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."
To your knees this daily passion, you don't feel anything
You couldn't race a knife across him
But would you dare ask anyone to take away all the blame?
What if you aren't responsible?
Would it ease this life a little to see him buried instead?
The sweat of your back now sticks to the carpet
As he pulls himself out from the press
You couldn't ask for a better father, the words once expressed from your mouth
Now eat them away, or take to the grave, you're a pretty girl honey!
If he would just die, then I might be happy, mother
(kill again) so count to sleep, my dearest Martha
(should no one know) you know you should, but you won't leave Arthur
(kill him slow) would it not be for you, then please for the children
'cause if you won't they will, if you don't they will
(if you won't, they will) and maybe for them, maybe them
This is the last you'll say in the shower
As your blood curves a path when mixed with the water
I'll do it myself so it's done
To the right of all ways I will bury his grave, I'm a pretty girl, funny
Out from the woods a light burns in shadow, unnoticed to a girl with a gun
(kill again) so count to sleep, my dearest Martha
(should no one know) you know you should, but you won't leave Arthur
(kill him slow) would it not be for you, then please for the children
'cause if you won't they will, if you don't they will
(if you won't, they will) and maybe for them, maybe them
So count to sleep, my dearest Martha
You know you should, but you won't leave Arthur
Would it not be for you, then please for the children
'cause if you won't they will, if you won't they will
And maybe for them, maybe them
You couldn't race a knife across him
But would you dare ask anyone to take away all the blame?
What if you aren't responsible?
Would it ease this life a little to see him buried instead?
The sweat of your back now sticks to the carpet
As he pulls himself out from the press
You couldn't ask for a better father, the words once expressed from your mouth
Now eat them away, or take to the grave, you're a pretty girl honey!
If he would just die, then I might be happy, mother
(kill again) so count to sleep, my dearest Martha
(should no one know) you know you should, but you won't leave Arthur
(kill him slow) would it not be for you, then please for the children
'cause if you won't they will, if you don't they will
(if you won't, they will) and maybe for them, maybe them
This is the last you'll say in the shower
As your blood curves a path when mixed with the water
I'll do it myself so it's done
To the right of all ways I will bury his grave, I'm a pretty girl, funny
Out from the woods a light burns in shadow, unnoticed to a girl with a gun
(kill again) so count to sleep, my dearest Martha
(should no one know) you know you should, but you won't leave Arthur
(kill him slow) would it not be for you, then please for the children
'cause if you won't they will, if you don't they will
(if you won't, they will) and maybe for them, maybe them
So count to sleep, my dearest Martha
You know you should, but you won't leave Arthur
Would it not be for you, then please for the children
'cause if you won't they will, if you won't they will
And maybe for them, maybe them
Lyrics submitted by Street Spirit, edited by SephNite
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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.
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
PianoIsland, look The Prize Fighter Inferno up on wikipedia... there's some facts about the storyline there.
I too, like c0h33d, think this song is based on the disturbing relationship Arthur has with Cecillia, but I dont believe that the lyrics are Martha's point of view, I believe they're Cecillia's.
This will be lengthy, but I'm gonna break down the entire lyrics:
"To your knees, this daily passion. You don't feel anything."
Arthur makes Cecillia go down on her knees... a daily routine. Shes doesn't feel anything because she's complacent.
"You couldn't raise the knife across him, but would you dare ask anyone to take away all the blame? What if you aren't responsible?"
Cecillia begins to contemplate whether or not she could kill Arthur. She debates if she should do the deed herself or ask it of someone else, just to be spaired of a guilty conscience.
"Would it ease this life a little to see him buried instead?"
She realizes that the emotional weight of what is happening to her is slowly killing her, and she'd rather off see him dead instead.
"The sweat of your back now sticks to the carpet, as he pulls himself out from the press."
Obvious sexual reference. The key words there are "your back", suggesting Cecillia's.
" You couldn't ask for a better father. The words once expressed from your mouth. Now eat them away, or take to the grave."
Cecillia remembers that, at one point, she believed her father was the greatest. Now she's "eating her words".
"You're a pretty girl, honey."
What Arthur frequently tells Cecillia. Probably his reasoning as to why he does what he does.
"If he would just die, then I might be happy... mother."
Obvious plea to her mother.
"This is the last, you'll say in the shower, as your blood curves a path when mixed with the water. I'll do it myself so it's done. To the right of all ways, I will bury his grave."
Arthur rapes Cecillia again, and in the shower she tells herself that it was the last time it would ever happen. This is the point in time where she decides and/or does kill Arthur.
"I'm a pretty girl... funny."
Cecillia finds it ironic that Arthur's "pretty girl" would end up doing such an ugly thing.
"Out from the woods a light burns in shadow. A notice to a girl with a gun."
In reference to Cecillia luring her father out to the woods and killing him.
I basically have a strong feeling that this song was written if it had been the thoughts of Cecillia's.
If you've read all this... congratulations. And i'm sorry. Hope it helped anyone.