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."
attempt #1
Dad:
Maybe I'll just say how it began
In the quiet of night, when the clouds ceased to rain
A baby was born in the infirmary
Its very existence was something that wasn't meant to be
Maybe his mother already knew
The doctors have told her that he won't pull through
She hoped they were wrong but felt it was true
Kids:
(That sounds like fun!)
Dad:
Maybe I'll try a different one
(It�s not)
Going anywhere
(It�s not)
Going anywhere
Let me start again
(let's start)
Let me start again
Let me...
Don't be afraid
Don't get angry
The story is there but it's still unclear
Where would it go?
Don't let it get you down
It's all in my mind you'll see
Don't be afraid
Don't get angry
The story is there in my head, I'll try this instead! Let's see....
attempt #2
Long ago but not far away from here
A sick old man lay down on his death bed
Mumbling words that seem to make no sense
"I promised them that I'll try to open the door! Bring them back and change their faith!"
Weeks has passed and death knocked upon his door
"I'm not here" he said, trying to sound credible
Death:
"I was sent to take you many years ago"
Old Man:
"you didn't take me then and you can't take me now"
Death:
"that mistake I'll rectify"
freeze time no one can stop destiny
hold your breath lad I'll make sure you'll go through what was meant to be
freeze time no one can stop destiny
grab a sit now you're about to witness something that you have never seen in all (of) your life
Dad:
Maybe I'll pick up where we've left
A little boy became a man
Cheating faith and destiny
It's not the way it was meant to be
attempt #3
Stand up, the child that cheated destiny
You were not suppose to be in here (yeah)
But it's not, not your fault
Real
The path you tread is not paved yet
Think how limitless it just could be
And don't be scared of it all
Stand up, the child that cheated destiny
You can stop so many things from happening
Can create and destroy
Real
The path your tread is not paved yet
He doesn't know of your existence
Does not see what you do
Help us all open the door
You're the one we've been waiting for
Help us all escape from these walls
Help us see the light of day
All of the souls that are lost
All the souls he had forgotten
Wait for you to open the doors
Dad:
Maybe I'll just stop it here
Let you both sleep while I wonder
What ever happened to him?
And to all the promises he made to them
Did he send them all free?
Dad:
Maybe I'll just say how it began
In the quiet of night, when the clouds ceased to rain
A baby was born in the infirmary
Its very existence was something that wasn't meant to be
Maybe his mother already knew
The doctors have told her that he won't pull through
She hoped they were wrong but felt it was true
Kids:
(That sounds like fun!)
Dad:
Maybe I'll try a different one
(It�s not)
Going anywhere
(It�s not)
Going anywhere
Let me start again
(let's start)
Let me start again
Let me...
Don't be afraid
Don't get angry
The story is there but it's still unclear
Where would it go?
Don't let it get you down
It's all in my mind you'll see
Don't be afraid
Don't get angry
The story is there in my head, I'll try this instead! Let's see....
attempt #2
Long ago but not far away from here
A sick old man lay down on his death bed
Mumbling words that seem to make no sense
"I promised them that I'll try to open the door! Bring them back and change their faith!"
Weeks has passed and death knocked upon his door
"I'm not here" he said, trying to sound credible
Death:
"I was sent to take you many years ago"
Old Man:
"you didn't take me then and you can't take me now"
Death:
"that mistake I'll rectify"
freeze time no one can stop destiny
hold your breath lad I'll make sure you'll go through what was meant to be
freeze time no one can stop destiny
grab a sit now you're about to witness something that you have never seen in all (of) your life
Dad:
Maybe I'll pick up where we've left
A little boy became a man
Cheating faith and destiny
It's not the way it was meant to be
attempt #3
Stand up, the child that cheated destiny
You were not suppose to be in here (yeah)
But it's not, not your fault
Real
The path you tread is not paved yet
Think how limitless it just could be
And don't be scared of it all
Stand up, the child that cheated destiny
You can stop so many things from happening
Can create and destroy
Real
The path your tread is not paved yet
He doesn't know of your existence
Does not see what you do
Help us all open the door
You're the one we've been waiting for
Help us all escape from these walls
Help us see the light of day
All of the souls that are lost
All the souls he had forgotten
Wait for you to open the doors
Dad:
Maybe I'll just stop it here
Let you both sleep while I wonder
What ever happened to him?
And to all the promises he made to them
Did he send them all free?
Lyrics submitted by godscoward
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
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.
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.
Sleep tight, the child who cheated destiny...