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."
Honestly, I hope we all survive
I hope we all make it alive and I swear that I'm never coming back here
And I know that one day will be brighter
And I know that one day will be fine
Promise me, that you will try to survive
That you will make it alive
When I leave I know I'm never coming back here
And I know that one day will be brighter
The clouds will part and one day will be fine
And I know one day I'll see sunshine
Better off dead
She told me I'd be better off dead
She swore that I'd be better off dead
She screamed that I'd be better off, dead and buried
Held breath but it never got better
Hoped best, but I never did try
Pray for me, pray that I'll make it alive
Pray that I'll even survive
Ask your god what's the chance of getting out of here
And I know that one day will be brighter
And I know that one day will be fine
Constantly, I can't believe I'm alive
I can't believe I survived
I left running and I'm never coming back here
And I know that one day will be brighter
The clouds will part and one day will be fine
And I know that one day I'll see sunshine
Better off dead
She told me I'd be better off dead
She swore that I'd be better off dead
She screamed that I'd be better off, dead and buried
Held breath but it never got better
Just left at the very first sign
Held breath but it never got better
Never spoke just kept it inside
Held breath but it never got better
Hoped best but I never did try
Honestly, I hope we all survive
I hope we all make it alive
And I know that one day will be brighter
And I know that one day will be fine
And I know that one day will be brighter
And I know that one day will be fine
I hope we all make it alive and I swear that I'm never coming back here
And I know that one day will be brighter
And I know that one day will be fine
Promise me, that you will try to survive
That you will make it alive
When I leave I know I'm never coming back here
And I know that one day will be brighter
The clouds will part and one day will be fine
And I know one day I'll see sunshine
Better off dead
She told me I'd be better off dead
She swore that I'd be better off dead
She screamed that I'd be better off, dead and buried
Held breath but it never got better
Hoped best, but I never did try
Pray for me, pray that I'll make it alive
Pray that I'll even survive
Ask your god what's the chance of getting out of here
And I know that one day will be brighter
And I know that one day will be fine
Constantly, I can't believe I'm alive
I can't believe I survived
I left running and I'm never coming back here
And I know that one day will be brighter
The clouds will part and one day will be fine
And I know that one day I'll see sunshine
Better off dead
She told me I'd be better off dead
She swore that I'd be better off dead
She screamed that I'd be better off, dead and buried
Held breath but it never got better
Just left at the very first sign
Held breath but it never got better
Never spoke just kept it inside
Held breath but it never got better
Hoped best but I never did try
Honestly, I hope we all survive
I hope we all make it alive
And I know that one day will be brighter
And I know that one day will be fine
And I know that one day will be brighter
And I know that one day will be fine
Lyrics submitted by PlasticViolence
Zed's Dead, Baby Lyrics as written by Michael Darrin Peters Liam Joseph Cormier
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
hmm.. since no one's posted anything i guess i'll try keep in mind it's my first comment here :)
it could be about some people in high school that are having a really hard time, probably from being picked on or bullied (high school can be really rough as we all know) and this person's just telling himself that one day it'll be better and that once he's out of that hell he's never coming back to it. but i don't know where this part comes in... "Better off dead She told me I'd be better off dead She swore that I'd be better off dead She screamed that I'd be better off, dead and buried" .. maybe some chick telling the person that he's a loser and that he'd be better off dead?
any one else?