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've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
Take a straight and stronger course
To the corner of your life
Make the white queen run so fast
She hasn't got time to make you a wife
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Move me on to any black square
Use me anytime you want
Just remember that the goal
Is for us all to capture all we want (Move me on to any black square)
Don't surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me
Initial it with loving care (Don't surround yourself)
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Don't surround yourself with yourself)
Don't surround yourself with yourself (Don't surround yourself)
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me (Send an instant karma to me)
Initial it with loving care (Don't surround yourself)
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And it's news is captured
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
Take a straight and stronger course
To the corner of your life
Make the white queen run so fast
She hasn't got time to make you a wife
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Move me on to any black square
Use me anytime you want
Just remember that the goal
Is for us all to capture all we want (Move me on to any black square)
Don't surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me
Initial it with loving care (Don't surround yourself)
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Don't surround yourself with yourself)
Don't surround yourself with yourself (Don't surround yourself)
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me (Send an instant karma to me)
Initial it with loving care (Don't surround yourself)
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured
For the queen to use!
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And it's news is captured
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
Lyrics submitted by Nelly, edited by rjsimmons, kathy10154
I've Seen All Good People Lyrics as written by Jon Anderson Chris Squire
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Just A Little Lovin'
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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/

Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.

Somewhere Only We Know
Keane
Keane
Per the FAQ on Keane's website, Keane's drummer Richard Hughes, stated the following:
"We've been asked whether "Somewhere Only We Know" is about a specific place, and Tim has been saying that, for him, or us as individuals, it might be about a geographical space, or a feeling; it can mean something individual to each person, and they can interpret it to a memory of theirs... It's perhaps more of a theme rather than a specific message... Feelings that may be universal, without necessarily being totally specific to us, or a place, or a time..."
With the nostalgic sentiment and the overall tone of the song, I think Keane is attempting to express a Portuguese term known as 'saudade', which does not have a direct English translation but roughly means "that which we remember because it is gone."
As far as I can tell, it's about chess tactics. I think the lyrics are told from the perspective of a black bishop, since there's reference to making the "White Queen run so fast" and also "Move me onto any black square". 'He' is singing to either the Black King or Queen, because he sings "Don't surround yourself with yourself" - the second 'yourself' being the army of pawns or the body politic. I think it's more likely the Queen, since it's the Queen's mobility that is her greatest strength. If she were surrounded by pawns, she would be hampered, whereas the King needs all the protection he can get. That's my best guess...
This song contains two quotes from John Lennon songs:
"Instant Karma"
"All we are saying, is Give Peace a Chance"
chess = war ("my country" and "their country") chess=life ("me" and "them") I'VE SEEN ALL GOOD PEOPLE TURN THEIR HEADS EACH DAY SO SATISFIED I'M ON MY WAY. Soldier, so sure he's doing the right thing, all his fellow citizens cheering him. TAKE A STRAIGHT AND STRONGER COURSE TO THE CORNER OF YOUR LIFE. Follow orders blindly, so that you end up at the corner of your life, dead. (the other corner of a chess board, where you can be easily captured) MAKE THE WHITE QUEEN RUN SO FAST SHE HASN'T GOT TIME TO MAKE YOU A WIFE. If you focus on making an enemy out of different nations, they will be concentrating their efforts on defending themselves (RUNNING FAST) instead of possibly developing a good relationship.
'CAUSE IT'S TIME, IS TIME IN TIME WITH YOUR TIME AND ITS NEWS IT CAPTURED FOR THE QUEEN TO USE. reference to chess again, when if it's the opponent's move, you are suspended in time, and the opponent sees "the news" (your movements) and the queen can now use it to her advantage. Same with real-time war, when the news is captured, information is used by the media to one nation's advantage. news is captured in a short video/a photo, that can be manipulated.
MOVE ME ON TO ANY BLACK SQUARE, USE ME ANY TIME YOU WANT, JUST REMEMBER THAT THE GOAL IS FOR US ALL TO CAPTURE ALL WE WANT. YEA, YEA, YEA. an individual is used by the government, just like a chess piece, in the Statist view of black ("our") and white ("their") worlds. This view is mocked by saying "yeah yeah yeah", ironically. From now on the song gives us a different view, and advice follows:
DON'T SURROUND YOURSELF WITH YOURSELF, Don't look at the world as only "us" and "them". Don't identify yourself with either black or white chess pieces. Go mingle. MOVE ON BACK TWO SQUARES Moving forward and attacking isn't progress. If you refrain from attacking, it is the REAL move forward ("MOVE ON"), although it's seen as a move backwards ("MOVE BACK"). At the beginning of a chess game, a pawn can move forward 2 squares. But what if he didn't? What if he said no to starting a war and did the opposite thing? SEND AN INSTANT KARMA TO ME Don't initiate violence. Initiate love.
