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."
As the Darkness creeps over the Northern mountains of Norway and the silence reach the woods, I awake and rise... Into the night I wander, like many nights before, and like in my dreams but centuries ago.
Under the moon, under the trees. Into the Infinity of Darkness, beyond the light of a new day, into the frozen nature chilly, beyond the warmth of the dying sun. Hear the whispering of the wind, the Shadows calling...
I gaze into the moon which grants me visions these twelve full moon nights of the year, and for each night the light of the holy disciples fade away. Weaker and weaker, one by one.
I gaze into the moon which makes my mind pure as crystal lakes, my eyes cold as the darkest winter nights, by yet there is a flame inside. It guides me into the dark shadows beyond this world, into the infinity of thoughts... thoughts of upcoming reality.
In the name of the almighty Emperor I will ride the Lands in pride, carrying the Blacksword at hand, in warfare. I will grind my hatred upon the loved ones. Despair will be brought upon the hoping childs of happiness. Wherever there is joy the hordes of the eclipse will pollute sadness and hate under the reign of fear. The lands will grow black. There is no sunrise yet to come into the wastelands of phantoms lost.
May these moments under the moon be eternal. May the infinity haunt me... In Darkness
Under the moon, under the trees. Into the Infinity of Darkness, beyond the light of a new day, into the frozen nature chilly, beyond the warmth of the dying sun. Hear the whispering of the wind, the Shadows calling...
I gaze into the moon which grants me visions these twelve full moon nights of the year, and for each night the light of the holy disciples fade away. Weaker and weaker, one by one.
I gaze into the moon which makes my mind pure as crystal lakes, my eyes cold as the darkest winter nights, by yet there is a flame inside. It guides me into the dark shadows beyond this world, into the infinity of thoughts... thoughts of upcoming reality.
In the name of the almighty Emperor I will ride the Lands in pride, carrying the Blacksword at hand, in warfare. I will grind my hatred upon the loved ones. Despair will be brought upon the hoping childs of happiness. Wherever there is joy the hordes of the eclipse will pollute sadness and hate under the reign of fear. The lands will grow black. There is no sunrise yet to come into the wastelands of phantoms lost.
May these moments under the moon be eternal. May the infinity haunt me... In Darkness
Lyrics submitted by Psychedeliasmith
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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/
what does he mean?
EMPEROR IS GREAT! just simple thoughtfull dark fairytales i love them... this whole album is full of lyrical beauty, it just smashes the whole satanic cock rock stereotypical image thats stuck with black metal
are you saying they arent at all satanic?
Emperor's music is semi-Satanic (points to Inno a Satana), but not as extremely Satanic as say, Mayhem or Gorgoroth. Their later albums mostly drop the Satanic elements.
"it just smashes the whole satanic cock rock stereotypical image thats stuck with black metal "
And that statement just falls apart when you consider Emperor's church burnings etc.
The only member of Emperor that supposedly took place in any of those Arsons was Samoth. Varg Vikernes was responsible for most of it.
it was actually only Samoth who burned the church
I think Tchort also burned something; I know he was arrested for some crime. That and you have Faust's "indescretion" in turning down a guy's advances.
satanism and church burning do not go hand in hand. you can burn churches just because you hate christianity and its oppression too ya know.
That is true, but the majority of people lump the two together.
he did a little more than turn him down, he fucking killed him. it was samoth that burned the churches with euro and varg and that group.