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 to make it last
Nothing you can do
In a photograph
The innocence you thought you lost
Is staring back at you
CHORUS
Young hearts beat fast
Driving down the road
Rubber, plastic, metal, glass
Why did you have to go?
Young hearts die young
When they're all alone
And there's no turning back now
There's no turning back
There's no turning back
Knowing where you're bound
It's coming into view
Then you turn around
The innocence you thought you lost
Is coming back to now
CHORUS [x2]
Time enough to live
Never time to die
All you had to give
Taken by the one you loved
And geared into a lie
CHORUS [x3]
Nothing you can do
In a photograph
The innocence you thought you lost
Is staring back at you
CHORUS
Young hearts beat fast
Driving down the road
Rubber, plastic, metal, glass
Why did you have to go?
Young hearts die young
When they're all alone
And there's no turning back now
There's no turning back
There's no turning back
Knowing where you're bound
It's coming into view
Then you turn around
The innocence you thought you lost
Is coming back to now
CHORUS [x2]
Time enough to live
Never time to die
All you had to give
Taken by the one you loved
And geared into a lie
CHORUS [x3]
Lyrics submitted by Major Valor
Young Hearts Lyrics as written by David Merenda
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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No Surprises
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Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
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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.
It's about a guy who commits suicide after an argument with his partner!
It sounds to me like, and by the way I love this song, maybe a young guy or a girl...probably a guy has had a fight with his partner and has sped off in a car in anger...but he's lost control, crashed and killed himself.
That's not exactly it, but it's somehting like that
I agree that this is a great 80's song. Although, I think the meaning is more figurative than literal. It keeps on repeating the idea of lost innocence, first trying to lose it and unable to, later losing it and not being able to get it back. <br /> <br /> I think hearts beating fast can refer to many of the thrills of youth (i.e. driving), but particularly when they're about to have sex, thus symbolizing the death of the young heart. <br /> <br /> Sounds like there is also a break-up from the "why'd you have to go?" And then referring back to the lost innocence with "All you had to give, Taken by the one you loved and given to a lie." Makes it sound like it's about a young girl that got used for sex.
i agree moe. it seems to be more about a sudden loss of innocence rather than a song about a car accident. still a great song; one of my absolute favorites from the 80s, and easily the best off the karate kid soundtrack.
Karate Kid represent!
the last part is "given to a lie - Why?" - not wahaha
great movie with great songs with great lyrics.
"In photograph - the innocence you thought you lost is starring back at you"- that's just stunning.