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 whiskey sour, amateur hour
Raise your glass and toast your friends
Some day we will fight again, well
Your enemies, your tragedies
Pocket knives and rusty chains
Where in the hell is the old gang, yeah?
And all the losers
Can't even win for losing
And the beginners
Don't even know what song they're singing
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Alright
This broken scene is turning green
Brass knuckles left in the rain
Death wish kids among the living
I want to ride on the divided
Anything but the mainstream
Where the fuck is your old gang, man?
And all the losers
Can't even win for losing
And the beginners
Don't even know what song they're singing
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
So long
Didn't even say goodnight
So long
There's nowhere to go
When you're hiding in plain sight
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Raise your glass and toast your friends
Some day we will fight again, well
Your enemies, your tragedies
Pocket knives and rusty chains
Where in the hell is the old gang, yeah?
And all the losers
Can't even win for losing
And the beginners
Don't even know what song they're singing
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Alright
This broken scene is turning green
Brass knuckles left in the rain
Death wish kids among the living
I want to ride on the divided
Anything but the mainstream
Where the fuck is your old gang, man?
And all the losers
Can't even win for losing
And the beginners
Don't even know what song they're singing
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
So long
Didn't even say goodnight
So long
There's nowhere to go
When you're hiding in plain sight
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
Well there's no one left around
And you're the last gang in town
And your heart can't even break
When it doesn't even pound
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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,
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.
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/
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.
It a little mixed of how billy and his band want to celebrate this 90's punk band as being the "last gang" and a mixed of a book where rusty Jame feel he the last of his gang because time has change when there no more Soc vs greaser, no more rumbles. and everyone move on to their individual path. And it tragic because Motorcycleboy try to convince him to give up this, so the song is like viewing in motorcycleboy point of view. It a sad meaning if you think about it, because billy and his gang feel that they are not ready to accept the change and just like how the old days are of the punk rock band. while back in the book, as much Rusty jame hate changes too, like billy and his band members,there has to be a time to let go and adapt the change. very sad meaning really...but sometime for rusty jame case it for his own good...sometime bad or not, I do sometime missed the old days.