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."
Standing on the edge of the cliff, I start to slip.
Don't mind if I slide off.
Now I feel my mood start to lift,
I find my grip and the screaming fades away below.
I grab myself and spin me around I start to sprint.
I climb down to steadier ground.
If I can bushwhack it on back to the shack
Behind those hills I'll find the world is finally still.
Run through pale dark woods to that Sugar Shack
Breathe warm steam and hide in that old Sugar Shack.
Boiling heat, maple steam frozen snow then it flows.
When you leave, maple trees wait till spring to go again.
A mosaic of lies I tried to arrange in ways that shelter the blame.
I though I might have made off clear with all of the loot.
I plucked and ate all the fruit.
Then I started hearing the yells
And shattering plates drowned out by your slithering stares.
I was followed and chased and caught
And tied up by the hay right until I made my escape.
Run through pale dark woods to that Sugar Shack
Breathe warm steam and hide in that old Sugar Shack.
Don't mind if I slide off.
Now I feel my mood start to lift,
I find my grip and the screaming fades away below.
I grab myself and spin me around I start to sprint.
I climb down to steadier ground.
If I can bushwhack it on back to the shack
Behind those hills I'll find the world is finally still.
Run through pale dark woods to that Sugar Shack
Breathe warm steam and hide in that old Sugar Shack.
Boiling heat, maple steam frozen snow then it flows.
When you leave, maple trees wait till spring to go again.
A mosaic of lies I tried to arrange in ways that shelter the blame.
I though I might have made off clear with all of the loot.
I plucked and ate all the fruit.
Then I started hearing the yells
And shattering plates drowned out by your slithering stares.
I was followed and chased and caught
And tied up by the hay right until I made my escape.
Run through pale dark woods to that Sugar Shack
Breathe warm steam and hide in that old Sugar Shack.
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Survivor? You must be smoking some primo dank. Or not enough.
I think this song is simply a metaphor for triumph in overcoming adversity.
yeah phish definitely wrote a song about survivor. Good call.
survivor effing rules, and you know it. and apparently, so does Mike.
Survivor is awesome. I think this song is about a guy who fades into day dreams or a happy place to temporarily escape an abusive relationship. Of course it could just be about a guy getting caught stealing maple syrop... Only Mike really knows.
Kind of hard for them to write a song about Sugar from Survivor when this was written many years before she was on the show.
Uhh...we need to have a talk. You’ve been spending way too much, all your time at the Sugar Shack. You try to avoid the question but your behavior is negatively effecting the band in the following ways. You’ve said yourself that you can’t go through a whole tour freebasing before every show. You are too old for this shit. It stared out as fun but you have lost yourself in that warm satiated place. What are you hiding from? It feels nice in there but can’t you hear the screams? There’s a lot to run away from but you’ll drown in that hay
Is this song about Survivor? More specifically, the character Sugar from Survivor: Gabon?