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."
I asked myself was I content with the world that I was cherished
did it bring me to this darkened place to contemplate my perfect future
I will not stand nore utter words against this tide of hate
losing sight of what and who i was again
I'm so sorry if these seething sords I say
impress on you that I've become the anathema of my soul
I can't say that you're losing me
I always tried to keep myself tied to this world
though I know where this is leading
(please) no tears, no sympathy
I can't say that you're losing me
but I must be that which I am
though I know where this could take me
no tears, no sympathy
gracefully, respectfully, facing conflict deep inside myself
here confined, losing control of what I could not change
gracefully, respectfully I ask you please don't worry, not for me
don't turn your back, Don't turn away
no tears for me
no sympathy
did it bring me to this darkened place to contemplate my perfect future
I will not stand nore utter words against this tide of hate
losing sight of what and who i was again
I'm so sorry if these seething sords I say
impress on you that I've become the anathema of my soul
I can't say that you're losing me
I always tried to keep myself tied to this world
though I know where this is leading
(please) no tears, no sympathy
I can't say that you're losing me
but I must be that which I am
though I know where this could take me
no tears, no sympathy
gracefully, respectfully, facing conflict deep inside myself
here confined, losing control of what I could not change
gracefully, respectfully I ask you please don't worry, not for me
don't turn your back, Don't turn away
no tears for me
no sympathy
Lyrics submitted by liquidmercurial
Epicentre Lyrics as written by Jones Bradfield
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is the most powerful song I've encountered since God knows when. I never expected to be blown away by VNV Nation so much, but this song just did that. I can listen to this song many times in a row.
I think the song is about the fact that the narrator is starting to doubt his purpose in life. The fact that he's sorry for saying things like this means that the people around him don't feel the same. He knows he's becoming lost. But he has no one to blame but himself. Plus, it may all just be in head. That's why he deosn't wany "tears," nor "sympathy.
This is just the way I feel right now. There are some things that have happened to me in the past few months. I will forever cherish this song.
This was the most perfect song for me in the past couple of days.
It was the perfect way to say something to someone. I have been listening to it nonstop.
If there are any lyrics here you think are wrong, let me know because I just tried to decipher what I could after listening to it MILLIONS of times.
I feel more or less the same. Epicentre was and is my favourite song during the last months. Ever on since I have listened to it on a sampler in November. I helped me to express what I feel to the world and how I feel after tragically losing my fiance in an accident. This song doesn't exactly mean to me, what it is meant to mean. But I definetly feel like this world is loosing me and that I will go to my own world. Living a live without any doubts or with a new old selfdefined way. Great song. Combined with Freude it is running up and down my stereo for months.....
I finally (after many emails sent to me with revisions) have stumbled across the exact lyrics, and it has now been updated and will no longer be changed.
Now...on to find NeuroticFish lyrics..
I've also listened to this track many many times. It just brings out my pity to this world as well. I do believe that I dont belong in this side of the world atleast... and yes I can say that I the world is loosing me. Knowing that there is no stop to the cryptic commercial propaganda MTV is brainwashing today's youth. God Help Us All! I am 23 by the way.
Wow...I don't think I've ever found a song so randomly in my entire life that fits me perfectly. Yes, I am an avid VNV Nation fan, but it's a challenge to find any of their CDs where I am... Now to see where I can find this one...
A lot of the time this song really fits into my life. Lately I have found myself depressed and I think I want people's sympathy but deep down maybe I just want to be sad. Ronan's lyrics are so powerful, reminds me of Ian Curtis, does he really mean it all.....
That's a really strong and expressive song. I think i'm in love.
Here are the lyrics as according to the official VNV Nation website - vnvnation.com/
Epicentre
[September 2001]
I asked myself was I content with the world that I once cherished did it bring me to this darkened place to contemplate my perfect future? I will not stand nor utter words against this tide of hate losing sight of what and who I was again
I'm so sorry if these seething words I say impress on you that I've become anathema of my soul
I can't say that you're losing me I always tried to keep myself tied to this world but I know where this is leading please no tears no sympathy
I can't say that you're losing me but I must be that which I am though I know where this could take me no tears no sympathy
gracefully, respectfully facing conflict deep inside myself but here confined losing control of what I could not change
gracefully, respectfully I ask you please don't worry, not for me don't turn your back don't turn away
I can't say that you're losing me I always tried to keep myself tied to this world but I know where this is leading please no tears no sympathy
I can't say that you're losing me but I must be that which I am though I know where this could take me no tears no sympathy
no tears for me, no sympathy no tears for me, no sympathy
© VNV Nation
You just go to the website and click on Art + Media then you'll get each album with its tracks listed and you click on each track title and the lyrics pop up.
VNV NATION "SONG MEANINGS" INSIDE 15 page interview with Ronan Harris.
dancemusic.about.com/od/artistshomepages/a/VnVNationInt.htm