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."
You know, man, when I was a young man in high school
You believe in or not, that I wanted to play football for the coach
And all those older guys
They said that he was mean and cruel but you know
I wanted to play football, for the coach
They said I was a little too lightweight to play lineback and so I'm playing right-end
Wanted to play football for the coach
'Cause, you know some day, man you gotta stand up straight unless you're gonna fall
Then you're going to die
And the straightest dude I ever knew was standing right for me, all the time
So I had to play football for the coach
And I wanted to play football for the coach
When you're all alone and lonely
In your midnight hour
And you find that your soul
It has been up for sale
And you're getting to think about
All the things that you done
And you're getting to hate
Just about everything
But remember the princess who lived on the hill
Who loved you even though she knew you was wrong
And right now she just might come shining through
And the
Glory of love
Glory of love
Glory of love, just might come through
And all your two-bit friends have gone and ripped you off
They're talking behind your back saying "man, you are never going to be no human being"
And you start thinking again about all those things that you've done
And who it was and what it was
And all the different things that made every different scene
Ah, but remember that the city is a funny place
Something like a circus or a sewer
And just remember, different people have peculiar tastes
And the
Glory of love
The glory of love
The glory of love, might see you through
Yeah, but now, now
Glory of love
The glory of love
The glory of love might see you through
Glory of love, uh, huh-huh
The glory of love
Glory of love, glory of love
Glory of love, now, glory of love, now
Glory of love, now, now, now, glory of love
Glory of love, give it to me now, glory of love to see you through, huh
Oh, my Coney Island baby, now
I'm a Coney Island baby, now
I'd like to send this one out to Lou and Rachel
And all the kids at P.S. one-ninety-two (Coney Island baby)
Man, I'd swear, I'd give the whole thing up for you
You believe in or not, that I wanted to play football for the coach
And all those older guys
They said that he was mean and cruel but you know
I wanted to play football, for the coach
They said I was a little too lightweight to play lineback and so I'm playing right-end
Wanted to play football for the coach
'Cause, you know some day, man you gotta stand up straight unless you're gonna fall
Then you're going to die
And the straightest dude I ever knew was standing right for me, all the time
So I had to play football for the coach
And I wanted to play football for the coach
When you're all alone and lonely
In your midnight hour
And you find that your soul
It has been up for sale
And you're getting to think about
All the things that you done
And you're getting to hate
Just about everything
But remember the princess who lived on the hill
Who loved you even though she knew you was wrong
And right now she just might come shining through
And the
Glory of love
Glory of love
Glory of love, just might come through
And all your two-bit friends have gone and ripped you off
They're talking behind your back saying "man, you are never going to be no human being"
And you start thinking again about all those things that you've done
And who it was and what it was
And all the different things that made every different scene
Ah, but remember that the city is a funny place
Something like a circus or a sewer
And just remember, different people have peculiar tastes
And the
Glory of love
The glory of love
The glory of love, might see you through
Yeah, but now, now
Glory of love
The glory of love
The glory of love might see you through
Glory of love, uh, huh-huh
The glory of love
Glory of love, glory of love
Glory of love, now, glory of love, now
Glory of love, now, now, now, glory of love
Glory of love, give it to me now, glory of love to see you through, huh
Oh, my Coney Island baby, now
I'm a Coney Island baby, now
I'd like to send this one out to Lou and Rachel
And all the kids at P.S. one-ninety-two (Coney Island baby)
Man, I'd swear, I'd give the whole thing up for you
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar, edited by Ulmanor
Coney Island Baby Lyrics as written by Lou Reed
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
A really great song, and a nice simple sentiment about taking comfort from the people who believe in you (i.e. the coach and the princess) even when you feel worthless.
@ghost_of_freud hmmm...not so sure about that. I think “The Coach” is one of the guilty who have been trying to steal his soul, use him, indoctrinate him. It’s “Good Cop, Bad Cop”, and Coaches can be mind game players...
Definetely Lou's finest. I adore this song especially all the 'ah huh huh' bits at the end "But remember the princess who lived on the hill Who loved you even though she knew you was wrong And right now she just might come shining through" Greatest three lines ever written! So beautiful to hear!
I think ghost nailed it, but I would add that it's about growing up and feeling like you can't rely on anyone anymore. Recounting the things you regret. The production on this song is immaculate. It actually sounds like walking around Coney Island at night.
By the way, here is a very informative and interesting article about Lou and Rachel. Much better than any of the famous articles on the same subject. There are also comments at the bottom of the page from people who have anecdotes about Rachel. I don't mean this in a gossipy way at all... it's just a beautiful story.
skipthemakeup.blogspot.ca/2013/11/send-this-one-out-for-lou-and-rachel.html
This song has been a re-affirmation of life as long as I can remember. Lou just opening it up. And when this guy opens up the clouds roll, the winds kick up, and the soul is cleared. I aklways thought the last line went "here's to all the kids at PS 192." Doesn't matter. Rock on.
the guitar licks are out of this world, the whole song is just unimaginable brilliant always makes me wish to be in new york city, lookin at it from a distance, by sunset
one day, one day..
Very nostalgic.
The first time that I listened to this song I thought that maybe Lou was talking about a certain type of person in high school. Someone who lives there entire life doing things for other people. Who only joined a football team to play for the coach. I mean as I listen to it more it seems less likely.
But great song. Definitely one of my favourites by him. Sounds like walking around NYC at night.
Never mind that this song was about Lou's love for a transvestite named Rachel, I still think it was one of the finest love songs he ever wrote.
And yeah, it's PS 192, though the version printed here is interesting.
@tjarrett transphobia still going strong in 2005!
Only someone who's lived in New York would probably understand the, "to all the kids at PS 192." lyric. I wish someone would correct that here, hahahaha...
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