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."
(Try)
Try to tell me how to do it
Only because I'm new to it
Coolness is having courage
Courage to do what is right
I'll try to remember always just to have a good time
Try to show me that you know me
Do you know what coolness really is?
Winning is what you want to
Winning what you're scared to go for
You try to remember always to have a good time
Try and have a softer inside
Shut up, boy, and be a soldier
Coolness is having courage
Courage to do what's right
And try to remember always just to have a good time
Winning is what you want to
Winning what you're scared to go for
And try to remember always to have a good time
Try to tell me how to do it
Only because I'm new to it
Coolness is having courage
Courage to do what is right
I'll try to remember always just to have a good time
Try to show me that you know me
Do you know what coolness really is?
Winning is what you want to
Winning what you're scared to go for
You try to remember always to have a good time
Try and have a softer inside
Shut up, boy, and be a soldier
Coolness is having courage
Courage to do what's right
And try to remember always just to have a good time
Winning is what you want to
Winning what you're scared to go for
And try to remember always to have a good time
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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,
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/
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.
System
Mel And Kim
Mel And Kim
Just listening for the 784,654th time....and it's just perfect in every way. Just incredible. The only reason it was remade was to scoop up a boatload of money from a more modern and accepting audience. But it is a completely different song than the other one that sounds slapped together in a few takes without a thought for the meaning.
This song captivates me still, after 50+ years. Takes me to the deep South and the poverty of some who lived thru truly hard times. And the powerful spirit of a poor young girl being abandoned to her future with only a red dress and her wits to keep her alive.
She not only stayed alive, she turned her hard beginnings around, became self sufficient, successful and someone with respect for herself. She didn't let the naysayers and judgers stop her. She's the one sitting in the drivers seat at the end.
So, not a song about a poor girl, but a song of hope and how you can rise up no matter how far down you started.
There is a huge difference between a singer who simply belts out a song that is on a page in front of them, and someone who can convey an entire experience with their voice. Telling not just a story with words, but taking you inside it and making you feel like you are there, with their interpretation.
this song makes me think of all of us who mean anything to the world marching triumphantly towards the apocalypse. happily.
I think its about three types of patience The patience to explore And the patience to let someone explore All at the same time never become angry or upset At Your inexperience Someones inexperience Confidence and desire to experience Yet al the root of it all what I love is How it mentions to never become too serious And never overlook how important Humor and fun are. These are keys to life trust me.
I think in a lot of his writing you will notice one line is the the end of one thought and the begingin of another
“coolness is having courage courage to do what's right i'll try to remember always
...or it's just a song about growing up and self-relfection? sorry guys, i don't think this has anything to do with "the scene" or "hipsters" or "corporate controlled culture". i don't think he's trying to preach anything to anyone.
"I'm really stoked about the way a certain pair of shoes can make me feel," he admits. "I started thinking about coolness--I just started kind of to not like it, the whole concept of coolness. So I thought, Well maybe I'll try and come up with my own definition for it. What do I think is cool? Stuff like a guy walking an old lady across the street, I think that's cool. Good deeds--and doing good stuff for yourself and for other people, as cheesy as it sounds. So the song's a bit about that: wishing people wouldn't only feel comfy in Nautica. Feel like they needed to put on a certain brand of clothing to feel like they're awesome."
articlearchives.com/humanities-social-science/visual-performing-arts-music/1805264-1.html
This whole album seems to be someone who is going through a maajor self-developement period in their life, "Person Pitch" makes me think of how people "pitch" an idea, well person pitch would be giving a version of yourself a chance --- as for how that applies to the song, well, i'm not sure if he's giving advice to someone, or if its a self-directed vow, but it seems to be a list of life laws that one should strive for. i'm not sure if the "try to remember to always have a good time" is sarcastic, as in how some people block out talking about important things like death, or if its meant to take life as a joke, kind of like Monty Python's "Always Look On The Bright Side." Iono
as for the songs title, hell if i know, maybe Lennox had a sudden moment of clarity in a Nautica store.
awesome some some song
i think the nauttica part refers to nautical drifting...not sure how that fits into your interpretation but i think he takes comfort in letting go, as the taoists say, wu wei: take comfort in the nautical life of leaving attachments behind and exploring new horizons. dont fight the flow, meander with it. though i could be totally off.
This song is about figuring out how to live and how in the face of overwhelming uncertainty. The background music is meant to symbolize a sort of totalitarian mass that calls for you to fall in line with a pre-composed model of happiness, whether this call takes the form of corporate controlled culture (nautica) or hipster subversiveness (coolness).Ultimately, Lennox is saying that "coolness" is having the courage to be your self and do whatever you can to enjoy yourself. This is meant ironically, since "having a good time" cannot be the basis for a very meaningful life--yet it's the best we can do given the present circumstances. That to me is the theme of this album.
Damn, you guys are reading way too far into the "nautica" thing. It's called that because it sounds like the loop is saying "Comfy in nautica" towards the end, after the singing. It's subtle, but once you hear it, it's so obvious.
Holy shit... what?! I'm now hearing the end of this song entirely differently. But you're right.
try try try try try try (repeated) try to tell me how to do it i'll need -?- cause i'm new to it goodness is having courage courage to do what's right i'll try to remember always just to have a good time try to show me that you know me do you know what gone is really winning is what you want to winning but you're scared to go forth you try to remember always always to have a good time good time (x9) try and have a softer inside shut up boy and be a soldier goodness is having courage courage to do what's right try to remember always just to have a good time winning is what you want to winning but you're scared to go forth try to remember always always to have a good time good time
"ill need because i'm new to it"
this is so much like the animal collective that i love, and also quite distinct i think
so far it looks like person pitch is going to be an absolutely amazing album