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."
[bible reading]
And I looked, and behold; a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Revelation 6:2 Anti-Christ and his prophecy was made clear by the two words, to conquer.
[Evil Pimp]
comin out the crazy house of villain betta lock yo door
takin you down a deadly road, protect yo wife and family ho
been locked up for 20 year, guess they think I'm sane enough
livin the life of a criminal mane, smokin bitches like a blunt
Evil Pimp the horror king, sneakin creepin in yo dream
lay yo fate with death or stab you brutally your wife will scream
now that i now made a kill, now i done fulfilled my thrill
now you motha fuckas know the scope you betta write yo will
Evil Pimp is late night bound, when commence to start a stang
Evil gon catch a lemon slip, bring him to the dark side mane.
Sweep him quick just like a broom, now gon' bring him to the doom
evil spirits i consume, give me powers jockin you
still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
i don't leave no victim witness so i gotta kill ya too
nine to ya dome ho, what ya gonna do?
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
All these niggas bet you doubt me I'm gon' show you who i is
nigga i will stay and guide you only have one life to give
draggin decomposin bodies to my fuckin crazy house
monsta under yo children's bed, squeaky noises in yo mouth
late night snack you hear yo friend, then check out his sleepin bed
find him missin check the attic find him hangin dead instead
then come outside on my deck, feelin that a fate conceal
bullets break'em just like glass, only superman can shield
only thing i want is wealth, don't make me decrease yo health
mane I'm on sum devil shit so busta i can't stop myself
sittin back I'm thinkin drankin indo smoke increase my high
jumpin out tha bushes tell ya drop the groceries or ya die
now i made a easy lick, robbin takin all yo shit
you don't wanna be no fuckin witness to this deadly hit
wakin sweatin wipe my face, feelin strange but I'm okay
guess i had a long ass night the demon just took over me
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
And I looked, and behold; a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Revelation 6:2 Anti-Christ and his prophecy was made clear by the two words, to conquer.
[Evil Pimp]
comin out the crazy house of villain betta lock yo door
takin you down a deadly road, protect yo wife and family ho
been locked up for 20 year, guess they think I'm sane enough
livin the life of a criminal mane, smokin bitches like a blunt
Evil Pimp the horror king, sneakin creepin in yo dream
lay yo fate with death or stab you brutally your wife will scream
now that i now made a kill, now i done fulfilled my thrill
now you motha fuckas know the scope you betta write yo will
Evil Pimp is late night bound, when commence to start a stang
Evil gon catch a lemon slip, bring him to the dark side mane.
Sweep him quick just like a broom, now gon' bring him to the doom
evil spirits i consume, give me powers jockin you
still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
i don't leave no victim witness so i gotta kill ya too
nine to ya dome ho, what ya gonna do?
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
All these niggas bet you doubt me I'm gon' show you who i is
nigga i will stay and guide you only have one life to give
draggin decomposin bodies to my fuckin crazy house
monsta under yo children's bed, squeaky noises in yo mouth
late night snack you hear yo friend, then check out his sleepin bed
find him missin check the attic find him hangin dead instead
then come outside on my deck, feelin that a fate conceal
bullets break'em just like glass, only superman can shield
only thing i want is wealth, don't make me decrease yo health
mane I'm on sum devil shit so busta i can't stop myself
sittin back I'm thinkin drankin indo smoke increase my high
jumpin out tha bushes tell ya drop the groceries or ya die
now i made a easy lick, robbin takin all yo shit
you don't wanna be no fuckin witness to this deadly hit
wakin sweatin wipe my face, feelin strange but I'm okay
guess i had a long ass night the demon just took over me
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
Still I'm bumpin in yo ear, devil shit you hate to hear
turnin quick into Houdini, make you bussas disappear
Lyrics submitted by murdknife
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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 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.
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/