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."
Held like water in you shaking hands
Are all the small defeats a day demands
10 to 6 or 9 to 5
Trying, dying to survive
Never knowing what survival means
Leave the apartment to buy alcohol
Hang our diplomas on the bathroom wall
Pick at the plaster chipped away
Survey some stunning tooth decay
Enlist the cat in the impending class war
Let's lay our bad day down here, dear
Let's make-believe we're strong
Or hum some protest song
Like maybe "We Shall Overcome Someday"
Overcome the stupid things we say
Say I needed more than this
Say I needed one more kiss
We left that light on way too long now
Let's plant a bomb at city-hall
Let's kill an MLA
We'll talk the night away
You call in sick, I'll quit the word-games that I play
I swear, I way more than half believe it when I say
That somewhere love and justice shine
Cynicism falls asleep
Tyranny talks to itself
Sappy slogans all come true
We forget to feed our fear
Are all the small defeats a day demands
10 to 6 or 9 to 5
Trying, dying to survive
Never knowing what survival means
Leave the apartment to buy alcohol
Hang our diplomas on the bathroom wall
Pick at the plaster chipped away
Survey some stunning tooth decay
Enlist the cat in the impending class war
Let's lay our bad day down here, dear
Let's make-believe we're strong
Or hum some protest song
Like maybe "We Shall Overcome Someday"
Overcome the stupid things we say
Say I needed more than this
Say I needed one more kiss
We left that light on way too long now
Let's plant a bomb at city-hall
Let's kill an MLA
We'll talk the night away
You call in sick, I'll quit the word-games that I play
I swear, I way more than half believe it when I say
That somewhere love and justice shine
Cynicism falls asleep
Tyranny talks to itself
Sappy slogans all come true
We forget to feed our fear
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
I think he's making fun of all the recent college grads and the disillusionment stage that is sure to follow life in the ivory tower.
I agree, I'm an undergrad and I just rented my first house with some friends and I can see how being in the same life style without going to school anymore would epitomize this song. We have a futon as our living room couch, one of my room mates does go out to drink all the time to get through all the bullshit. The drama and " word games" are overwhelming as all my friends try to date the same girl. We all have strong political ideas but don't like the conflict so never talk of them or do anything to change shit... <br /> <br /> "Hang our diplomas on the bathroom wall. Pick at the plaster chipped away, survey some stunning tooth decay, enlist the cat in the impending class-war. " <br /> <br /> haha we need to paint our house but we just chip away at the bad paint in the basement. my one room mate's lone is 2 weeks late and instead of getting a job he just bitches about bureaucracy. <br /> <br /> point is I love this song.
this is an amazing song
Like all Weakerthans song's this one has an amazing ring of truth beauty to it. It's one of my favorites.
I love this song. I know thats a pretty generic comment: so I'll specify, this song is beutiful in the way it changes, the way that he half cynically sings the last part, and how the theme changes during that, into this totally bitter optimism... fuck its wicked.
It doesn't get any better than The WeakerThans, And The WeakerThans doesn't get any better than this song. It is one of my favorites, and the line "Cynicism falls asleep. Tyranny talks to itself. Sappy slogans all come true. We forget to feed our fear." is my favorite WeakerThans lyric.
that line is probably my favorite lyric ever
It's the little things about the Weakerthans that blow me away. Samson is great with details. For example, if you listen closely to this song, he sings:
"Let's lay our bad days down here, dear ET ... " "Let's plant a bomb at city hall ET ... "
"et" is the Latin word for "and" (from where we get the ampersand "&").
i'm pretty positive he sings "let's" after those lines, mister fakeestate. hate to shatter that one for you.
but, you're right; the weakerthans are all about the small details. i really do love how the literary quotes in the liner notes of all their albums slowly start to tie into the lyrics of each and every song.
can't wait for a new album.
"You call in sick, I'll quit the word-games that I play." I love that line.
Yeah, I think this song is John looking at his own life and having a bit of fun with it. Anyone who has ever been involved in leftwing politics can probably appreciate the sense of despair that comes with a line like, "Enlist the cat in the impending class war." But that's what makes the Weakerthans great: they're able to acknowledge the full spectrum of human emotion, and not stick to one feeling, like say rage at injustice, the way most political bands do.
Great lyrics and a great song. I like that the song is up-tempo, but rings sad for the majority of the time, yet ends with a hopeful notion. The Weakerthans excel at this and so much more.