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."
Look up!!
See-see-see-see-see-captain christ says!!
You think too much about the wrong things.
You sing about the wrong things.
Take extra special care!!
Simply put you're a fuck up.
See-see-see-see-see-captain christ says!!
You think too much about the wrong things.
You sing about the wrong things.
Take extra special care..
Take extra special...
Take extra special...
Take on the world, at their own game.
You might succeed, and win again.
Ribs break. Souls stay bare.
Your' forked stare cuts through.
You twist, you turn
Wrapping around me, wrapping around me.
Now, so tight, squeezing the life from me.
You're facing a pointless task.
But it's the same thing, and it's the same thing.
And I will face the task...
See-see-see-see-see-captain christ says!!
You think too much about the wrong things.
You sing about the wrong things.
Take extra special care!!
Simply put you're a fuck up.
See-see-see-see-see-captain christ says!!
You think too much about the wrong things.
You sing about the wrong things.
Take extra special care..
Take extra special...
Take extra special...
Take on the world, at their own game.
You might succeed, and win again.
Ribs break. Souls stay bare.
Your' forked stare cuts through.
You twist, you turn
Wrapping around me, wrapping around me.
Now, so tight, squeezing the life from me.
You're facing a pointless task.
But it's the same thing, and it's the same thing.
And I will face the task...
Lyrics submitted by greenplastic, edited by Mellow_Harsher
There's No Such Thing as a Jaggy Snake Lyrics as written by Simon Alexander Neil
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
I think it's about him wanting to succeed at something in his life that everybody else (or maybe a voice in his head?) is trying to stop him from doing (You think to much about the wrong things). The "Take on the world" verse seems like him talking to himself, he knows he can do it. He feels constricted (the snake image) as he can't just do what he wants.
This song is my favourite off the new album. I love the way the song changes so much from how it starts to the 'you twist you turn wrapping around me' bit.
'you think too much about the wrong things' this is too true for most of us.
Can't wait to see them play this song :oD
This is one of my favourite Biffy songs. Sheer Brilliance.
love it! love it! love it!
After listening tto it constantly it's clear that towards the end of the song it is about being killed by a snake. A snake usually kills its prey slow by crushing it's rib cage as shown in the loines "you twist, you turn, wrapping around me" and "ribs break, souls stay bare...". The title suggests thee opposite, if a snake was jaggy it would impale the prey and kill it instantly, defeating its sinster nature. It is strange to see simon write about something so vividley as if it was a personla experience which is impossible. All in All, the song rocks.
Well, I've always found a load of Christian imagery in Biffy songs. There's the obvious Christ reference. So maybe the snake parts and refering to the Devil. I dunno. Maybe Simon was raised Christian, and he's torn between his beliefs here. He could go against it, but he's got a voice in his head saying "Don't go down that road".
Or maybe not.
I agree about the snake references "mushman" but I believe it's metaphorical... I kinda liked the Christian idea... That makes a lot of sense though it's not what I first got from the song. Love it though, fucking fantastic!
Taking this in the context of other Biffy songs, it seems that Simon has his own ideas about what he wants to do and what he wants to write in his songs, but at times he is criticised for doing so. The song seems quite defiant - and I wonder if the snake is like his conscience having a go at him because of beliefs that he has been brought up with? The reference to the forked tongue may hint at the hypocrisy of the Christian church. Just a few ideas! The song "God and Satan" on Biffy's new album kind of backs up this idea of inner conflict I feel. Anyway, I do love this song and it was awesome played live in Manchester on 7 Nov!