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."
Your great-grandfather was a great lawyer
And his kid made a mint off the war
Your father shot stills and then directed films
That your mom did publicity for
I saw your older sis on the year's best book list
And your brother, he manages bands
And you're keen to downplay
But you're quick to betray
With one well turned out wave of your hand
You come from wealth,
Yeah, you've got wealth
What a bitch they didn't give you much else
I heard Cuss by The Kinks on your speakers
I saw Poe and Artau? on your shelves
While The Last Laugh's first scene
On your flat panel screen
Lit Chanel that you've wrapped around yourself
You've got outsider art by an artist who arguably kidnapped a kid on your wall
While your designers have slyly
Directed the eye down clean lines in your well-lit hall
You've got taste, you've got taste
What a waste that that's all that you have
You wrote your thesis on the Gospel of Thomas
You shot some reversal film in Angkor Wat
And this book you once read
Says there's less people dead
At this point now than those who are not
And this film we once saw was reviled for its flaws
But its flaws were what made us have fun
And the life some folks had might have made us feel bad
Why feel bad man, it's nothing that you've done
It's all in your hand, it's all in your hand
Like a gun, like a globe, like a grand
And this thing you once said disappeared from my head
In the time that it took to be amazed
And this thing you once did might have dazzled the kids
But the kids once grown up are gonna walk away
And your world is gonna change nothing
And our world is gonna change nothing
And his kid made a mint off the war
Your father shot stills and then directed films
That your mom did publicity for
I saw your older sis on the year's best book list
And your brother, he manages bands
And you're keen to downplay
But you're quick to betray
With one well turned out wave of your hand
You come from wealth,
Yeah, you've got wealth
What a bitch they didn't give you much else
I heard Cuss by The Kinks on your speakers
I saw Poe and Artau? on your shelves
While The Last Laugh's first scene
On your flat panel screen
Lit Chanel that you've wrapped around yourself
You've got outsider art by an artist who arguably kidnapped a kid on your wall
While your designers have slyly
Directed the eye down clean lines in your well-lit hall
You've got taste, you've got taste
What a waste that that's all that you have
You wrote your thesis on the Gospel of Thomas
You shot some reversal film in Angkor Wat
And this book you once read
Says there's less people dead
At this point now than those who are not
And this film we once saw was reviled for its flaws
But its flaws were what made us have fun
And the life some folks had might have made us feel bad
Why feel bad man, it's nothing that you've done
It's all in your hand, it's all in your hand
Like a gun, like a globe, like a grand
And this thing you once said disappeared from my head
In the time that it took to be amazed
And this thing you once did might have dazzled the kids
But the kids once grown up are gonna walk away
And your world is gonna change nothing
And our world is gonna change nothing
Lyrics submitted by smileforthecamera, edited by stormville
Singer Songwriter Lyrics as written by Will Robinson Sheff
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
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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.
Amazing
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
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.
I believe this song is about being from a very wealthy family and being able to have that lifestyle from connections and the family name. The beginning seems pretty straight forward.
"I heard cuss by The Kinks on your speakers, I saw Poe and Artaud on your shelves. While The Last Laugh's first scene on your flat panel screen lit Chanel that you've wrapped around yourself. You've got outsider art by an artist who arguably kidnapped a kid on your wall"
This part ties back in to to their cd Black Sheep Boy and being the black sheep of the family. They have the knowledge of a more artistic pretentious society but they really are hiding in their room with their more outcast rebellious music and thoughts. They don't want to be a part of that world because they view it as being a bad world as opposed to how most people view it as good and something most people would envy.
while your designers have slyly directed the eye down clean lines in your well-lit hall. "
Designers shows that he is once again referring to the wealthy yet surrounding yourself with these designer things makes people view your life in a good light. It lets others know that you have money and when people see that they typically only see one side of money. They see fame and fortune and a life worth being envious of. It is a clean line because it is only one side of the lifestyle and a glowing hall gives the feeling of a good lifestyle. It's in the hall because secretly in his bedroom he is living a different lifestyle.
"And this film we once saw was reviled for its flaws, but its flaws were what made us have fun. And the life some folks had might have made us feel bad, why feel bad man, it's nothing that you've done. It's all in your hand, it's all in your hand, like a gun, like a globe, like a grand. "
People are very quick to point out flaws in the wealthy and famous..but once you have everything you want, what is there to work for? You turn to drugs and parties and people see all of these flaws and they are well publicized. However, that is what they are doing for their fun because they already have everything else. Children also can typically feel guilt through this lifestyle if their friends are not as fortunate because people tend to be jealous or constantly talk about how things are easier for the wealthy....people would kill for money, its all about greed...and the dirtier side of wealth that is hidden from the public. He is trying to go a different path than that of his family because he doesn't want that lifestyle.
why do you keep saying 'he'? is it because you are assuming that will wrote this song about himself? if so, you're missing the obvious. he's singing about the family of a girl he knows, and about her and what growing up in wealth has done to her. if nothing else, the line about 'chanel that you've wrapped around yourself' should make it obvious.. i mean, have you ever met a guy who wore chanel?