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."
Baby go to bed
And put out the light
We both know
If we talk anymore
We are going to end up
In a great big fight
You can have your way again
Yeah you believe
What you want to believe
You can walk all over me tomorrow
But tonight
Can't we just pretend to sleep
I think we're headed for a big fall
I think we're headed for a bad time
I'm going to go downstairs
And sit in that chair you like
I want to put a John Prine record on
Yes I need to slow down for awhile
Yeah I wish we had never bought
A king size bed
The only damn thing
That it's ever been good for
Is plenty room for the real good sex
I lay in bed in the dark
And all that I can see
Is the distance that grows between us
You seem so far from me
Yes I think we are headed for a real big fall
I think we are headed for a bad time
I'm going to go downstairs
I'm gong to sit by myself
All alone in the middle of the night
I'm going to put a John Prine record on
I think we need to slow down for awhile
I'm going to go downstairs
Smoke cigarettes
In that thrift store chair you like
I'm gonna put a John Prine record on
I think we need to slow down for awhile
We need to slow down for awhile
And put out the light
We both know
If we talk anymore
We are going to end up
In a great big fight
You can have your way again
Yeah you believe
What you want to believe
You can walk all over me tomorrow
But tonight
Can't we just pretend to sleep
I think we're headed for a big fall
I think we're headed for a bad time
I'm going to go downstairs
And sit in that chair you like
I want to put a John Prine record on
Yes I need to slow down for awhile
Yeah I wish we had never bought
A king size bed
The only damn thing
That it's ever been good for
Is plenty room for the real good sex
I lay in bed in the dark
And all that I can see
Is the distance that grows between us
You seem so far from me
Yes I think we are headed for a real big fall
I think we are headed for a bad time
I'm going to go downstairs
I'm gong to sit by myself
All alone in the middle of the night
I'm going to put a John Prine record on
I think we need to slow down for awhile
I'm going to go downstairs
Smoke cigarettes
In that thrift store chair you like
I'm gonna put a John Prine record on
I think we need to slow down for awhile
We need to slow down for awhile
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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.
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.
I like this song a lot. It's a very sad realization that a relationship isn't working out quite how he wants it to. I like the imagery of the king-size bed actually keeping them apart. The thrift store chair he sits in alone is the symbol of their past. They have come into some amount of success, and from that they bought the bed, thinking it would afford luxury. Instead, happiness exists only in their less prosperous past. Such a beautiful, sad story.
I cannot believe this has ONE comment. ONE. At least that one comment is worthy. This is my favourite Everclear song, even though it only goes for two minutes. Ahhhhh. It's pretty straight-forward. It seems he has come to the realization that he's become helpless to the situation so he's just gonna sit in the thrift store chair. I can visualise the situation of him smoking in the chair in the backyard.
the great thing about the band everclear is how in tune art alexakis is to the song that it actually portrays his emotions in every aspect of every detail. if the song is meant to reflect on better times, it makes you feel exactly that, as if the chords themselves trigger the better memories of the past. at the same time, most of his songs about his depressions due to drug addictions admittedly give the best experiences listening when high. he has a true talent to take you away from life, take you away from the "everyday occurrences that make you feel like letting go" and that "everything will be alright". kls had a great point," i can visualize...him smoking in the chair in the backyard". the thing is, art uses specific details, such relatable details, that make you feel as though you are in this song, as though you're in the room, watching him, feeling how he felt, going through what he went through when he was writing this song. just the fact that he's gone through so much and loved more than a lot will ever know, just being so swept up in the hurt and pain that all he can ever want is for no one else to go through the same, especially his daughter. I’ve never been in this situation, but listening to this song makes me feel like I just had a big fight, just need breathing room, and yet that sickening feeling that it might possibly be the end of the best thing in your life. That realization that its over and no way to stop it. its almost heartbreaking.
This album has the best lyrics of any album I have bot over the past 20 maybe 30 years.
It tells the story of a breakup of a marriage. It actually is a concept album.
American Movie could be my favorite album of last decade. I hated it at first but as time went on I began to appreciate its magnificance.