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."
Bottle of wine, and an old 45, rifle in the corner that her grandfather left her when he died,
Said no surprise,
I've had to use it quite a few times,
So Jay, don't you ever let us down,
Don't you ever,
I'll have to shoot you and no one will hear a sound
Bruised and bloody, I'm lying on the ground,
And I am aware that I let the poor girl down,
Now I'm dying, as a message to the town,
This what happens, if you fuck around,
So meddle if you want trouble, trouble then you should meddle,
But don't ever meddle with Emily's heart
She said, get your coat, come on,
To the dog track with the money right,
Yeah we had some fun,
Left with more 'cause we won,
I was under investigation on suspicion of doing her wrong,
She said,
You've become a villain, accused of a hit and run,
Said, she hit me first, and I, say it's the worst that I ever felt,
In a broken heart.
Bloodstains on her shirt crease and, hope she pays the dues,
When I left she said, that your last breath will be down by the station at 2,
Swear she shot me down.
Bruised and bloody, I'm lying on the ground,
And I am aware that I let the poor girl down,
Now I'm dying, as a message to the town,
This what happens, if you fuck around,
So whenever, you want trouble, trouble then you should meddle,
But don't ever meddle with Emily's heart
She said I'm a user, and she's a loser with a gun,
I said if you choose to it becomes hard to include anyone,
So if you stay, put it away, or should I run?
She said I think you know the answer to your question,
So for the smiles, and all of the miles that the engine's done,
The further I drive away the closer we become,
So if I stay, would you put it away, and forgive this one son?
She said Jay I think you know the answer to your question
Bruised and bloody, I'm lying on the ground,
And I am aware that I let the poor girl down,
Now I'm dying, as a message to the town,
This what happens, if you fuck around,
So meddle if you want trouble, trouble then you should meddle,
But don't ever meddle with Emily's heart
Said no surprise,
I've had to use it quite a few times,
So Jay, don't you ever let us down,
Don't you ever,
I'll have to shoot you and no one will hear a sound
Bruised and bloody, I'm lying on the ground,
And I am aware that I let the poor girl down,
Now I'm dying, as a message to the town,
This what happens, if you fuck around,
So meddle if you want trouble, trouble then you should meddle,
But don't ever meddle with Emily's heart
She said, get your coat, come on,
To the dog track with the money right,
Yeah we had some fun,
Left with more 'cause we won,
I was under investigation on suspicion of doing her wrong,
She said,
You've become a villain, accused of a hit and run,
Said, she hit me first, and I, say it's the worst that I ever felt,
In a broken heart.
Bloodstains on her shirt crease and, hope she pays the dues,
When I left she said, that your last breath will be down by the station at 2,
Swear she shot me down.
Bruised and bloody, I'm lying on the ground,
And I am aware that I let the poor girl down,
Now I'm dying, as a message to the town,
This what happens, if you fuck around,
So whenever, you want trouble, trouble then you should meddle,
But don't ever meddle with Emily's heart
She said I'm a user, and she's a loser with a gun,
I said if you choose to it becomes hard to include anyone,
So if you stay, put it away, or should I run?
She said I think you know the answer to your question,
So for the smiles, and all of the miles that the engine's done,
The further I drive away the closer we become,
So if I stay, would you put it away, and forgive this one son?
She said Jay I think you know the answer to your question
Bruised and bloody, I'm lying on the ground,
And I am aware that I let the poor girl down,
Now I'm dying, as a message to the town,
This what happens, if you fuck around,
So meddle if you want trouble, trouble then you should meddle,
But don't ever meddle with Emily's heart
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Mountain Song
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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.
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I love this song.
It's really pretty but then it's about him being shot by his girlfriend because he cheated on her. I think.
Pirate, its not about being physically shot.Its more about that feeling when you know you've been caught out and your entire life seems to have been shot apart. Brilliant song, and for me perfect timing.
I love this song, Jamie T's music is so beautiful when he goes acoustic.
I agree with cadauk, its a metaphor for what happens when you mess up in a relationship. Very appropriate for me at the moment, especially the line "now im dying as a message to the town". You get vilified sometimes by everyone around you for personal things.
I love, love, LOVE this song. Acoustic Jamie T is brilliamt
Jamie is talking about a relationship he had. He didn't realise how much he wanted her or valued her and thus treated her badly. By the time he realised how important she was it was too late.
Ultimately she ends it.
"she said i'm a user and she's a loser with a gun i said if you choose to it becomes hard to include anyone so if you stay put it away or should i run? she said i think you know the answer to your question"
She is saying she has accepted being used for too long (a loser) but now she has the power (the gun) in that she wants to end the relationship and he doesnt. Jamie says should i stay and fight for the relationship but she says it is too late.
Always makes me feel very sad, not sure why as i have never been in this position. Beautiful song, probably my fave Jamie T track.