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."
A good impression
Of myself
Not much to conceal
I'm saying nothing
But I'm saying
Nothing with feel
I simply am not here
No way, I
Shut up, be happy
Stop whining please
Because of who we are
We react in mock surprise
The curse of "there must be more"
So don't breathe here
Don't leave your bags
I simply am not here
No way, I
Shut up, be happy
Stop whining please
The dust in my soul
Makes me feel the weight in my legs
My head in the clouds
And I'm zoning out
I'm watching TV
But I find it hard to stay conscious
I'm totally bored
But I can't switch off
Only apathy from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Electricity from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Only MTV, cod philosophy
We're lost in the mall
Shuffling through the stores like zombies
What is the point?
What can money buy?
My hand's on a gun
And I find the range, God, tempts me
What did you say?
Think I'm passing out
Only apathy from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Electricity from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Only MTV, cod philosophy
Only apathy from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Electricity from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Only MTV, cod philosophy
Water so warm that day (water so warm that day)
I counted out the waves (I counted out the waves)
As they broke into surf (as they broke into surf)
I smiled into the sun
The water so warm that day
I was counting out the waves
And I followed their short life
As they broke on the shoreline
I could see you
But I couldn't hear you
You were holding your hat in the breeze
Turning away from me
In this moment
You were stolen
And there's black across the sun
Water so warm that day (water so warm that day)
I counted out the waves (I counted out the waves)
As they broke into surf (as they broke into surf)
I smiled into the sun
Of myself
Not much to conceal
I'm saying nothing
But I'm saying
Nothing with feel
I simply am not here
No way, I
Shut up, be happy
Stop whining please
Because of who we are
We react in mock surprise
The curse of "there must be more"
So don't breathe here
Don't leave your bags
I simply am not here
No way, I
Shut up, be happy
Stop whining please
The dust in my soul
Makes me feel the weight in my legs
My head in the clouds
And I'm zoning out
I'm watching TV
But I find it hard to stay conscious
I'm totally bored
But I can't switch off
Only apathy from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Electricity from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Only MTV, cod philosophy
We're lost in the mall
Shuffling through the stores like zombies
What is the point?
What can money buy?
My hand's on a gun
And I find the range, God, tempts me
What did you say?
Think I'm passing out
Only apathy from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Electricity from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Only MTV, cod philosophy
Only apathy from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Electricity from the pills in me
It's all in me, all in you
Only MTV, cod philosophy
Water so warm that day (water so warm that day)
I counted out the waves (I counted out the waves)
As they broke into surf (as they broke into surf)
I smiled into the sun
The water so warm that day
I was counting out the waves
And I followed their short life
As they broke on the shoreline
I could see you
But I couldn't hear you
You were holding your hat in the breeze
Turning away from me
In this moment
You were stolen
And there's black across the sun
Water so warm that day (water so warm that day)
I counted out the waves (I counted out the waves)
As they broke into surf (as they broke into surf)
I smiled into the sun
Lyrics submitted by rocinante79, edited by misteree, Shirudo, Octavarium64, smoledman, CharMarRules, spacedye, cherrytcbp, Ravenh, ElBastard, Xlerb
Anesthetize Lyrics as written by Steven John Wilson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music 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."
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/
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.
weird, last third of the song painted the most vivid picture for me. the line "I could see you, but I couldn't hear you" always suggested to me like it's almost as if our kid the protagonist has died and his spirit or ghost is still connected to this world somehow with unfinished business of some sort, presumably with his childhood love most likely. and the bit about how warm the water felt would be so much more poignant from the POV of a ghost, but anyway that's just the image I always get in my head listening to the ending, which IMO is one of the best outros SW has ever written.
@headphonedust I agree about the imagery, but when I 'feel' those words, I get the sense that her 'death' is one as the result of him not being able to understand and reciprocate love for her in a way he wished he could now. "I can see you." (in memory) - 'but I couldn't hear you' (Communication fail). Gavin laughed when I asked about the meaning to something once in Seattle. 'It's up to you', he said.