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, ooh, ooh, ooh, oh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, woah
Whenever I'm dressed cool
My parents put up a fight
(Uh huh, uh huh)
And if I'm a hot shot
Mom will cut my hair at night
(Uh huh, uh huh)
And in the morning
I'm sure of my identity
(Uh huh, uh huh)
I scream Mom and Dad
Why can't I be who I wanna be?
(Uh huh, uh huh) to be
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to love me for who I am
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to know, I am my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, I'm not a freak
I'll just keep fighting to stay cool on the streets
I've had enough, enough, enough
And this is my prayer, I swear
I'm as free as my hair
I'm as free as my hair
I am my hair
I am my hair
As free as my hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
As free as my hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Sometimes I want to rock on some red highlights
(Uh huh, uh huh)
Just because I want my friends
To think I'm dynamite
(Uh huh, uh huh)
And on Friday
Roxy, High school dance
(Uh huh, uh huh)
I got my bangs too hard
That I don't stand a chance
(Uh huh, uh huh) a chance
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to love me for who I am
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to know, I am my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, I'm not a freak
I'll just keep fighting to stay cool on the streets
I've had enough, enough, enough
And this is my prayer, I swear
I'm as free as my hair
I'm as free as my hair
I am my hair
I am my hair
As free as my hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
As free as my hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Ha-ha-ha-hair
I just want to be free, I just want to be me
And I want lots of friends that invite me to their parties
I don't wanna change, and I don't wanna be ashamed
I'm the spirit of my Hair, it's all the glory that I bare
I am my hair, I am my hair
I'm my hair, I am my hair
I am my hair, I am my hair
I am my hair, I am my hair
(It's all the glory that I bare)
I am my hair, I am my hair
It's all the glory that I bare
I am my hair, I am my hair
I'm my hair, yeah, yeah
(All the glory that I bare)
I'm my hair, yeah, yeah
(All the glory that I bare)
I'm my hair, yeah, yeah
(All the glory that I bare)
I'm my hair, yeah, yeah, yeah
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, I'm not a freak
I'll just keep fighting to stay cool on the streets
I've had enough, enough, enough
And this is my prayer, I swear
I'm as free as my hair
I'm as free as my hair
I am my hair
I am my hair
Ooh, my hair, my hair
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, woah
Whenever I'm dressed cool
My parents put up a fight
(Uh huh, uh huh)
And if I'm a hot shot
Mom will cut my hair at night
(Uh huh, uh huh)
And in the morning
I'm sure of my identity
(Uh huh, uh huh)
I scream Mom and Dad
Why can't I be who I wanna be?
(Uh huh, uh huh) to be
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to love me for who I am
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to know, I am my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, I'm not a freak
I'll just keep fighting to stay cool on the streets
I've had enough, enough, enough
And this is my prayer, I swear
I'm as free as my hair
I'm as free as my hair
I am my hair
I am my hair
As free as my hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
As free as my hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Sometimes I want to rock on some red highlights
(Uh huh, uh huh)
Just because I want my friends
To think I'm dynamite
(Uh huh, uh huh)
And on Friday
Roxy, High school dance
(Uh huh, uh huh)
I got my bangs too hard
That I don't stand a chance
(Uh huh, uh huh) a chance
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to love me for who I am
I just wanna be myself
And I want you to know, I am my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, I'm not a freak
I'll just keep fighting to stay cool on the streets
I've had enough, enough, enough
And this is my prayer, I swear
I'm as free as my hair
I'm as free as my hair
I am my hair
I am my hair
As free as my hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
As free as my hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Hair, hair, hair
Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair
Ha-ha-ha-hair
I just want to be free, I just want to be me
And I want lots of friends that invite me to their parties
I don't wanna change, and I don't wanna be ashamed
I'm the spirit of my Hair, it's all the glory that I bare
I am my hair, I am my hair
I'm my hair, I am my hair
I am my hair, I am my hair
I am my hair, I am my hair
(It's all the glory that I bare)
I am my hair, I am my hair
It's all the glory that I bare
I am my hair, I am my hair
I'm my hair, yeah, yeah
(All the glory that I bare)
I'm my hair, yeah, yeah
(All the glory that I bare)
I'm my hair, yeah, yeah
(All the glory that I bare)
I'm my hair, yeah, yeah, yeah
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, this is my prayer
That I'll die living just as free as my hair
I've had enough, I'm not a freak
I'll just keep fighting to stay cool on the streets
I've had enough, enough, enough
And this is my prayer, I swear
I'm as free as my hair
I'm as free as my hair
I am my hair
I am my hair
Ooh, my hair, my hair
Lyrics submitted by Rick111
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Mountain Song
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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/
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
The messages she sends in this album. They are all so inspiring. Love Mother Monster!