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."
We might kiss when we are alone
Nobody's watching
We might take it home
We might make out when nobody's there
It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
We might live like never before
When there's nothing to give
Well how can we ask for more
We might make love in some sacred place
The look on your face is delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
Nobody's watching
We might take it home
We might make out when nobody's there
It's not that we're scared
It's just that it's delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
We might live like never before
When there's nothing to give
Well how can we ask for more
We might make love in some sacred place
The look on your face is delicate
So why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
why do you fill my sorrow
With the words you've borrowed
From the only place you've know
And why do you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why do you sing with me at all?
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
Delicate Lyrics as written by Damien George Rice
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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We might kiss when we are alone | Implies secrecy. When nobody's watching | Confirms the discretion. We might take it home | ----We can be private. We might make out when nobody's there | No need to worry, because we're alone in private. It's not that we're scared | Theres nothing to fear on both our parts. It's just that it's delicate | Perhaps this is forbidden love? I concur with it being a secret love affair.
We might live like never before | Have moments that are remarkable. When there's nothing to give | There is no foundation to build a relationship? Well how can we ask for more | So how can we work this out? We might make love in some sacred place | Making love. The look on your face is delicate | parallels here the word "delicate" to her beauty while making love.
So why do you fill my sorrow | Why did you engage in this love affair? With the words you've borrowed | Words like I LOVE YOU From the only place you've known | What did these words mean to you? And why do you sing Hallelujah | Why did you tell me you love me? If it means nothing to you | If you didn't mean it Why do you sing with me at all? | Heartbreak!
therottingorange.com
Excellent work, although I would like to add a possiblity...perhaps it's not about an affair. Perhaps their differences are embarrassing to him...she may be from a lower socio-economic class; she may be older; heavier; homelier; less educated; of a different race; etc.
This is a very good interpretation. I like how you've broken the lines of the song to match what it means. <br /> <br />
Right on the money!
I really think this song is about an affair. But, its an affair that is denying being a "love affair". He is saying in the chorus, "If it really didn't mean anything more than just being physical, then why did you keep going? Why did you make it something special?" When he asks "Why'd you sing with me at all" he's asking, why the heck would you start this thing if you didn't LOVE me.
I think being in an affair would cause you to either totally bring up the L-word or totally deny it. This song is representing the latter. And you know, I think he's also saying, all of the physical stuff doesn't matter. So what that they make out and kiss in private.. he'd rather be assured of love or commitment.
Yep. Not necessarily an "affair", just some sort of relationship where he feels more than she does.
I can relate to this because I had a friend who I was seeing in private..and I swear this song was written about us. It wasn't that we were embarrassed or anything..it was just complicated (or delicate) and it was our business - no one else needed to know. except it got to a point where I began to question what was really going on because my feelings were real but it was as if we were creating this other world behind closed doors where we could be together and as soon as we left that place his feelings were shut off(even tho he assured me that wasn't the case), but it wasn't so easy for me. "So why do you fill my sorrow With the words you've borrowed" its almost as if they are using lines on you..like a sleazy guy chatting you up complimenting you just to get you into bed "And why do you sing Hallelujah If it means nothing to you Why do you sing with me at all?" why are you preaching things to me you dont even believe in..saying one thing yet telling me something else with your actions - so if this is true then why are you still keeping me hanging? I think its brilliant the way he can tell a story thru the lyric that so many people can relate to yet its still deep, doesn't have the gloss of most music around these days which is a dead give away its just words telling a story with no personal meaning..sure that music sells, but give me meaningful music any day. I actually stumbled across damien by accident..best mistake i ever made.
They once had a special, intense love that no one else could possibly understand. Due to life's circumstances, they separated but later were drawn back to each other again. They aren't scared, it's just that it's a tragic love that deep inside they both know has nowhere left to go. Yet although they know this, one of them really wants to believe that maybe this time it will be different. Against all better judgement they live in that fleeting moment really loving each other and making love in a place that is sacred and special to only them. But reality steps back in and they have to part. The person who attempted to lie to themselves and believe it could be different this time around is yes, almost yelling and blaming the other for making them believe it could work. But by the end of the song and he is really alone with his thoughts, he knows that he can only blame himself for getting his hopes up. It's just a tragic situation and they both loved the best they could but now it's really over.
for me, delicate is a song about a "confusing" relationship between two persons.. probably a secret "love" between friends.. it came to a point that they no longer know what is really goin on between the two of them, and along the way there were expectations and sooner these expectations were not met.. "why'd you sing hallelujah if it means nothing to you.." and so creates tension... "why'd you sing with me at all?.."
this song is really excellent, by the way.. and with everything i've written above.. i can truly say that i can relate to this song. =)
As i sit here listening to it for the 3234867th time, it reminds me much about the circumstance i am in. And here it goes...
