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."
Hazel O'Connor - A. Karner
How many roads had I gone, I got to
Feeling like I can't go on and on
Lord it seems, it gets so lonesome when
You're following dreams
And why was I on that road, where
The angels fear, like a fool I chose
To give a stranger a ride in the night,
He said, "heh listen here darling, I'll
Open your eyes"
I've been up to the bottom, and down to the top
Better not give up until you drop.
There's a time to live, there's a time to die
My friend Jack said, he'd tell me why.
You see Jack was a guy back in Vietnam,
He had a key to survival, to dream of a better time,
And boy, joy is a thing of the past
You gotta believe in the future or you won't last
Oh I believe, I believe in love
Oh I believe in the lord above
Oh I believe in a better life for
You and me and you
Well, the next day he was gone, was he dead
Or had he up and run,
And talk with him all his hopes and his dreams
Me I was left with my nightmares and screams
I've been up to the bottom, and down to the top
Better not give up until you drop.
There's a time to live, there's a time to die
My friend Jack said, he'd tell me why.
Well I made it back from that bloody war,
My future what had it all been for
No heroes welcome and my woman had left.
See my name is Jack in case you hadn't guess
Oh I believe, I believe in love
Oh I believe in the lord above
Oh I believe in a better life for
You and me and you
So little lady when your feeling lost
Remember old Jack, remember the cost
So you got no shoes and you wail and weep
But remember there's a guy who ain't got no feet
How many roads had I gone, I got to
Feeling like I can't go on and on
Lord it seems, it gets so lonesome when
You're following dreams
And why was I on that road, where
The angels fear, like a fool I chose
To give a stranger a ride in the night,
He said, "heh listen here darling, I'll
Open your eyes"
I've been up to the bottom, and down to the top
Better not give up until you drop.
There's a time to live, there's a time to die
My friend Jack said, he'd tell me why.
You see Jack was a guy back in Vietnam,
He had a key to survival, to dream of a better time,
And boy, joy is a thing of the past
You gotta believe in the future or you won't last
Oh I believe, I believe in love
Oh I believe in the lord above
Oh I believe in a better life for
You and me and you
Well, the next day he was gone, was he dead
Or had he up and run,
And talk with him all his hopes and his dreams
Me I was left with my nightmares and screams
I've been up to the bottom, and down to the top
Better not give up until you drop.
There's a time to live, there's a time to die
My friend Jack said, he'd tell me why.
Well I made it back from that bloody war,
My future what had it all been for
No heroes welcome and my woman had left.
See my name is Jack in case you hadn't guess
Oh I believe, I believe in love
Oh I believe in the lord above
Oh I believe in a better life for
You and me and you
So little lady when your feeling lost
Remember old Jack, remember the cost
So you got no shoes and you wail and weep
But remember there's a guy who ain't got no feet
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
My Friend Jack Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.