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."
Thats right, yo, feel the music
So here we go again
keepin it movin provin my point
Ive got to make it happen slick with the patterns and flows
No matter what they're sayin or playing on radio
my name is here to stay leading the way like matching dominoes
Keeps me on my toes
rather be feeling than killing the soul off
I'm willing, not old enough to fold it up
hold it up to the top of the tip top
cream of the crop
beaming it up steaming it up
free it up for the talented ones
struggling hustling with lower funds
some even resorting to guns.
For my people overseas, my people at home
In the AUS no time for second guessing or playing it too safe in this here place
Take a risk open up your mind don't stagnate
Cause some of them that they rate don't sound that great
kinda hard to tolerate when they don't appreciate
good talent
Chorus
All you've got to do is
just feel the music
you know you cant refuse it
you've got to choose it
All you've got to do is..
just feel the music
You know when to use it..
come on just abuse it
Okay okay excuse me excuse me big fella coming through
People await for the great bull at the gate, kicking back dirt steaming the nose pulling a face, the music monster constantly stomping beats, like Ez's two feet on them Compton streets. Or like Big L's on the corner of Harlem man, my two feet creep like the borders of parliament, my new weapon of choice is a molotov, kept in the boys backpack so you got no knowledgeof.. it, torn cloth or a lit, as soon as it gets lit its like 'oh shit!'
Clear the streets the schools and the markets
empty your mouth quickly like a mini bar fridge
Any artist can be targets
the bigger you think you are the bigger the sky gets lord...
you cant afford to ease off
you need to be feeling this music like you're feeling these... nuts
Chorus
All you've got to do is
just feel the music
you know you cant refuse it
you've got to choose it
All you've got to do is..
just feel the music
You know when to use it..
come on just abuse it
Yungun yo listen
Now I don't carry guns but i stick to them
I'm trying to step out of the bounds that I live in
and reach out to the millions and thousands of citizens
across the word but there's barriers and I'm sick of them
Same songs but different people singing them
Alot of minions just taking what they're given and
eat whatever's on the plates that are dishen them
as long as they're served up with faces that fit with them
90% will stay in ambivalence
what about the 10% that remain well less interested
Half will judge you before they've even listened
and you know what they say about arseholes and opinions
whats that?
Alot of the former got the latter
me I don't follow the format of a rapper
But forget the image and the place that I live in
and listen to the music cause that all that really matters
Chorus
All you've got to do is
just feel the music
you know you cant refuse it
you've got to choose it
All you've got to do is..
just feel the music
You know when to use it..
come on just abuse it
So here we go again
keepin it movin provin my point
Ive got to make it happen slick with the patterns and flows
No matter what they're sayin or playing on radio
my name is here to stay leading the way like matching dominoes
Keeps me on my toes
rather be feeling than killing the soul off
I'm willing, not old enough to fold it up
hold it up to the top of the tip top
cream of the crop
beaming it up steaming it up
free it up for the talented ones
struggling hustling with lower funds
some even resorting to guns.
For my people overseas, my people at home
In the AUS no time for second guessing or playing it too safe in this here place
Take a risk open up your mind don't stagnate
Cause some of them that they rate don't sound that great
kinda hard to tolerate when they don't appreciate
good talent
Chorus
All you've got to do is
just feel the music
you know you cant refuse it
you've got to choose it
All you've got to do is..
just feel the music
You know when to use it..
come on just abuse it
Okay okay excuse me excuse me big fella coming through
People await for the great bull at the gate, kicking back dirt steaming the nose pulling a face, the music monster constantly stomping beats, like Ez's two feet on them Compton streets. Or like Big L's on the corner of Harlem man, my two feet creep like the borders of parliament, my new weapon of choice is a molotov, kept in the boys backpack so you got no knowledgeof.. it, torn cloth or a lit, as soon as it gets lit its like 'oh shit!'
Clear the streets the schools and the markets
empty your mouth quickly like a mini bar fridge
Any artist can be targets
the bigger you think you are the bigger the sky gets lord...
you cant afford to ease off
you need to be feeling this music like you're feeling these... nuts
Chorus
All you've got to do is
just feel the music
you know you cant refuse it
you've got to choose it
All you've got to do is..
just feel the music
You know when to use it..
come on just abuse it
Yungun yo listen
Now I don't carry guns but i stick to them
I'm trying to step out of the bounds that I live in
and reach out to the millions and thousands of citizens
across the word but there's barriers and I'm sick of them
Same songs but different people singing them
Alot of minions just taking what they're given and
eat whatever's on the plates that are dishen them
as long as they're served up with faces that fit with them
90% will stay in ambivalence
what about the 10% that remain well less interested
Half will judge you before they've even listened
and you know what they say about arseholes and opinions
whats that?
Alot of the former got the latter
me I don't follow the format of a rapper
But forget the image and the place that I live in
and listen to the music cause that all that really matters
Chorus
All you've got to do is
just feel the music
you know you cant refuse it
you've got to choose it
All you've got to do is..
just feel the music
You know when to use it..
come on just abuse it
Lyrics submitted by Matty
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
some sweet rhymes here, first half of the first verse is awesome.