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 know whatcha doing to me boy,
You move so fast like a psychopathic color TV,
With your Christmas bag and your jolly face,
And the reindeer stompin' all over the place
Take it easy, what ya gotta be so absurd?
You make it sound like Christmas is a four-letter word
Its a fact of life whether you like or not,
So put your hands together and give it a shot
I hope that you take it to heart boy,
It's Christmas time, ain't no clowning around
And if you think you got something to prove boy,
Santa Claus is coming to town
I don't care about family and shopping malls,
Candy canes or the carolers decking the halls
I don't care about what you say Santa Claus
You're a bad brother breaking into people's garage
Jeez!
You got it wrong,
'Cause I'm just another regular guy,
Super powers and a penchant for the Yuletime
Is it a crime to give a little once in awhile,
I travel 'round the world trying to make people smile
I know that you take it too hard boy,
It's Christmas time, ain't no clowning around
And if you think you got something to prove boy,
Santa Claus is coming to town
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Christmastime, Christmastime,
Christmastime,
Magic of Christmas,
Christmas, Christmastime,
Christmastime,
Have a good time!
You move so fast like a psychopathic color TV,
With your Christmas bag and your jolly face,
And the reindeer stompin' all over the place
Take it easy, what ya gotta be so absurd?
You make it sound like Christmas is a four-letter word
Its a fact of life whether you like or not,
So put your hands together and give it a shot
I hope that you take it to heart boy,
It's Christmas time, ain't no clowning around
And if you think you got something to prove boy,
Santa Claus is coming to town
I don't care about family and shopping malls,
Candy canes or the carolers decking the halls
I don't care about what you say Santa Claus
You're a bad brother breaking into people's garage
Jeez!
You got it wrong,
'Cause I'm just another regular guy,
Super powers and a penchant for the Yuletime
Is it a crime to give a little once in awhile,
I travel 'round the world trying to make people smile
I know that you take it too hard boy,
It's Christmas time, ain't no clowning around
And if you think you got something to prove boy,
Santa Claus is coming to town
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Christmastime, Christmastime,
Christmastime,
Magic of Christmas,
Christmas, Christmastime,
Christmastime,
Have a good time!
Lyrics submitted by monkishtroy, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Get Behind Me, Santa! Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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,
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/
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.
Possibly, but more likely a play on Matthew 16:23; Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
I agree with zachharrisment about it being very closely related to the essay in the booklet that comes with the album.
but I think JaimeChiens only has half the idea. The song does admonish Santa CLaus (and the consumerism of christmas in general) but it's more like a conversation. On the one hand you have a guy who is attacking Santa and on the other hand you have Santa defending himself and saying that while Christmas is commercialized it's aslo a time when humans come together like brothers and promoting joy.
"You got it wrong Because I'm just another regular guy Super powers and a penchant for the Yuletime Is it a crime to give a little once in a while? I travel around the world trying to make people smile"
The whole thing is about Sufjan Stevens trying to "figure out" Christmas. He presents both sides of the argument and ultimately decides that Christmas is a time for remembering the birth of Jesus, but that also means a lot for humanity. He doesn't have to be angry about the commercialism of christmas because it's still christmas either way and he shouldn't be preoccupied with trying to attack Santa, he should simply rejoice in the fact that it's christmas at all, which is what he does in the end.
Sounds like a dialog between Sufjan and Santa haha, and I first thought of that verse as well when I heard the title.
I love Sufjan. a lot.
One of the best Christmas songs ever? I'd say!
So incredible. It all goes hand in hand with the essay he wrote in the Chrismas album. If you haven't read it yet, its worth purchasing the album for Sufjan's written work alone.
cannot stop singing this song....
Play on White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan?
i second it being the best christmas song ever.
on the first listen I got that it was about enveloping the Christmas spirit but not having it be broken down to just material things, and that maybe Santa isn't the best symbol for the holiday since he's just about the presents...
my favorite part.. I don't care about family and shopping malls Candy canes or the carolers decking the halls I don't care about what you say, Santa Claus You're a bad brother breaking into people's garage Jeez!
thanks, didn't realise it was a bible verse