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."
Ooh, woman, tell me what you want
And I'll calm down without bleeding out
With a broken heart that you stabbed for an hour
Woman, I was freaking out because I want you to know
My beloved, you are the lover of my impossible soul
Woman, too, promise me you'll stay and put off all your woes
I was wigging out, too much worry
I could not get you at all
And you said what you want, you would laugh it off
But I know you won't go, not for it at last
Must you write it off for the impossible soul?
And I was in a dream, I was gone away without you, but not too slow
Lest I put it off, for I put it right for the impossible soul
And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all, my life, to you
If I could get you at all
Don't be a wreck, trying to be something that I wasn't at all
Seems I got it wrong, I was chasing after something that was gone
To the black of night, now I know it's not what I wanted at all
And you said something like, "All you want is all the world for yourself"
But all I want is the perfect love
Though I know it's small, I want love for us all
And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all, my life, to you
If I could get you at all
Trying to be something that I wasn't at all
Do you want to be afraid?
Do you want to be afraid?
For life in the cage where courage's mate runs deep in the wake
For the scariest things are not half as enslaved
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
Do you want to be alone?
Do you want to be alone?
For life isn't stained of righteousness pain
The seed and the hail, all impossible flights for an interesting light
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
Do you want to love me more?
Do you want to love me more?
For love is the breath
If water and wave is cursed by the same thing that nurtured its shame
Is it worth all the work?
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
Have you failed to feel delight? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
Have you failed to feel delight? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
Instead of the life, lived tired and lost, have you left it at last
Where it floundered its death with the language of ghosts
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
Do you want to be afraid? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
Do you want to be afraid? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
For life in the cage where where courage's mate runs deep in the wake
For the scariest things are not half as enslaved
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
No... Don't be distracted
Stupid man in the window, I couldn't be at rest
All my delight, all that mattered, I couldn't be at rest
From what I liked, from what I gathered, I couldn't be at rest
Stupid man in the window, I couldn't be at rest
And don't be shy in the window
Come down and give your best
Oh, delight in the window I couldn't be at rest
Stupid man in the window, I couldn't be at rest
From what I liked, from what I gathered, I couldn't give my best
Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all
Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all
Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all
Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to speak at all
1, 2 3, 4!
It's a long life, better pinch yourself,
Put your face together, better get it right
It's a long life, better hit yourself
Put your face together, better stand up straight
It's a long life, only one last chance
Couldn't get much better, do you wanna dance?
It's a long life, better pinch yourself
Get your face together, better stand up straight
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better give love, give love, give love, give love)
Boy, we can do much more together,
(better get it right, get it right get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together it's not so impossible
It's not so impossible
It's a long life, better pinch yourself
Get your face together, better roll along
It's a long life, better pinch yourself
Put your face together, better stand up straight
It's a long life only one last chance
Couldn't get much better, do you wanna dance?
It's a good life, better pinch yourself
Is it impossible? Is it impossible?
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get a life, get a life, get a life, get a life)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy we can do much more together, it's not so impossible
It's not so impossible
It's a long life, better pinch yourself
Put your face together, better get it right
It's a long life, better hit yourself
Put your face together, better stand up straight
In the wrong life, everything is chance
Does it register? Do you wanna dance?
In the right life, it's a miracle
Possibility, do you wanna dance?
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get a life, get a life, get a life, get a life)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together
It's not so impossible
Do you wanna dance?
Boy, we can do much more together
It's not so impossible
I never meant to cause you pain
My burden is the weight of a feather
I never meant to lead you on
I only meant to please me, however
And then you tell me, boy, we can do much more
Boy, we can do much more
Boy, we can do much more together
Boy, we can do much more together
I'm nothing but a selfish man
I'm nothing but a privileged brother
And did you think I'd stay the night?
And did you think I'd love you forever?
And then you tell me, boy, we can do much more
I gotta tell you, girl, I want nothing less
Girl, I want nothing less
Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure
Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure
I gotta tell you, boy, we made such a mess
Boy, we made such a mess
Boy, we made such a mess together
Boy we made such a mess together
And I'll calm down without bleeding out
With a broken heart that you stabbed for an hour
Woman, I was freaking out because I want you to know
My beloved, you are the lover of my impossible soul
Woman, too, promise me you'll stay and put off all your woes
I was wigging out, too much worry
I could not get you at all
And you said what you want, you would laugh it off
But I know you won't go, not for it at last
Must you write it off for the impossible soul?
