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."
Here the stars no longer shine
And bitter is the wine
That flows between my lips
In our garden that withered so fast
Two roses, red and white
The princess and the knight
We'll always be here
We will be waiting for
Now and forevermore
We, we are the Eden's curse
For better and for worse
For you left for your ghost
And I am the reaper of souls
The pyres burning bright
Flames reaching for the sky
Now you are gone but
I'll write the eulogy for you
Cold is the stream
Colder my blood and
Cold is the night
Colder your heart
Lifeless in my arms
Fallen for my charms
Dark tale of a dark love
Poetry of poison
The Ghost and the Reaper
Grim verse from a grim soul
History of heartless
The dream and the dreamer
Sour words from a sour heart
Hollow and so hopeless
The scream and the screamer
Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen
So lifeless, so silent
Now lets take our final bow
And let the curtain fall
The stage will fade to black
A life that will never come back
A dark emporium
Of even darker dreams
Where nothing's what it seems
But the shadows they call you
Cold is the stream
Colder my blood and
Cold is the night
Colder your heart
Lifeless in my arms
Fallen for my charms
Dark tale of a dark love
Poetry of poison
The Ghost and the Reaper
Grim verse from a grim soul
History of heartless
The dream and the dreamer
Sour words from a sour heart
Hollow and so hopeless
The scream and the screamer
Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen
So lifeless, so silent
Would you please pour holy water on me
For all that I want is to join with the sea
I wanna go where the ocean caresses the virgin shore
For once more
Dark tale of a dark love
Poetry of poison
The Ghost and the Reaper
Grim verse from a grim soul
History of heartless
The dream and the dreamer
Sour words from a sour heart
Hollow and so hopeless
The scream and the screamer
Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen
So lifeless, so silent
Dark tale of a dark love
Poetry of poison
The Ghost and the Reaper
Grim verse from a grim soul
History of heartless
The dream and the dreamer
Sour words from a sour heart
Hollow and so hopeless
The scream and the screamer
Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen
So lifeless, so silent
And bitter is the wine
That flows between my lips
In our garden that withered so fast
Two roses, red and white
The princess and the knight
We'll always be here
We will be waiting for
Now and forevermore
We, we are the Eden's curse
For better and for worse
For you left for your ghost
And I am the reaper of souls
The pyres burning bright
Flames reaching for the sky
Now you are gone but
I'll write the eulogy for you
Cold is the stream
Colder my blood and
Cold is the night
Colder your heart
Lifeless in my arms
Fallen for my charms
Dark tale of a dark love
Poetry of poison
The Ghost and the Reaper
Grim verse from a grim soul
History of heartless
The dream and the dreamer
Sour words from a sour heart
Hollow and so hopeless
The scream and the screamer
Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen
So lifeless, so silent
Now lets take our final bow
And let the curtain fall
The stage will fade to black
A life that will never come back
A dark emporium
Of even darker dreams
Where nothing's what it seems
But the shadows they call you
Cold is the stream
Colder my blood and
Cold is the night
Colder your heart
Lifeless in my arms
Fallen for my charms
Dark tale of a dark love
Poetry of poison
The Ghost and the Reaper
Grim verse from a grim soul
History of heartless
The dream and the dreamer
Sour words from a sour heart
Hollow and so hopeless
The scream and the screamer
Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen
So lifeless, so silent
Would you please pour holy water on me
For all that I want is to join with the sea
I wanna go where the ocean caresses the virgin shore
For once more
Dark tale of a dark love
Poetry of poison
The Ghost and the Reaper
Grim verse from a grim soul
History of heartless
The dream and the dreamer
Sour words from a sour heart
Hollow and so hopeless
The scream and the screamer
Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen
So lifeless, so silent
Dark tale of a dark love
Poetry of poison
The Ghost and the Reaper
Grim verse from a grim soul
History of heartless
The dream and the dreamer
Sour words from a sour heart
Hollow and so hopeless
The scream and the screamer
Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen
So lifeless, so silent
Lyrics submitted by EternalTearsOfSorrow
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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No Surprises
Radiohead
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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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I tried to post the correct lyrics but it won't allow it so here they are -
Here the stars no longer shine And bitter is the wine That flows between my lips In our garden that withered so fast Two roses, red and white The princess and the knight We'll always be here We will be waiting for Now and forevermore
We, we are the Eden's curse For better and for worse For you left for your ghost And I am the reaper of souls The pyres burning bright Flames reaching for the sky Now you are gone but I'll write the eulogy for you
Cold is the stream Colder my blood and Cold is the night Colder your heart Lifeless in my arms Fallen for my charms
Dark tale of a dark love Poetry of poison The Ghost and the Reaper Grim verse from a grim soul History of heartless The dream and the dreamer Sour words from a sour heart Hollow and so hopeless The scream and the screamer Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen So lifeless, so silent
Now lets take our final bow And let the curtain fall The stage will fade to black A life that will never come back A dark emporium Of even darker dreams Where nothing's what it seems But the shadows they call you
Cold is the stream Colder my blood and Cold is the night Colder your heart Lifeless in my arms Fallen for my charms
Dark tale of a dark love Poetry of poison The Ghost and the Reaper Grim verse from a grim soul History of heartless The dream and the dreamer Sour words from a sour heart Hollow and so hopeless The scream and the screamer Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen So lifeless, so silent
Would you please pour holy water on me For all that I want is to join with the sea I wanna go where the ocean caresses the virgin shore For once more
Dark tale of a dark love Poetry of poison The Ghost and the Reaper Grim verse from a grim soul History of heartless The dream and the dreamer Sour words from a sour heart Hollow and so hopeless The scream and the screamer Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen So lifeless, so silent
Dark tale of a dark love Poetry of poison The Ghost and the Reaper Grim verse from a grim soul History of heartless The dream and the dreamer Sour words from a sour heart Hollow and so hopeless The scream and the screamer Dead oaths from our dead lips fallen So lifeless, so silent