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."
Today I found my soul
I felt it die inside of me
So I turn to you
Life is like that you know
I have your face in a photo in high school when you were alive but that's all I have
And I can't remember who I was myself then and it doesn't help still I look to you as a friend to tell me
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Like a lullaby we sing
Well the wind that blows its blowing colder and the child that grows she's growing older
And friends we know they'll turn a shoulder
The friends we know they are growing colder
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Where's my soul
Cycle of the moon brings blood to the women
In the blood of the woman brings birth of a child
Child grow up
Keep forgetting something
Birth of a child comes someplace wild you
Even grey days beat the shade to wean
Unbodied unsouled unheard unseen
Let the gift be grown in the time to call our own
Let the truth be sewn before the window's closing
Truth is natural like a wind that blows
Follow the direction no matter where it goes
So it shall be the earth and the sea
Let the truth blow like a hurricane through me
If I've been cold, if I've spoken in anger, to have been bold, forgive me
You know I don't see your mother, not like before, though she hasn't forgotten she doesn't like to be reminded anymore.
Annie got married it didn't come with out tears like the day you died I have laughter for these years
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
All the things we know are going to fall away from me like a grain of sand slips through a good friends hand
I felt it die inside of me
So I turn to you
Life is like that you know
I have your face in a photo in high school when you were alive but that's all I have
And I can't remember who I was myself then and it doesn't help still I look to you as a friend to tell me
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Like a lullaby we sing
Well the wind that blows its blowing colder and the child that grows she's growing older
And friends we know they'll turn a shoulder
The friends we know they are growing colder
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Where's my soul
Cycle of the moon brings blood to the women
In the blood of the woman brings birth of a child
Child grow up
Keep forgetting something
Birth of a child comes someplace wild you
Even grey days beat the shade to wean
Unbodied unsouled unheard unseen
Let the gift be grown in the time to call our own
Let the truth be sewn before the window's closing
Truth is natural like a wind that blows
Follow the direction no matter where it goes
So it shall be the earth and the sea
Let the truth blow like a hurricane through me
If I've been cold, if I've spoken in anger, to have been bold, forgive me
You know I don't see your mother, not like before, though she hasn't forgotten she doesn't like to be reminded anymore.
Annie got married it didn't come with out tears like the day you died I have laughter for these years
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
Who we are now, who we are
Who we are now, who we are
Where does time go now on a wake for young souls
All the things we know are going to fall away from me like a grain of sand slips through a good friends hand
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Mountain Song
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
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"'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/
Punchline
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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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
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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 this song is hard to decifer, but after years of listening to it, I have decided on a pretty resonable thought on things. I think, the friend who died, the friend in the picture, is the speaker's highschool love, and that they had a child together: Annie. When "Annie got married, it didn't come without tears" the speaker thinks of her dead mother, all the memories they shared together, and all the memories of his child growing up. As far as the part about the friend's mother and telling the truth, I think maybe Annie dosen't know the speaker is her father, and he wants to tell her who he is before he gets too old and dosen't remember his memories of her mother anymore.