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."
You're a carrion crow picking on the bones
Of all you suckered into loving and taking care of you
You don't want to be another lost cause of theirs, do you?
Do you want them to be right?
I, I raised you up
I, I gave you all I could
You'll never know love
You'll never know trust
I should have known you were a snake
When I picked you up
You're the weight around our necks that keeps us tied and immobile
You're the chain around our legs that keeps us from moving free
You don't want to drag us all down with you, do you?
Do you want to be an anchor or be a ball and chain
I, I raised you up
I, I gave you all I could
You'll never know love
You'll never know trust
I should have known you were a snake
When I picked you, when I picked you up
I gave up my life when your mother died
We had it coming for a long time
For you to chose that fate is as much as I can take
Pull another stunt like that and never show your face here again
I raised you up
I gave you all I could
But my mistakes were not enough
You, you had to show me up
I can't watch you throw your life away
When a heart that's that big breaks
It leaves you thinking it's way
I had it coming for a long time
If this is the life you chose
Without me you've got nothing to lose
Go ahead but I won't be there
I, I raised you up
I, I gave you all I could
But my mistakes were not enough
You, you had to show me up
I can't watch you throw your life away
No, I won't let you throw your life away
Of all you suckered into loving and taking care of you
You don't want to be another lost cause of theirs, do you?
Do you want them to be right?
I, I raised you up
I, I gave you all I could
You'll never know love
You'll never know trust
I should have known you were a snake
When I picked you up
You're the weight around our necks that keeps us tied and immobile
You're the chain around our legs that keeps us from moving free
You don't want to drag us all down with you, do you?
Do you want to be an anchor or be a ball and chain
I, I raised you up
I, I gave you all I could
You'll never know love
You'll never know trust
I should have known you were a snake
When I picked you, when I picked you up
I gave up my life when your mother died
We had it coming for a long time
For you to chose that fate is as much as I can take
Pull another stunt like that and never show your face here again
I raised you up
I gave you all I could
But my mistakes were not enough
You, you had to show me up
I can't watch you throw your life away
When a heart that's that big breaks
It leaves you thinking it's way
I had it coming for a long time
If this is the life you chose
Without me you've got nothing to lose
Go ahead but I won't be there
I, I raised you up
I, I gave you all I could
But my mistakes were not enough
You, you had to show me up
I can't watch you throw your life away
No, I won't let you throw your life away
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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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.
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/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.