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."
Oh, I've been sometimes under your wall
Keeping it out where I'm not welcome
I've seen you one time stumble and fall
But I still love you, you see?
I've been five times back to the well
Seeking to turn myself in something
But you can't teach what you can't sell
And I'm not the only one it seems
I still would say if you asked, "It's built on bonding"
But others will take it out and leave you wanting
I know you've done this before to them
But here's where it ends and where I stand
You can't hold onto yourself
For I have got your holy head in my hands
And I've been a long time out at your wall
Seeking to call you back from over
Because when you're out there you seem so tall
But you're not the only one you'll see
Still I'd say if you asked, "It's built on bonding"
But others will take it out and leave you wanting
I know you've done it before to them
But here's where it ends and where I stand
You say you can't hold yourself back
Well, I have got your safety head in my hands
And I've been sometimes under your hedge
I ran like a rabbit from the rifles
You had me two times out on a ledge
But I still love you, you see?
Keeping it out where I'm not welcome
I've seen you one time stumble and fall
But I still love you, you see?
I've been five times back to the well
Seeking to turn myself in something
But you can't teach what you can't sell
And I'm not the only one it seems
I still would say if you asked, "It's built on bonding"
But others will take it out and leave you wanting
I know you've done this before to them
But here's where it ends and where I stand
You can't hold onto yourself
For I have got your holy head in my hands
And I've been a long time out at your wall
Seeking to call you back from over
Because when you're out there you seem so tall
But you're not the only one you'll see
Still I'd say if you asked, "It's built on bonding"
But others will take it out and leave you wanting
I know you've done it before to them
But here's where it ends and where I stand
You say you can't hold yourself back
Well, I have got your safety head in my hands
And I've been sometimes under your hedge
I ran like a rabbit from the rifles
You had me two times out on a ledge
But I still love you, you see?
Lyrics submitted by hollyhoxnj
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More Featured Meanings
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.
From an interview with Ted Leo:
Interview Guy: You wanna play another song?
Ted: Yeah sure… It’s called “Under the Hedge” and it’s about something negative that happened to Chris and I when we played at Oberlin College in Ohio last year with a band that shall remain nameless.
i read somewhere (an online interview with ted leo, i believe) that this song is about a band he had idolized even while he was growing up, and when he saw them in concert they put on a terrible show.
but i think one of the many great things about this song is the ambiguity of its meaning; it means what you want it to.
and i love love love the way he writes for two guitars. ted leo is a genius.
i know this song is about guided by voices, but to me this song is about a guy who falls in love with one of his friends, who doesnt like him back but keeps leading him on
("I've been five times back to the well/I've been a long time out at your wall/I've been sometimes under your hedge. You had me two times out on a ledge ")
and he just keeps watching her get into bad relationships
("I've seen you one time stumble and fall, but I still love you, you see?")
and he wants to be the one guy who treats her right
("But others will take it out and leave you wanting. I know you've done it before to them but here's where it ends and where I stand.")
i dont really know if that makes sense, but thats what i get out of the lyrics
his best, in my opinion.
the lyrics, about a past relationship, that never really ended, are grand.
ted's vocals are par excellence...
A really upbeat song that obviously has meaning. You can listen to this simply to put the smile back on your face. Have to say I thought alt.rock was on the right tracks, but you can't argue with the guy that wrote it! Enjoy a great song.
Twice I've seen the first verse written as:
"Oh I've been sometimes under your wall. PEEPING AT ALL where I'm not welcome. I've seen you one time stumble and fall but I still love you, you see? I've been five times back to the well seeking to TELL myself WE'RE something. But you can't teach what you can't sell and I'm not the only one it seems."
That seems more accurate to me....
"Safety Head"? Geez - talk about butchering lyrics! These are the correct lyrics:
Oh I've been sometimes under your wall. Peeping at all where I'm not welcome. I've seen you one time stumble and fall but I still love you, you see? I've been five times back to the well seeking to tell myself we're something. But you can't teach what you can't sell and I'm not the only one it seems.
Chorus: I still would say if you asked, it's built on bonding, but others will take it all and leave you wanting. I know you've done this before to them but here's where it ends and where I stand. You can't hold onto yourself? Well I have got your holy head in my hands.
And I've been long time out at your wall, seeking to call you back from over, 'cause when you're out there you seem so tall, but you're not the only one, you'll see.
Chorus: I still would say if you asked, it's built on bonding, but others will take it all and leave you wanting. I know you've done it before to them, but here's where it ends and where I stand. You say you can't hold yourself back? Well I have got your sainted head in my hands.
And I've been sometimes under your hedge - I ran like a rabbit from your rifles. You had me two times out on the ledge, but I still love you, you see?
are we not able to correct lyrics anymore?
the band is guided by voices, he almost got into a fight with robert pollard