And I was in a dream, I was gone away without you, but not too slow
Lest I put it off, for I put it right for the impossible soul
And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all, my life, to you
If I could get you at all
Don't be a wreck, trying to be something that I wasn't at all
Seems I got it wrong, I was chasing after something that was gone
To the black of night, now I know it's not what I wanted at all
And you said something like, "All you want is all the world for yourself"
But all I want is the perfect love
Though I know it's small, I want love for us all
And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all, my life, to you
If I could get you at all
Trying to be something that I wasn't at all
Do you want to be afraid?
Do you want to be afraid?
For life in the cage where courage's mate runs deep in the wake
For the scariest things are not half as enslaved
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
Do you want to be alone?
Do you want to be alone?
For life isn't stained of righteousness pain
The seed and the hail, all impossible flights for an interesting light
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
Do you want to love me more?
Do you want to love me more?
For love is the breath
If water and wave is cursed by the same thing that nurtured its shame
Is it worth all the work?
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
Have you failed to feel delight? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
Have you failed to feel delight? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
Instead of the life, lived tired and lost, have you left it at last
Where it floundered its death with the language of ghosts
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
Do you want to be afraid? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
Do you want to be afraid? (NO, I DON'T WANT TO FEEL PAIN)
For life in the cage where where courage's mate runs deep in the wake
For the scariest things are not half as enslaved
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
No... Don't be distracted
Stupid man in the window, I couldn't be at rest
All my delight, all that mattered, I couldn't be at rest
From what I liked, from what I gathered, I couldn't be at rest
Stupid man in the window, I couldn't be at rest
And don't be shy in the window
Come down and give your best
Oh, delight in the window I couldn't be at rest
Stupid man in the window, I couldn't be at rest
From what I liked, from what I gathered, I couldn't give my best
Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all
Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all
Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all
Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to speak at all
1, 2 3, 4!
It's a long life, better pinch yourself,
Put your face together, better get it right
It's a long life, better hit yourself
Put your face together, better stand up straight
It's a long life, only one last chance
Couldn't get much better, do you wanna dance?
It's a long life, better pinch yourself
Get your face together, better stand up straight
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better give love, give love, give love, give love)
Boy, we can do much more together,
(better get it right, get it right get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together it's not so impossible
It's not so impossible
It's a long life, better pinch yourself
Get your face together, better roll along
It's a long life, better pinch yourself
Put your face together, better stand up straight
It's a long life only one last chance
Couldn't get much better, do you wanna dance?
It's a good life, better pinch yourself
Is it impossible? Is it impossible?
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get a life, get a life, get a life, get a life)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy we can do much more together, it's not so impossible
It's not so impossible
It's a long life, better pinch yourself
Put your face together, better get it right
It's a long life, better hit yourself
Put your face together, better stand up straight
In the wrong life, everything is chance
Does it register? Do you wanna dance?
In the right life, it's a miracle
Possibility, do you wanna dance?
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get a life, get a life, get a life, get a life)
Boy, we can do much more together
(Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right)
Boy, we can do much more together
It's not so impossible
Do you wanna dance?
Boy, we can do much more together
It's not so impossible
I never meant to cause you pain
My burden is the weight of a feather
I never meant to lead you on
I only meant to please me, however
And then you tell me, boy, we can do much more
Boy, we can do much more
Boy, we can do much more together
Boy, we can do much more together
I'm nothing but a selfish man
I'm nothing but a privileged brother
And did you think I'd stay the night?
And did you think I'd love you forever?
And then you tell me, boy, we can do much more
I gotta tell you, girl, I want nothing less
Girl, I want nothing less
Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure
Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure
I gotta tell you, boy, we made such a mess
Boy, we made such a mess
Boy, we made such a mess together
Boy we made such a mess together
Lyrics submitted by strykerchick
Impossible Soul Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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.
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.
