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."
From one moment to the next
Reading in the papers to know what's best
Sometimes you don't know yourself
Eating lots of vitamins for your health
From one moment to the next
Red negativity in the street
Maybe it's the dirt, maybe it's the heat
A baby on the bus might have needs so easy
Now I think it's alright we're together
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's the best you've ever played it
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's alright to feel inhuman
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's alright to sing together
Now I think that's alright yeah
A running child's bloody with burning knees
A kid that stabs mommy flew in the trees
A camping child's happy with winter's freeze
A lucky child don't know how lucky she is
From one moment to the next
A thousand wasted bookmarkers all depressed
The ins and outs of something's chest
He'll only be a friend if he touches your breast
From one moment to the next
Shifting in the plates of what you ingest
From sugar teas to honey best
Bulimic vegetarian wins a contest
Now I think it's alright we're together
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's the best we've ever played it
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's alright to feel inhuman
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's alright to sing together
Now I think that's alright yeah
A running child's bloody with burning knees
A kid that stabs mommy flew in the trees
A camping child's happy with winter's freeze
A lucky child don't know how lucky he is
For Reverend Green
Reading in the papers to know what's best
Sometimes you don't know yourself
Eating lots of vitamins for your health
From one moment to the next
Red negativity in the street
Maybe it's the dirt, maybe it's the heat
A baby on the bus might have needs so easy
Now I think it's alright we're together
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's the best you've ever played it
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's alright to feel inhuman
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's alright to sing together
Now I think that's alright yeah
A running child's bloody with burning knees
A kid that stabs mommy flew in the trees
A camping child's happy with winter's freeze
A lucky child don't know how lucky she is
From one moment to the next
A thousand wasted bookmarkers all depressed
The ins and outs of something's chest
He'll only be a friend if he touches your breast
From one moment to the next
Shifting in the plates of what you ingest
From sugar teas to honey best
Bulimic vegetarian wins a contest
Now I think it's alright we're together
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's the best we've ever played it
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's alright to feel inhuman
Now I think that's alright yeah
Now I think it's alright to sing together
Now I think that's alright yeah
A running child's bloody with burning knees
A kid that stabs mommy flew in the trees
A camping child's happy with winter's freeze
A lucky child don't know how lucky he is
For Reverend Green
Lyrics submitted by Jack_Strife, edited by trystt, Smxxch, Mellow_Harsher
For Reverend Green Lyrics as written by David Michael Portner Brian Ross Weitz
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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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.
No Surprises
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Blue
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“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.
American Town
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the line is "a thousand wasted brooklyners all depressed". animal collective is from brooklyn but recently relocated to their original home of baltimore. thus, there are a number anti-NYC lines on this record.