty seconds
Storming stages and stereos from here to there
Trying to prove that I belong
Trying to win approval from people that I don't know
And I look so strong
When the weight of all the world
Don't take its toll
And I'd choose my sides
If I believed in what was right
But I'm all wrong
I'm not larger than life, I'm not taller than trees
Do I mean what I say?
Is it just this disease where I never go home
Never telling the truth how this life eats away
Not admitting I'm fake
And I'm questioning whether this whole thing was worth it to die poor and all alone?
And I look so strong
When the weight of all the world
Don't take its toll
And I'd choose my sides
If I believed in what was right
But I'm all wrong
Just don't tell me this doesn't mean the world
Cause my ears would bleed and my heart would hit the floor
And I look so strong
When the weight of all the world
Don't take its toll
And I'd choose my sides
If I believed in what was right
But I'm all wrong
Lyrics submitted by MySensesHavFailed35, edited by JakeSanchard
They Looked Like Strong Hands Lyrics as written by Jack A O'shea Anthony S Raneri
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
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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
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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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
It should be
And I'd choose my side if I believed in what was right But I'm all wrong
Well, I the first thing I notice is the title, "They Looked Like Strong Hands". Anybody else catch that Neverending Story reference. Oh well, not the point.
Almost sounds like he's talking about trying to impress people though music, what with the line about stagedives. But then, I don't think it was meant to be taken that literally. Afterall, some words are added for poetic effect.
I think it's basically just him saying that people look at him with too many expectations. That people view him as being better than he is. But that could just be me.
He's saying it get's him down having to prove himself everytime he gets on stage , to prove that he makes good enough music and that people he doesn't know, the fans, like it. Rip beatz
I thin this song is about how you try to win approval from strangers, just because it will make you feel good, but after all realizing it doesn't make you feel good at all, it just makes you feel worse. You realize that you aren't as strong as you sometimes think and it would break you if someone told you the truth, that it isn't improtant what others think if you
I'm glad someone else caught the title reference. On The Never Sleep Again tour after the accident They came onstage and dedicated this song to Beatz saying that this is a song about what you have to deal with when you go on tour and devote yourself to a band. They said they would continue to live this lifestyle because Beatz gave his life for this dream and he would kick their asses if they gave up.
perfect.
absolutely perfect.
I believe on the "Making of Bayside" DVD that came with Silverstein's most recent album, John states that he thinks this will become a fan favorite, and thus become one of his favorites as well. Don't quote me on that, but I'm pretty sure.
But I just thought that was a worthwhile thing to mention, sad though it may be.
Yeah, John does say that on the DVD.
This song is perfect, and one of my favorite songs they play live.
"Just don't tell me this doesn't mean the world Cuz my ears would bleed, my heart would hit the floor"
This is also one of my favorite Bayside lyrics. Anyone who has a passion can relate to it. People telling you that it doesn't mean the world is the worst thing to hear.
Camerons Right. it's about being in a band. how you have to fight and basically give up your life for music. how everyone expects you to be perfect and they worship you. "this life eats away" is saying it burns you out. it's a hard life, espessialy starting out. driving in a van for 12 hours to do a show for one night with 3 other guys and equipment jamed in there. it's about the pressures of being in a band. it's the worst feeling in the world when people say you suck at what you work so hard and devote your life to. this song is powerful for me and really hits home because I know that feeling. I'm there now. I'm playing those shows and being loved and hated, but it's all worth it, because being on that stage and playing that music with 500 people screaming for you is the most wonderful feeling in the world.