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."
Looking back
On the memory of
The dance we shared
'Neath the stars above
For a moment
All the world was right
But how could I have known
That you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance
Holding you
I held everything
For a moment
Wasn't I the king?
If I'd only known
How the king would fall
Hey, who's to say
You know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance
It's my life, it's better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the (dance)
On the memory of
The dance we shared
'Neath the stars above
For a moment
All the world was right
But how could I have known
That you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance
Holding you
I held everything
For a moment
Wasn't I the king?
If I'd only known
How the king would fall
Hey, who's to say
You know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance
It's my life, it's better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the (dance)
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by WiseOldGuy, BoulderJ
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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.
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/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
It's about a guy that loved a girl and his most cherished memory of her is a dance they shared. The girl left him and broke his heart. He says he's hurt, but he's glad he didn't know how it'd end b/c he woulda missed all the good times they shared....basically that loving the girl for however long and then losing her was worth it all...love is everything to me...even when it's over, it's still the best feeling in the world to think back and know that at one point you were all that mattered to someone.
This song was played at my uncle's funeral for his daughter. The line :"But if I'd only known how the king would fall" just breaks my heart! When I hear this song I am always reminded of him.
To me this song is about the loved one dying. How the pain of the loss is huge but he wouldnt trade the pain for not having been in the relationship. This song makes me tear up a little when I hear it.
I had a close friend pass away about a year and a half ago. He had muscular dystrophy and was only 20. His brother, Stephen, and I are really close friends to this day... but I remember every detail of the Sunday our minister announced in church that Ryan had died that morning. My mother said you could hear a collective gasp from the balcony where all of the youth sit. Stephen and I were 15. The three of us had been hanging out at a benefit for M.D. the day before and Ryan had been fine.
One of Ryan's teachers sang this song at the funeral and I haven't been able to listen to it without crying since up until about a week ago. I was in the car with Stephen and it came on and we just sat there and listened to it.
My interpretation is just that. Someone died unexpectedly at a very young age... I miss Ryan everyday, but now I realize that I'm glad I didn't know we would lose him... because I would have missed out on so many memories.
it means to take life one day at a time and enjoy each and every day
the dance is the best love song i ever heard, i think its about looking back on a dance he had with a girl of a relationship that didnt last.. and saying that for all the pain he felt when it ended it will never equal to all the love he felt when the held each other.... and if he'd known before he might have changed it all but he would have missed out on a special love that hurt but that he doesnt regret. thats how i like to see it.. ps- i like what bbgirl and lady had to say about the song.. i didn't get the chance to read them all since i was busy but i read those to cause they were right ahead of me
To me, this song says that even though your dreams sometimes may crumble, you should look back at the good times before everything fell. Did you have fun? Was it worth it? Are you wiser now for having been through it?
This song is truely wonderful, I think it's just about not having regrets and "it's better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all".
Well, I take it very literally...during high school, I went to prom and homecoming with a few guys that I really liked. We had such a great time at each dance but our friendships dwindled after the dance was over. Well, one friendship ended at the dance...but regardless of the loss of my friends, I had the best time, and I'm glad I didn't know that it would end this way because I would have never taken the chances I did.
well that was a different approach than what i was going to take but............ the dance to me is such a great love song because life IS all about "the dance" if we knew what was going to happen before it happened we would miss out on the greatest feeling ever. love. this song reminds me of my ex and i will tell you that our dance was so great. even though it hurts like hell to be without her just looking back and remembering all those times we shared i wouldn't trade a second of it to ease any pain. that is what love is about. taking the chance to dance if you will. it's all about chances. not all of them end badly.