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."
One, two, three
Straight off the plane to a new hotel
Just touched down, you could never tell
Ah, a big house party with a crowded kitchen
People talk (shh) but we don't listen
Tell me that I'm wrong but I do what I please
Way too many people in the Addison Lee
Now I'm at the age when I know what I need, oh, whoa
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby, you and me
Stumblin' in the street
Singin', singin', singin', singin'
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Anywhere we go, never say no
Just do it, do it, do it, do it
Five foot something with the skinny jeans
Don't look back, baby, follow me
I don't know where I'm going but I'm finding my way
Same old sh- but a different day
Tell me that I'm wrong but I do what I please
Way too many people in the Addison Lee
Now I'm at the age when I know what I need, oh, whoa
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby, you and me
Stumblin' in the street
Singin', singin', singin', singin'
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Anywhere we go, never say no
Just do it, do it, do it
You and me and all our friends
I don't care how much we spend
Baby, this is what the night is for
I know nothing's making sense
For tonight let's just pretend
I don't wanna stop so give me more
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby, you and me (ayy)
Stumblin' in the street
Singin', singin', singin', singin'
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Anywhere we go, never say no
Just do it, do it, (yeah) do it, do it
Straight off the plane to a new hotel
Just touched down, you could never tell
Ah, a big house party with a crowded kitchen
People talk (shh) but we don't listen
Tell me that I'm wrong but I do what I please
Way too many people in the Addison Lee
Now I'm at the age when I know what I need, oh, whoa
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby, you and me
Stumblin' in the street
Singin', singin', singin', singin'
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Anywhere we go, never say no
Just do it, do it, do it, do it
Five foot something with the skinny jeans
Don't look back, baby, follow me
I don't know where I'm going but I'm finding my way
Same old sh- but a different day
Tell me that I'm wrong but I do what I please
Way too many people in the Addison Lee
Now I'm at the age when I know what I need, oh, whoa
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby, you and me
Stumblin' in the street
Singin', singin', singin', singin'
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Anywhere we go, never say no
Just do it, do it, do it
You and me and all our friends
I don't care how much we spend
Baby, this is what the night is for
I know nothing's making sense
For tonight let's just pretend
I don't wanna stop so give me more
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Baby, you and me (ayy)
Stumblin' in the street
Singin', singin', singin', singin'
Midnight memories
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Anywhere we go, never say no
Just do it, do it, (yeah) do it, do it
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
One Direction even curse though it’s censored to a ‘shh.’ This happy number make me dance around and is hence one of my favorite tracks of the album. The chorus is even somewhat reminiscent of Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar on Me. goo.gl/FQbbN8
I know, repetitive, but it is about partying (not necessarily with drugs, but probably with alcohol), getting a little crazy, and hooking up. I mean it is stated "Now I'm at the age that I know what I need," that they know what fun is to them, and "Midnight Memories" is clearly having fun and also sex. The "People talk sss but we don't listen" is essentially people being critical of them, but just letting it roll off their backs so they could have so much fun.
It's "shh" sorry, typo from late night typing.
This is one f my favorites by One Direction. Harry is my favorite member. I am a huge directioner. #fanforlife
title track, Midnight Memories, One direction even curse though it’s censored to a ‘shh.’ This happy number makes me dance around and is hence one of my favorite tracks of the album. The chorus is even somewhat reminiscent of Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar on Me.