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."
The color of the sky as far as I can see is coal grey.
Lift my head from the pillow and then fall again.
With a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my lips as if I might cry.
Well by the force of will my lungs are filled and so I breathe.
Lately it seems this big bed is where I never leave.
Shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
Quiver in my voice as I cry,
"What a cold and rainy day. Where on earth is the sun hid away."
I hear the sound of a noon bell chime.
Now I'm far behind.
You've put in 'bout half a day
while here I lie
with a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my lip as if I might cry,
"What a cold and rainy day. Where on earth is the sun hid away?"
Do I need someone here to scold me
or do I need someone who'll grab and pull me out of this four poster dull torpor pulling downward.
For it is such a long time since my better days.
I say my prayers nightly this will pass away.
The color of the sky is grey as I can see through the blinds.
Lift my head from the pillow and then fall again
with a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my voice as I cry,
"What a cold and rainy day. Where on earth is the sun hid away?"
I shiver, quiver, and try to wake.
Lift my head from the pillow and then fall again.
With a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my lips as if I might cry.
Well by the force of will my lungs are filled and so I breathe.
Lately it seems this big bed is where I never leave.
Shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
Quiver in my voice as I cry,
"What a cold and rainy day. Where on earth is the sun hid away."
I hear the sound of a noon bell chime.
Now I'm far behind.
You've put in 'bout half a day
while here I lie
with a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my lip as if I might cry,
"What a cold and rainy day. Where on earth is the sun hid away?"
Do I need someone here to scold me
or do I need someone who'll grab and pull me out of this four poster dull torpor pulling downward.
For it is such a long time since my better days.
I say my prayers nightly this will pass away.
The color of the sky is grey as I can see through the blinds.
Lift my head from the pillow and then fall again
with a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my voice as I cry,
"What a cold and rainy day. Where on earth is the sun hid away?"
I shiver, quiver, and try to wake.
Lyrics submitted by kornchick
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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.
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.
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.
I think this is more than just depression - it's about sickness, and being very tired of life. And she needs someone to pull her out - to return her into her better days.
The surprising thing is that the music is actually happy, or at least danceable. Surprising, since listening to the lyrics does not make you want to dance...
the song itself is about depression, she can't even get herself out of bed. Maybe seasonal depression, but it's not all about the weather.
She says she's alone in a big bed, and at noon she mentions someone has put in half a day. Obviously the person she shares the bed with was up early and attacked the day but she didn't. Maybe she's unemployed? Maybe her lover has her locked up? Why is she going to cry because of the weather? Is her domestic partner abusive? The weather is an excuse to stay in bed. For being such a cheerful melody, this is definitely a dreadfully depressing song.
Yeah, depression. Not just "I'm depressed" depression, but real, clinical depression. This song is about someone that needs help.
but magoo, everything you said is what depression is like... not wanting to get out of bed... gloomy perspectives... that's depression, my man. so you're right it's about those things, but not about it not being about depression.
Clearly the song is about depression. If you examine the subjects of other songs by 10,000 maniacs and Natalie, you will find that most songs are about significant life experiences that many individuals live through in their lives.
I especially like the lyrics: "Do I need someone here to scold me or do I need someone who'll grab and pull me out of this four poster dull torpor pulling downward."
Often people close to those who are depressed handle their depression with anger....
Also I dont necessarily believe this song is about Natalie herself....could be anyone. She may not have even written the lyrics for this song (I am not really sure one way or the other)
Interesting posts which try to deny this is about depression. I'm not an expert in 10000 maniacs, but I know a little about Natalie from reading, and I'm a self-confessed expert in depression having lived with it for over 30 years. Shrink concurs.
I thought this song was rather upbeat and I couldn't figure out what she was singing given her wonderful style, so I came here. What a shock to read she'd penned my autobiography.
I'd just say anyone who wants to chime in this isn't about depression only does so out of their complete ignorance and has no idea what chronic depression is like to live with. Of course, that's just like people to have opinions about things they know nothing about and their own ego allows them to pretend to be an expert.
For it is such a long time since my better days. I say my prayers nightly this will pass away. it's not just about a rainy day. It's obviously an ongoing problem. But i do agree it's interesting the way the music contrasts to the lyrics.
ok, this song must have been writtren in london! It the greyest, most depressing place and you just don't want to drag yourself out of bed there! I just got out after 7 years!
I don't think this is about depression. It's about a cold rainy day that you don't feel like getting out of bed because you're shivering. It's only going to be colder outside of bed than inside so it's looking pretty gloomy in perspective. I doubt this is about depression.