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."
a new car would be dope but i’m broke i admit it,
i couldnt afford a 4 door accord or a civic,
its sorta ballastic,
prayed a lot but lord must have missed it,
but he always forgives me so i guess i forgive him
i got
visions of spittin bitchin verses and bridges,
so i study to be rich with slutty video vixens,
i’m cool like kat makin pimpin decisions,
and i practice what i preach start workin stop wishin.
so i
work for respect and a porsche for my sister.
let the last girl in my life pass i corgielly missed her,
in order to blister, you gotta put forth lots of iffort,
or effort whatever however i can get to the top
its gonna be a struggle i dont have the option to stop,
stuck in this bubble,
but its just not an option to pop.
put records out for free every time that they drop,
cause if i sold em they would probably flop,
and its not cause i dont rock,
its cause its easy to cop,
one off the top of your favorite internet blog,
with a bunch of those internet dj drops,
i’m just tryna get into every internet spot,
you call me wifi how i connect with the beat,
and i’m the flyest white guy to connect and compete,
a wreck in my sleep,
i only close my eyes when i have to,
this the beginning i am not even half through.
had a job to be responsible but thats cause i had to,
now i quit and i spit all day rad raps dude,
what a crazy fuckon nut you can call me cashew,
you go to college but i got goals that will surpass you,
life in the classroom,
was never promising for james,
jesse was too messy always had something to say,
took my drumsticks out, teacher said put em away,
but i hid em under the desk and continued to play,
obvious to everybody at a young ass age,
that i was born to be up on a big ass stage,
bigger than my ears were when they were gauged,
bigger than when jerkin was the brand new phase,
yo that was dope but i’m figurin out brand new ways,
to be me and spread myself across the world like aids.
i dont sleep at night, you other rappers twiddle your thumbs,
even when i catch my breath the beat stills runs,
i’m so determined that it’s sick,
i disgust myself,
sometimes i sit in bed and dream how i’d discuss myself,
up in interviews sayin how i trust myself,
only i can tell the truth to me and fuck all else.
but look truthfully i fucked myself,
hangin out and givin trust until i hung myself,
too many times i let em tug my belt,
so i’ll buckle down and fight back and run like hell.
turn around look back at what i dug myself,
into with all these issues way above myself,
i’m in a ditch all alone and i don’t want no help,
all i need is time to love myself.
i hope you know.
that i’m only havin fun right?
picturin myself silhoutted in the sunlight, with a pretty little lady in a sundress,
might take her home in 30 minutes get her undressed,
none the less,
i am always learnin,
truth heals all my wounds but it’s also hurtin,
i am only human, but i am hardly person,
i feel stupid not saying that i am hard workin.
cause i believe i use more of my brain than average,
i think i’m a genius, you think i’m a bastard,
i think that i’m quick, i ask to be faster,
my thoughts always mix, my songs always master,
been thinking so much about thinking so much lately,
thinking so much, that i don’t give a fuck daily,
when i wake up i tell myself i need to get go,
and i hate wakin up all alone,
my body is my house but my mind isnt home,
i think love is all i know,
love is all i am,
love is all i need,
love is in the air,
so love is what i gasp for,
the love i got inside of me is nothing that i asked for,
i learned it growin up you could never go to class for,
love is what i breathe.
love is all me,
and i’m loving just hummin this beat.
i couldnt afford a 4 door accord or a civic,
its sorta ballastic,
prayed a lot but lord must have missed it,
but he always forgives me so i guess i forgive him
i got
visions of spittin bitchin verses and bridges,
so i study to be rich with slutty video vixens,
i’m cool like kat makin pimpin decisions,
and i practice what i preach start workin stop wishin.
so i
work for respect and a porsche for my sister.
let the last girl in my life pass i corgielly missed her,
in order to blister, you gotta put forth lots of iffort,
or effort whatever however i can get to the top
its gonna be a struggle i dont have the option to stop,
stuck in this bubble,
but its just not an option to pop.
put records out for free every time that they drop,
cause if i sold em they would probably flop,
and its not cause i dont rock,
its cause its easy to cop,
one off the top of your favorite internet blog,
with a bunch of those internet dj drops,
i’m just tryna get into every internet spot,
you call me wifi how i connect with the beat,
and i’m the flyest white guy to connect and compete,
a wreck in my sleep,
i only close my eyes when i have to,
this the beginning i am not even half through.
had a job to be responsible but thats cause i had to,
now i quit and i spit all day rad raps dude,
what a crazy fuckon nut you can call me cashew,
you go to college but i got goals that will surpass you,
life in the classroom,
was never promising for james,
jesse was too messy always had something to say,
took my drumsticks out, teacher said put em away,
but i hid em under the desk and continued to play,
obvious to everybody at a young ass age,
that i was born to be up on a big ass stage,
bigger than my ears were when they were gauged,
bigger than when jerkin was the brand new phase,
yo that was dope but i’m figurin out brand new ways,
to be me and spread myself across the world like aids.
i dont sleep at night, you other rappers twiddle your thumbs,
even when i catch my breath the beat stills runs,
i’m so determined that it’s sick,
i disgust myself,
sometimes i sit in bed and dream how i’d discuss myself,
up in interviews sayin how i trust myself,
only i can tell the truth to me and fuck all else.
but look truthfully i fucked myself,
hangin out and givin trust until i hung myself,
too many times i let em tug my belt,
so i’ll buckle down and fight back and run like hell.
turn around look back at what i dug myself,
into with all these issues way above myself,
i’m in a ditch all alone and i don’t want no help,
all i need is time to love myself.
i hope you know.
that i’m only havin fun right?
picturin myself silhoutted in the sunlight, with a pretty little lady in a sundress,
might take her home in 30 minutes get her undressed,
none the less,
i am always learnin,
truth heals all my wounds but it’s also hurtin,
i am only human, but i am hardly person,
i feel stupid not saying that i am hard workin.
cause i believe i use more of my brain than average,
i think i’m a genius, you think i’m a bastard,
i think that i’m quick, i ask to be faster,
my thoughts always mix, my songs always master,
been thinking so much about thinking so much lately,
thinking so much, that i don’t give a fuck daily,
when i wake up i tell myself i need to get go,
and i hate wakin up all alone,
my body is my house but my mind isnt home,
i think love is all i know,
love is all i am,
love is all i need,
love is in the air,
so love is what i gasp for,
the love i got inside of me is nothing that i asked for,
i learned it growin up you could never go to class for,
love is what i breathe.
love is all me,
and i’m loving just hummin this beat.
Lyrics submitted by logicandlove
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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/
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.