Damn this took a long time. It's very detailed, and I compiled it from various sources, checking inconsistencies myself. Hope you guys like it. :)
==PART ONE (0:20)==
Ooh. Woman, tell me what you want And I'll calm down without bleeding out With a broken heart that you stabbed for an hour
Woman, I was freaking out because I want you to know: My beloved, you are the lover of my impossible soul Woman, too, promise me you'll stay and put off all your woes
I was wigging out, too much worry, I could not get you at all And you said what you want, you would laugh it off But I know you won't go, not for either class Must you write it off for the impossible soul? And I was in a dream, I was gone away without you, but not too slow Lest I put it off, 'fore I put it right for the impossible soul
And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all my life to you, if I could get you at all Don't be a wreck, trying to be something that I wasn't at all
Seems I got it wrong, I was chasing after something that was gone To the black of night, now I know it's not what I wanted at all And you said something like, "All you want is all the world for yourself" But all I want is the perfect love Though I know it's small, I want love for us all
All I couldn't sing, I would say it all my life to you, if I could get you at all Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Trying to be something that I wasn't at all
==PART TWO (3:56)==
Do you want to be afraid? Do you want to be afraid? For life in the cage, where courage is made, runs deep in the wake For the scariest things are not half as enslaved
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to be alone? Do you want to be alone? For life is instead, of righteousness led (?) The seat and the head, of impossible flights, or an interest in books(?)
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to love me more? Do you want to love me more? For love is the grain If watered in pain(?), is cursed by the same thing that nurtured its shame Is it worth all the work?
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Have you failed to feel delight? [No, I don't want to feel pain] Have you failed to feel delight? [No, I don't want to feel pain] Instead of the life, lived tired and lost, have you left it at last Where it floundered its death with the language of ghosts?
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to be afraid? [No, I don't want to feel pain] Do you want to be afraid? [No, I don't want to feel pain] For life in the cage, where courage is made, runs deep in the wake For the scariest things are not half as enslaved
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Don't be distracted, don't be distracted now
[Don't be distracted] (~x10)
==PART THREE (10:40)==
Stupid man in the window I couldn't be at rest All my delight, all that mattered I couldn't be at rest From what I liked, from what I gathered I couldn't be at rest Stupid man in the window I couldn't be at rest [judgement, judgement]
And don't be shy in the window Come down and give your best Oh, delight in the window I couldn't be at rest Stupid man in the window I couldn't be at rest From what I liked, from what I gathered I couldn't give my best
Now I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all Oh I know it wasn't safe., it wasn't safe to breathe at all [It wasn't safe, it wasn't safe] Now I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all [It wasn't safe, it wasn't safe] Oh I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to speak at all
==PART FOUR (13:26)==
[hold on Suf, hold on Suf, hold on Suf] (x2) [hold on Suf, hold on Suf, hold on Suf, hold on]
One two three four!
It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your face together Better get it right It's a long life Better hit yourself Put your face together Better stand up straight
It's a long life Only one last chance Could it get much better Do you wanna dance It's a long life Better pinch yourself Get your face together Better stand up straight
Boy, we can do much more together! Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together! Better get a love get a love get a life get a love Boy we can do much more together! Better get it right get it right get it right get it right Boy we can do much more together! It's not so impossible! It's not so impossible!
It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your face together Better roll along It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your face together Better stand up straight
It's a long life Only one last chance Couldn't get much better Do you wanna dance It's a good life Better pinch yourself Is it possible? Is it possible?
Boy we can do much more together! Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together! Better get a love get a love get a life get a love Boy we can do much more together! Better get it right get it right get it right get it right Boy we can do much more together! It's not so impossible! It's not so impossible!
It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your face together Better get it right It's a long life Better hit yourself Put your face together Better stand up straight
In the wrong light Everything is chance, does it register Do you wanna dance In the right light It's a miracle Possibilities Do you wanna dance?
Boy we can do much more together! Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together! Better get a love get a love get a life get a love Boy we can do much more together! Better get it right get it right get it right get it right Boy we can do much more together!
It's not so impossible! (x5)
Do you wanna dance?
Boy we can do much more together It's not so impossible (x15)
[Boy, we can do much more together It's not so impossible] (x6)
==PART FIVE (22:52)==
I never meant to cause you pain My burden is the weight of a feather I never meant to lead you on I only meant to please me, however
And then you tell me: Boy, we made such a mess (x2) Boy, we made such a mess together (x2)
I'm nothing but a selfish man I'm nothing but a privileged brother And did you think I'd stay the night? And did you think I'd love you forever?
And then you tell me: Boy, we can do much more (x2) Boy, we can do much more together (x3) I gotta tell you: Girl, I want nothing less (x2) Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure (x2)
I gotta tell you: Boy, we made such a mess (x2) Boy, we made such a mess together (x6)