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 listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul
Where I'll end up, well, I think only God really knows
I've sat upon the setting sun
But never, never, never, never
I never wanted water once
No never, never, never
I listen to my words but they fall far below
I let my music take me where my heart wants to go
I've swam upon the devil's lake
But never, never, never, never
I'll never make the same mistake
No, never, never, never
Where I'll end up, well, I think only God really knows
I've sat upon the setting sun
But never, never, never, never
I never wanted water once
No never, never, never
I listen to my words but they fall far below
I let my music take me where my heart wants to go
I've swam upon the devil's lake
But never, never, never, never
I'll never make the same mistake
No, never, never, never
Lyrics submitted by ramblingfool
The Wind Lyrics as written by Yusuf Islam
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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.
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.
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 let my music take me where my heart wants to go." This line has to be one of the best ever put to music. Music is such an essential part of the human soul that it can bring us where we need to be, instead of where our minds drag us.
I think the song is about Cat finding contentment in God. A lot of his music was about death and religion, but this song i feel is about how all that is behind him.
I listen to the wind to the wind of my soul
He's finally listening just to what his soul is telling him, and ignoring the misleadings of the world around him.
Where I'll end up well I think only God really knows
the second line of this is a just a standard phrase for not knowing, but here it means that truly only God knows, and he's putting his trust in that.
I've sat upon the setting sun but never, never never never I never wanted water once no never, never, never
Now that he's at peace, even sitting on the sun doesn't make him cry out for water, which I'm guessing means giving in to temptations of life.
I listen to my words but they fall far below I let the my music take me where my heart wants to go
His music has helped him get this far in it all.
I swam upon the devil's lake but never, never never never I'll never make the same mistake
Pretty clear here, he's put aside the dark things he did in his past, and he'll never return to them.
Heh. Whatever you say man. But to me, Cat Stevens is a musician and because of that I'll only judge him as a musician.
And f*ck, I just love this song.
This song was written when he was still christian, judgeing from the devil comment. I don't think he'd reffer to the devil as a devoute muslim, now. But yes, I understand the conflicts with him. Considering the American gov't in general wouldn't even let him into the good ol' U.S.A. for quite some time due to his giving money to knowen religious organizations that have engaged in terrorist actions against others. Cat Stevens swears that he knows nothing of what has been done with it and has always maintained his peaceful outlook on life. After all, this was written amongst many other anti war songs that he did. it was the 60's after all when he was at his all time heightened fame. Great artist non the less, although I haven't listened to any of his Yusif releases. Maybe some time i'll take the time and listen to it to see if his writting has gone to pot or not. Should be interesting non the less.
This song is so simple, yet so profound. I dig it.
When I heard this song on the Timberland ad, I went out and bought "the very best of". I never regretted it. Its a great CD, filled with songs like this one. So pleasing to listen to, yet it makes ya think.
I love this song, but I don't know what it's exactly about. To me, it means living a simple, enjoyable life. By going where your heart takes you, not having too many wants, and not dwelling on your past mistakes, you will live a happy, complete life.
you have to listen to the wind of your soul. you don't always have to know where your going. less is better.
this is a fantastically simple song, but it is so effecting. It is just saying that you should just do what you want, let the wind take you where you want to go. Brilliant.
this song is amazing.