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."
I'm harboring a fugitive, a defector of a kind
And she lives in my soul and drinks of my wine
And I'd give my last breath to keep us alive
Are they coming for us with cameras or guns?
We don't know which but we gotta run
And you say, "This is not what I bargained for"
So hide yourself
For me
All for me
We swore to ourselves we'd go to the end of the world
But I got caught up in the whirl and the twirl of it all
A day in the sun dancing alone
Baby, I'm so sorry
Now it's coming to you the lessons I've learned
Won't do you any good you've got to get burned
Well the curse and the blessing they're one in the same
Baby, it's all such a treacherous gain
Hide yourself from me
I said hide yourself from me
All for me
Ooh!
Ooh!
I stood without clothes danced in the sand
I was aching with freedom kissing the damned
I said remember this as how it should be
Oh baby, I said it's all in our hands
Got to learn to respect what we don't understand
We are fortunate ones, fortunate ones, I swear
Hide yourself for me
I will hide myself for you
All for you
All for you
I will myself for you
All for you
I stood without clothes I danced in the sand
I was aching with freedom kissing the damned
I said remember this as how it should be
And she lives in my soul and drinks of my wine
And I'd give my last breath to keep us alive
Are they coming for us with cameras or guns?
We don't know which but we gotta run
And you say, "This is not what I bargained for"
So hide yourself
For me
All for me
We swore to ourselves we'd go to the end of the world
But I got caught up in the whirl and the twirl of it all
A day in the sun dancing alone
Baby, I'm so sorry
Now it's coming to you the lessons I've learned
Won't do you any good you've got to get burned
Well the curse and the blessing they're one in the same
Baby, it's all such a treacherous gain
Hide yourself from me
I said hide yourself from me
All for me
Ooh!
Ooh!
I stood without clothes danced in the sand
I was aching with freedom kissing the damned
I said remember this as how it should be
Oh baby, I said it's all in our hands
Got to learn to respect what we don't understand
We are fortunate ones, fortunate ones, I swear
Hide yourself for me
I will hide myself for you
All for you
All for you
I will myself for you
All for you
I stood without clothes I danced in the sand
I was aching with freedom kissing the damned
I said remember this as how it should be
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
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.
I think Amy's referring to an internal struggle, you're right EZEebs. Maybe it has something to do with fame: 'are they coming for us with camera's or guns' (the press), and the standing without clothes: the feeling of lost freedom could very well refer to fame's disadvantages.