A sacred relationship between two people are occuring, two amazing beings becoming; taking it slow and realising how happy they make each other.
'We might kiss when we are alone When nobody's watching We might take it home We might make out when nobody's there'
'It's not that we're scared It's just that it's delicate'
Now this is where it becomes like my life.
'So why do you fill my sorrow With the words you've borrowed From the only place you've know'
I didn't realise people were referring this part to the actual song Hallelujah, i personally don't think it is about it.
'And why do you sing Hallelujah If it means nothing to you Why do you sing with me at all?'
'We might live like never before When there's nothing to give Well how can we ask for more'
'We might make love in some sacred place' -- Love; an act of love in a place nobody else knows.
'The look on your face is delicate'
This is truly a beautiful song. And it plays for the 3234868th time now. =)
This meaning resonates with me the most :))
i think this song is about a friends with benefits situation gone wrong. somebody started to have feelings which as everyone knows is the #1 rule in these kinds of things. they only makeout when nobody's there...and they don't really let anybody know about what they're doing because it's nobody else's business. but then somebody started to feel taken advantage of in the relationship and feels as if s/he is being used by the other person...which s/he is...so why'd you sing with me at all if you knew that you were never going to have feelings for me? question of my life
I've got to almost absolutely agree on that one, but I think it may be about two people who both like each other, but neither are ready for a relationship (which is what makes the situation so delicate, and there's implications that they're both aware that they're treading on dangerous ground; "the look on your face is delicate", "Why'd you fill my sorrow").<br /> So while it is a friends with benefits situation, I think there are feelings there between both of them, not just one, it's just that one of them isn't ready for a relationship, and feels that they have to leave the situation entirely to save the other person.
I completely agree with both of you. I ask myself this exact same question (why'd you sing hallelujah?) when I think about how it relates to something 'delicate' that I had. <br /> I often wonder if he really ever did care though.
i'm in a similar situation. Well, it's delicate so. I love to view the new comments on the forum. Sounds lke you and I have a lot in common mixtape22. Quite a mix. ha ha ha hah aha ha ha. Seriously, I feel yah. I wonder if he did.
While it would make sense to interpret this song as being about an affair, and it probably is, I have my own meaning for it. I like to think of it as about a doomed love between two people. I have a little expereince in that department. There was a time that I was in a very loving relationship, we were perfect for each other, but this girl happened to be planning on moving across the country because she wasn't happy with parts of her life. So basically, why would she keep expressing her love and all that when we both know that we were going to be torn apart. If she really felt that way, how could she be able to accept the fact that she'd never see me again when she left? So yeah, why would you say hallelujah, if it meant nothing to ya. Fuck if I know.
i know this was from years ago but i just wanted to say i feel your pain. this girl did the same thing to me. it wasnt across country but it was a distance. everything was great and i really thought things would work out. little did i know she had different plans and moved away. now she is back around and the feelings went flying again for us both but she is with someone. the hope is there but i get this feeling its just going to be a secret little friend love affair like the other comments... wouldnt that just be fucking perfect... well thanks for listening. its nice to talk to someone who had a similar issue
I don't think this song is religious at all. The verse with the most meaning to me is:
"So why do you fill my sorrow With the words you've borrowed From the only place you've know And why do you sing Hallelujah If it means nothing to you Why do you sing with me at all?"
This verse is about a relationship. He is singing about his relationship with someone whom he seemingly is in love with. The main line in this verse, to me, is 'why do you sing hallelujah if it means nothing to ya'. I think this line is essentially saying "Why do you say you love me when love means nothing to you?" This lover of his 'borrowed' the words from one of her previous relationships, perhaps, where someone said they loved her just to go to bed with her. This is 'filling his sorrow' because he knows she doesn't love him back and he is asking 'why she even sings with him at all' as a way of asking why does she even bother with him when she doesnt't love him.
With all that being said, I feel this song is about him loving someone and being in a relationship with her but the love being unrequitted(sp). She could just be going along with him for the ride or she may even think she loves him. She possibly equates lust with love.
Well thats just my interpretation.
it's about somebody playing the part, saying something just to get what they want, and playing into somone else's weakness.
btw, this song was featured at the end of tonight's episode of "Lost"