Amazing! Thank you so much
Out of this world insight. Thank you for sharing your wisdom
@zamiast Cool. I like your interpretation, but I think this song could hold meanings for both war and, as others have mentioned here, social metaphors and "making a wall around yourself".
@zamiast Excellent insights!<br />
Who would write a song about chess? Yeah, ProgRock is supposed to be for the smart people, but nah, I don't think chess. There are refrences to chess, but the song is probably more about a life situation using metaphors with chess. Don't make a Wall around yourself. I'm not really totally sure what the lyrics mean, and I'm probably wrong. Beautiful song though.
I agree with you there. And for some reason, I thought of Alice in Wonderland when I heard this song.
@PinkLolita: Yes, there are references to Lewis Carroll here: "the Red Queen," for example. The complex, intertwined themes are not unlike a 'rabbit hole.'
It would be hard to deny the chess metaphor. The song mentions queens and squares, sometimes of white and black color, as well as "capture." It's unlikely these would all appear repeatedly in a song as a coincidence. From a chess perspective then, the lines "Don't surround yourself with yourself / Move on back two squares" could be referring to the king. In a special chess move, the king can move two squares, switching sides with the rook, which effectively makes the king isolated in the corner (by itself). The song seems to be warning the king (or boss, leader, whoever) against this. The vocals seem to come from the bishop (only moves on black squares), as someone already mentioned. He's telling the king or player to use him as he'd wish, but keep in mind that his purpose is to capture all he can, or get as much out of life, etc. Seems to be a song directed at those in charge.
I was really hooked on this song a couple of weeks ago, and I was talking to my dad about music in general and he brought up this song as well. He said he used to get real drunk and drive home listening to this, and he'd always wait until it finished before he got out the car and went to bed, and that would complete the night for him. It's truly a beautiful song, and will be etched upon my memory as long as it has been on my dad's
I heard that Jon anderson wrote this song after having an acid trip about life being like a game of chess. This is an anti-war song: The term "I've seen all good people" is ALL the people, including the so-called enemy. The line, "Don't surround yourself with yourself" refers to self-righteous behavior; "Move on back two squares" is a chess term meaning to retreat and rethink your position. The lyrics also refer to the queen, which is the most versatile and powerful chess piece. It talks about how news is captured for use by the queen, which uses forces to take control and manipulate troops against the enemy. War is like a game of chess. This song references "Instant Karma" which was a song recorded by John Lennon a year earlier. The lines: "Just remember that the gold is for us to capture all we want, anywhere, Yea, yea, yea" refers to the rich and powerful victimizing the weak and poor. The US was taken off the Gold standard by Richard Nixon August 15, 1971 the same year this was released.
Listen closely when the organ kicks in loudly at the end of the "chess" verse....
They say faintly "All we are saying, is give peace a chance"-
I feel the song is designed to encourage the individual to do just that... "dont surround yourself with yourself"... be more considerate towards others and let your guard down. Also, "Move on back two squares"... take a step back and think before acting. The lyrics, to me, are metaphorical instructions to improve on selfish human nature.
"I've seen all good people turn their heads each day so satisfied I'm on my way."- It sounds like someone is going off to war and has the town's support. I mean, you'd have to do something REALLY brave to have like everyone in town turn their heads to you and look satisfied at you and your mission. Other possibilities: Growing up...people could be looking at a kid full of innocence walking down the street, seeing potential to do good in him. Getting married- though this would be later contradicted ("she hasn't got time to make you a wife") Or maybe he's going to buy drugs and just thinks everybody loves him.
"Take a straight and stronger course to the corner of your life. Make the white queen run so fast she hasn't got time to make you a wife."
'Cause it's time, is time in time with your time and its news it captured For the queen to use. Move me on to any black square, Use me any time you want, Just remember that the goal Is for us all to capture all we want. Yea, yea, yea.
Don't surround yourself with yourself, Move on back two squares, Send an instant karma to me, Initial it with loving care
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
The white queen part seems to reference the book "Through the Looking Glass" written by Lewis Carrol in-which the white queen challenges Alice to a foot race. Besides that I think the song is about being a social person and not being self-centered and I think people are trying much too hard to get a bigger meaning out of this song. The anti-war song meaning is absurd only because you can call almost any song an anti-war song by twisting lyrics. I don't think about war when I listen to the music of yes.It's simple... don't be a selfish person, don't surround yourself with yourself.