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."
In a dark horse town, in the middle of the west
Where Friday takes so long to arrive
Johnny wakes up dreaming and turns on the radio
The he jumps up playin' his guitar in the mirror
Starts his day with a rock and roll pulse
Tonight's the night that Suzy and he
Are goin' to a rock and roll show
Tonight, I'm gonna see some rock and roll
Yeah, my favorite group is playin'
Tonight, I'm gonna see some rock and roll
Well it's showtime, and he's caught up in the crowd
He hates the crush, but he loves the music loud
He reaches out, but Suzy's disappeared,
Now Johnny's standin' on a corner, after the show
Lookin' for his Suzy dear
But there goes his Suzy in the band's limousine, yeah
Well that's the way it goes at these rock and roll shows
That's the way it goes
It's rock and roll
Well, that's the way it goes
It's rock and roll
Now Suzy's gone, and Johnny hears a thunder
As he rolls another number and he counts
He counts the times he's dreamt himself to be the hero
'Cause then when Suzy (was a bore??)
He's heard about adventure
As he looks into the mirror now he knows
He must be the star and play guitar like thunder
And find Suzy at his rock and roll show
Boy, if I only had a good guitar and a big amp
Boy, it wouldn't be somebody else takin' my girl away
I tell ya, I know what I should do
I'll put an ad in the paper, and get a few other guys
Who want to play as much as I do
I tell ya, I ain't playin' no surf music
I'm gonna play some heavy music
I'm gonna play bad, I'm gonna play loud
I know just what I want it to sound like
It's gonna sound like, it's gonna sound like -
This is Don Kirshner
And tonight on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
A new phenomenon in the music world
With six million albums to his credit in just two short years
My good friend, here's Johnny
Now Johnny became a legend in his time
Found it easier to live in pain
Half-a-hero in a hard-hearted game
Now it's showtime, and he's caught up in the glow
He hates the rush but he needs the music so
Still he reaches out, but Suzy's disappeared
Well that's the way it goes at these rock and roll shows
It's rock and roll
That's the way it goes, it's rock and roll
That's the way it goes, it's rock and roll
Where Friday takes so long to arrive
Johnny wakes up dreaming and turns on the radio
The he jumps up playin' his guitar in the mirror
Starts his day with a rock and roll pulse
Tonight's the night that Suzy and he
Are goin' to a rock and roll show
Tonight, I'm gonna see some rock and roll
Yeah, my favorite group is playin'
Tonight, I'm gonna see some rock and roll
Well it's showtime, and he's caught up in the crowd
He hates the crush, but he loves the music loud
He reaches out, but Suzy's disappeared,
Now Johnny's standin' on a corner, after the show
Lookin' for his Suzy dear
But there goes his Suzy in the band's limousine, yeah
Well that's the way it goes at these rock and roll shows
That's the way it goes
It's rock and roll
Well, that's the way it goes
It's rock and roll
Now Suzy's gone, and Johnny hears a thunder
As he rolls another number and he counts
He counts the times he's dreamt himself to be the hero
'Cause then when Suzy (was a bore??)
He's heard about adventure
As he looks into the mirror now he knows
He must be the star and play guitar like thunder
And find Suzy at his rock and roll show
Boy, if I only had a good guitar and a big amp
Boy, it wouldn't be somebody else takin' my girl away
I tell ya, I know what I should do
I'll put an ad in the paper, and get a few other guys
Who want to play as much as I do
I tell ya, I ain't playin' no surf music
I'm gonna play some heavy music
I'm gonna play bad, I'm gonna play loud
I know just what I want it to sound like
It's gonna sound like, it's gonna sound like -
This is Don Kirshner
And tonight on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
A new phenomenon in the music world
With six million albums to his credit in just two short years
My good friend, here's Johnny
Now Johnny became a legend in his time
Found it easier to live in pain
Half-a-hero in a hard-hearted game
Now it's showtime, and he's caught up in the glow
He hates the rush but he needs the music so
Still he reaches out, but Suzy's disappeared
Well that's the way it goes at these rock and roll shows
It's rock and roll
That's the way it goes, it's rock and roll
That's the way it goes, it's rock and roll
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
The song "The Marshall Plan" details the story of a teenager who loses his girlfriend at a rock concert to the band, and, inspired by the experience, becomes a rock star himself. The song's title no doubt comes from the U.S. economic aid program for the reconstruction of post-WWII Europe of the same name.
This program was intended in part to improve U.S. relations with Europe, however in some cases, some of the countries remained apathetic (or even hostile) towards the U.S. Similarly, while "Johnny" becomes a rock star in part to win back his girl, "still he reaches out, but Suzy's disappeared."
Of course, it is likely that the title is a play on words where Marshall refers to amplifiers of the same name. Thus, Johnny's plan ("I ain't playin' no surf music - I'm gonna play some heavy music - I'm gonna play bad - I'm gonna play loud") to win Suzy back no doubt requires the use of lots of Marshall amplifiers.
There are three things I derive from the lyrics.
1) The acquisition of fame isn't so gratifying ("found it easier to live in pain").
2) Just because you change your world to the hilt doesn't mean someone else's world will be in your orbit ("Still he reaches out, but Suzy's disappeared").
3) Suzy's a band slut and nothing in the world will ever change that.
This song makes me laugh, especially the random Smoke On The Water riff.
I would think there is some metaphor within the song to "The Marshall Plan" of 1948 - which was the US' plan to aid in Europe's recovery following WWII.
The meaning is, I think, a lot like "So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star" by the Byrds, that is to say, the perception of being a rock and roll star from the outside being in stark opposition with the reality of being a rock and roll star.
This song makes me laugh, especially the random Smoke On The Water riff.
This song is awesome. The whole story going from the ground up. Everything. The Guitar is pretty sweet, and like minihats said, that breakdown with the Smoke on the Water riff is awesome.
the smoke on the water riff is nice, and I think its meant to represent what you can do with determination. considering how big Don Kirshner is.