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."
This is a decision that I know full well I made
I remind myself as I'm walking up to your gate
and through the wire and diamonds I can see your shape
you're fumbling around with your keys
You say we can sit and stay but I'm having trouble keeping up with you pleasantries
don't you find them unsettling, can we go walking?
That's probably a good idea; yeah It's probably a good idea
'Cause I don't want to fall in love with you again
I'm so afraid I'm capable of it
And after time I can't accept you're still the song on my breath
You're not easy to forget
Moving in rhythm, footsteps aligned
I'm doing okay 'till your arm brushes mine and then I panic
I thought I figured it out,but I'm taken aback
as we pass the closing stores and lit up cafes
there are so many of them these days; so many strangers.
They're walking around in our place, in our place
And suddenly it's all unclear; yeah suddenly it's all unclear
Yeah this probably was a bad idea; yeah this probably was a bad idea
'Cause I don't want to fall in love with you again
I'm so afraid I'm capable of it
And after time I can't accept you're still the song on my breath
You're not easy to forget
We used to own these streets, head to head, you spinning me
And now we say that we were young, and what we had has come and gone
We used to own these streets, head to head, you spinning me
Your back's against a concrete wall
your body buzzing on the intercom, the intercom, the intercom, the intercom
We woke the neighbors, it's no wonder they hate us, on every single floor
I remind myself as I'm walking up to your gate
and through the wire and diamonds I can see your shape
you're fumbling around with your keys
You say we can sit and stay but I'm having trouble keeping up with you pleasantries
don't you find them unsettling, can we go walking?
That's probably a good idea; yeah It's probably a good idea
'Cause I don't want to fall in love with you again
I'm so afraid I'm capable of it
And after time I can't accept you're still the song on my breath
You're not easy to forget
Moving in rhythm, footsteps aligned
I'm doing okay 'till your arm brushes mine and then I panic
I thought I figured it out,but I'm taken aback
as we pass the closing stores and lit up cafes
there are so many of them these days; so many strangers.
They're walking around in our place, in our place
And suddenly it's all unclear; yeah suddenly it's all unclear
Yeah this probably was a bad idea; yeah this probably was a bad idea
'Cause I don't want to fall in love with you again
I'm so afraid I'm capable of it
And after time I can't accept you're still the song on my breath
You're not easy to forget
We used to own these streets, head to head, you spinning me
And now we say that we were young, and what we had has come and gone
We used to own these streets, head to head, you spinning me
Your back's against a concrete wall
your body buzzing on the intercom, the intercom, the intercom, the intercom
We woke the neighbors, it's no wonder they hate us, on every single floor
Lyrics submitted by Nostalgia37, edited by Yellowmuffin
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
No Surprises
Radiohead
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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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
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.
um. how is it possible that no one has commented on this?! it's one of the most beautiful songs i've ever heard.
the narrative is an extremely well-kept secret. i always wonder why and how this band continues to stay relatively unknown, because they definitely have what it takes to 'make it big'. and they do deserve to, but a part of me still wouldn't want that.
Probably the best song on the album. Possibly the best song they've written.
This song reminds me of my first love. I will forever think of him as the one that got away. Even after everything, I still felt him when he was around, like a hum of electricity. I think if the timing was better for us, life would of led us both down the same path.