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."
My Life is a series of actors changing places
Except there's no back stage and there's no place for me.
It's okay though the jokes on the television make me laugh
Remind me that it's okay not to have a backstage or a place to hide
I've got dinner on my plate I got my Paycheck yesterday
How great, How cool
I've got places I've got friends I got Joey Ross and Chandler
Then, There's you.
And Now, how, we like to say that we're in love doesn't it
Seem like that should be enough but
The world will roll their eyes but i still think
Yeah i still think that we're in love.
Oh shoes and jackets purses and tennis rackets,
make their way as they please, in those SUVs to the country club.
I don't play much, but I do enjoy having the ball in my court,
and whats more, I like playing, for love.
But I've got arms and you've got legs, together we've made some mistakes.
But hey, we're doing well!
Well I've got reason to believe, in the power of you and me to break,
this spell.
And Now, how, we like to say that we're in love doesn't it
Seem like that should be enough but
The world will roll their eyes but i still think
Yea i still think that we're in love.
One more question: how is this one big lesson?
I don't think that there's a quiz, but if there is I'll be, outside;
playing in the yard, swinging on monkey bars,
exercising my life to this recess from this lesson
that I tried, ohh
But I've got arms and you've got legs, together we've made some mistakes.
But hey, we're doing well!
Well I've got reason, to believe, in the power of you and me to break,
this spell.
And Now, how, we like to say that we're in love doesn't it
Seem like that should be enough but
The world will roll their eyes but i still think
Yea i still think that we're in love!
Except there's no back stage and there's no place for me.
It's okay though the jokes on the television make me laugh
Remind me that it's okay not to have a backstage or a place to hide
I've got dinner on my plate I got my Paycheck yesterday
How great, How cool
I've got places I've got friends I got Joey Ross and Chandler
Then, There's you.
And Now, how, we like to say that we're in love doesn't it
Seem like that should be enough but
The world will roll their eyes but i still think
Yeah i still think that we're in love.
Oh shoes and jackets purses and tennis rackets,
make their way as they please, in those SUVs to the country club.
I don't play much, but I do enjoy having the ball in my court,
and whats more, I like playing, for love.
But I've got arms and you've got legs, together we've made some mistakes.
But hey, we're doing well!
Well I've got reason to believe, in the power of you and me to break,
this spell.
And Now, how, we like to say that we're in love doesn't it
Seem like that should be enough but
The world will roll their eyes but i still think
Yea i still think that we're in love.
One more question: how is this one big lesson?
I don't think that there's a quiz, but if there is I'll be, outside;
playing in the yard, swinging on monkey bars,
exercising my life to this recess from this lesson
that I tried, ohh
But I've got arms and you've got legs, together we've made some mistakes.
But hey, we're doing well!
Well I've got reason, to believe, in the power of you and me to break,
this spell.
And Now, how, we like to say that we're in love doesn't it
Seem like that should be enough but
The world will roll their eyes but i still think
Yea i still think that we're in love!
Lyrics submitted by singninjasing
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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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
I think this is a song about still being in love with someone even through a break-up or a fight or maybe a pre-relationship true love, but a love that doesn't look like it should still exist, a love that defies the odds.
*exercising my right to this recess, I believe is the line. Love this song, one of his best. I think it's about being in love when you're young and people ask how they can possibly love each other when they're so young, but they "still think that [they're] in love"
I think this song is about him dating this girl, but they're growing apart and dosen't see each other often. He hasn't got so many friend, the most he had was her friends and he dosn't hang out with him eiter. So he spend the most of his time watching tv, and the tv-characters are his closest friends. He dosn't feel like he belongs anywhere, and how he still thinks that they're in love even though the never see each other.