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."
(Too bad for me, women weren't made to share)
whisper: what you do, do for love
chorus:
(background vocals)
They say you look with your eyes, not with your hands,
I might be wrong but I?m not blind, and I know what I like.
Something tells me I?m not the only guy.
I ain't really tryin ta fuck you miss is just that Tiff's got them lips and I love the tits.
And the jeans hug her hips as if nothing fits
the custom is you can look but never touch the chick
If you were really my best friend then we'd still be brothers
I'd wouldn't do you so dirty we'd have to kill eachother
You know I'd never cross the line and try ta steal ya lover
from the covers like what yours is mine!
Verse 1:
They say the day you stop looking you stop living
Its like I owe the life I got cookin' to hot women
If God put em here it's got to be plot driven
To keep us watching 'em cause we need it like oxygen
And I'm not even shoplifting, I'm browsing at your spouse
In that blouse & that chick is arousing
I even gotta stick to the couch when she's jiggling around
because my brown friend is pitching a clown tent
There she goes she's my best friend's girl
I would swear she don't sweat this repressed man's world
She's got a natural beauty and sex appeal
But when I get to steal a peek it's like you threw a
protective shield.
You shouldn't let me feel guilty or too ashamed
The truth can get concealed in all of these stupid games
You're wondering who to blame, pointing at Lou again
and never bothered to view the plain fact that you
do the same.
Staring at my cutie's frame you like to see
My newest flame bending over in her tightest jeans
I see no difference in the lives we lead
So let's just say I'll keep my distance,
You just keep on looking right for me.
[HOOK]
Sister is heat like a .45 with chrome finish
I'm here kissing her cheeklike I don't know
my own business.
I wish it were me stripped in the sheets with Jessie's girl
There's other fish in the sea
if I could keep this net un-twirled
But sexy girls can really ruin your judgement
Who put a grudge in between you and your husband
With all my foolish assumptions and testing the bounds
My best friend got the impression we were messing around
Now I'm left with a frown like some desolate clown
As if you never went down the aisle with her
dressed in a gown
Or I never caught you staring with regret when you're found
lost and glaring at my girlfriend's chest when it bounce
Come on, you really think you're any different from me?
Life isn't complete without those innocent peeks
Your wife isn't a freak, she likes it when we see
She's quite pretty indeed in nicely fitted jeans
I mean it just seems you aren't made with common sense
I didn't dis your queen, to her it's great for confidence
You shouldn't grit your teeth,
curse & say I'm not your friend
cause I'll never quit your team
just learn to take a compliment brotha!
[HOOK]
No hard feelings, my broke hearts healing.
[LL] Come on, you always said that we could trust eachother
The way we're fighting now we really must be brothers.
We're both caught stealing, she's so appealing
This chick would really have to be one sweet lover
That we'd actually punch eachother
And now we can't go to the beach or the swimming pool.
No cutting in to dance, close to the beat
We got different rules
You're watching me as though I'd cheat which isn't cool
And I'm feeling like two kids in school
Come on, let's put the fire out
cause we need the time out. Shit, come on.
Too bad for me (for me)
women were't made to share....
(still waters run deep...)
whisper: what you do, do for love
chorus:
(background vocals)
They say you look with your eyes, not with your hands,
I might be wrong but I?m not blind, and I know what I like.
Something tells me I?m not the only guy.
I ain't really tryin ta fuck you miss is just that Tiff's got them lips and I love the tits.
And the jeans hug her hips as if nothing fits
the custom is you can look but never touch the chick
If you were really my best friend then we'd still be brothers
I'd wouldn't do you so dirty we'd have to kill eachother
You know I'd never cross the line and try ta steal ya lover
from the covers like what yours is mine!
Verse 1:
They say the day you stop looking you stop living
Its like I owe the life I got cookin' to hot women
If God put em here it's got to be plot driven
To keep us watching 'em cause we need it like oxygen
And I'm not even shoplifting, I'm browsing at your spouse
In that blouse & that chick is arousing
I even gotta stick to the couch when she's jiggling around
because my brown friend is pitching a clown tent
There she goes she's my best friend's girl
I would swear she don't sweat this repressed man's world
She's got a natural beauty and sex appeal
But when I get to steal a peek it's like you threw a
protective shield.
You shouldn't let me feel guilty or too ashamed
The truth can get concealed in all of these stupid games
You're wondering who to blame, pointing at Lou again
and never bothered to view the plain fact that you
do the same.
Staring at my cutie's frame you like to see
My newest flame bending over in her tightest jeans
I see no difference in the lives we lead
So let's just say I'll keep my distance,
You just keep on looking right for me.
[HOOK]
Sister is heat like a .45 with chrome finish
I'm here kissing her cheeklike I don't know
my own business.
I wish it were me stripped in the sheets with Jessie's girl
There's other fish in the sea
if I could keep this net un-twirled
But sexy girls can really ruin your judgement
Who put a grudge in between you and your husband
With all my foolish assumptions and testing the bounds
My best friend got the impression we were messing around
Now I'm left with a frown like some desolate clown
As if you never went down the aisle with her
dressed in a gown
Or I never caught you staring with regret when you're found
lost and glaring at my girlfriend's chest when it bounce
Come on, you really think you're any different from me?
Life isn't complete without those innocent peeks
Your wife isn't a freak, she likes it when we see
She's quite pretty indeed in nicely fitted jeans
I mean it just seems you aren't made with common sense
I didn't dis your queen, to her it's great for confidence
You shouldn't grit your teeth,
curse & say I'm not your friend
cause I'll never quit your team
just learn to take a compliment brotha!
[HOOK]
No hard feelings, my broke hearts healing.
[LL] Come on, you always said that we could trust eachother
The way we're fighting now we really must be brothers.
We're both caught stealing, she's so appealing
This chick would really have to be one sweet lover
That we'd actually punch eachother
And now we can't go to the beach or the swimming pool.
No cutting in to dance, close to the beat
We got different rules
You're watching me as though I'd cheat which isn't cool
And I'm feeling like two kids in school
Come on, let's put the fire out
cause we need the time out. Shit, come on.
Too bad for me (for me)
women were't made to share....
(still waters run deep...)
Lyrics submitted by convince
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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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
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.