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."
I got some'n' to say little girl
You might not like my style
But we been hangin' around this town
Just a little too long a while
You say you're gonna get your act together
Gonna take it out on the road
But if I don't get out o' here pretty soon
My head's going to explode
Sure I like country music
And I like mandolins
But right now I need a Telecaster
Through a Vibrolux turned up to 10
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Ahw, Memphis in the meantime girl
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Memphis in the meantime girl
I need a little shot of that rhythm baby
Mixed up with these country blues
I wanna trade in these ol' cowboy boots
For some fine Italian shoes
Forget the mousse and the hairspray sugar
We don't need none of that
Just a little dab'll do ya girl
Underneath a pork pie hat
Until hell freezes over
Maybe you can wait that long
But I don't think Ronnie Milsap's gonna ever
Record this song
[Repeat: x2]
Lets go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime girl
Lets go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime girl
Maybe there's nothin' happenin' there
But maybe there's somethin' in the air
Before our upper lips get stiff
Maybe we need us a big ol' whiff
If we could just get off-a that beat little girl
Maybe we could find the groove
At least we can get ourselves a decent meal
Down at the Rendezvous
'Cause one more heartfelt steel guitar chord
Girl, it's gonna do me in
I need to hear some trumpet and saxophone
You know sound as sweet as sin
And after we get good and greasy
Baby we can come on home
Put the cow horns back on the Cadillac
And change the message on the Cordaphone
But
Lets go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime girl
Lets go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime girl
I'm a talking about Memphis
I'm talkin' 'bout Memphis
Memphis
You might not like my style
But we been hangin' around this town
Just a little too long a while
You say you're gonna get your act together
Gonna take it out on the road
But if I don't get out o' here pretty soon
My head's going to explode
Sure I like country music
And I like mandolins
But right now I need a Telecaster
Through a Vibrolux turned up to 10
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Ahw, Memphis in the meantime girl
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Memphis in the meantime girl
I need a little shot of that rhythm baby
Mixed up with these country blues
I wanna trade in these ol' cowboy boots
For some fine Italian shoes
Forget the mousse and the hairspray sugar
We don't need none of that
Just a little dab'll do ya girl
Underneath a pork pie hat
Until hell freezes over
Maybe you can wait that long
But I don't think Ronnie Milsap's gonna ever
Record this song
[Repeat: x2]
Lets go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime girl
Lets go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime girl
Maybe there's nothin' happenin' there
But maybe there's somethin' in the air
Before our upper lips get stiff
Maybe we need us a big ol' whiff
If we could just get off-a that beat little girl
Maybe we could find the groove
At least we can get ourselves a decent meal
Down at the Rendezvous
'Cause one more heartfelt steel guitar chord
Girl, it's gonna do me in
I need to hear some trumpet and saxophone
You know sound as sweet as sin
And after we get good and greasy
Baby we can come on home
Put the cow horns back on the Cadillac
And change the message on the Cordaphone
But
Lets go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime girl
Lets go to Memphis in the meantime baby
Let's go to Memphis in the meantime girl
I'm a talking about Memphis
I'm talkin' 'bout Memphis
Memphis
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by mcouzijn
Memphis in the Meantime Lyrics as written by John Hiatt
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
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/
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.
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.
He's tired of Nashville and the country music trappings and wants to go to Memphis to hear blues based music that is a little more edgy and urban. It's always intrigued me that Tennessee has Nashville in the east in the Appalachian foothills and Memphis in the west in the heart of the Mississippi river. That's quite the combination for one little state.