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."
Do you think she's swimming in your lies?
Do you think it's all just murky green?
Don't you think that she would realize?
Yeah, do you think that she has never seen?
'Cause when the seaweed sinks
And the sun gets low
When the waves retire
To the darkness below
I know, I know Ruby sees all
Whoa, I know
I know Ruby sees
I can feel the pressure building high
You should see you're headed for a storm
Don't you see it building in the sky?
Don't you think it's time to swim to shore?
'Cause when the seaweed sinks
And the sun gets low
When the waves retire
To the darkness below
I know, I know Ruby sees all
Whoa, I know
I know Ruby sees
Do you think it's all just murky green?
Don't you think that she would realize?
Yeah, do you think that she has never seen?
'Cause when the seaweed sinks
And the sun gets low
When the waves retire
To the darkness below
I know, I know Ruby sees all
Whoa, I know
I know Ruby sees
I can feel the pressure building high
You should see you're headed for a storm
Don't you see it building in the sky?
Don't you think it's time to swim to shore?
'Cause when the seaweed sinks
And the sun gets low
When the waves retire
To the darkness below
I know, I know Ruby sees all
Whoa, I know
I know Ruby sees
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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.
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.
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.
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.
I think that Ruby's boyfriend is cheating on her, as can be seen in this line: "Do you think she's swimming in your lies?" and also here: "Don't you think that she would realize?" The singer is warning Ruby's boyfriend that he won't be able to get away with it, thus the "heading for a storm" comment, and that "Ruby see's all".
Really great song.
This song always reminds of the song "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town." Perhaps this is CAKE's response? Maybe I'm just weird, but the song ends with a paralyzed guy in the Vietnam War wanting to kill Ruby because she's "gone to town" to find someone new since he came back in that state. I've always taken it as a metaphor for a cuckold situation, too. Anyway, I could see CAKE's version as a continuation of the Loggins song. Ruby could be dead, hence the seaweed sinking and the waves retiring to the darkness below (I get this image of Ruby buried in the deep). She "sees all" because she's dead, maybe.
This is an interesting idea, especially considering how Cake covered "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town" a few years ago.
The personification of 'Ruby' seems natural and the song reads well from that perspective. However, I think the song could be interpreted as a larger metaphor for the Earth and our precarious relationship with it. Read Ruby as Gaia or Mother Earth and the song still reads well. "I can feel the pressure building high. You should see you're headed for a storm. Don't you see it building in the sky?" (Pollution, global warming?)
Anyway, that's how I hear the song.
@Dude1138 Nice point of view, makes sense too<br />
this is a great song, and i'm pretty sure this is what its about:
Ruby is some guy's girlfriend, and the guy is cheating on her and thinks she is oblivious. however, john is telling him 'how can you think that she has no idea? how can you tell yourself this will never end up in a big fight (see second verse)?'
yep.
Cool song. Love the bluegrass thing they have going on this album.
mhm.
by far the best cake song, He is saying that Ruby needs to stop cheating on her boyfriend before too late since she's "headed for a storm" and that its really obvious even though Ruby thinks she "sees all" and can get away with it.