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."
A heart of stone, a smoking gun
I can give you life, I can take it away
A heart of stone, a smoking gun
I'm working it out, I'm
Why'd you feel so underrated?
Why'd you feel so negated?
Ha-ha
Turning away from the light
Becoming adult
Turning into my self
I wanted to bite, not destroy
To feel her underneath
Turning into the light
She don't think straight
No-no-no she don't think straight
She's got such a dirty mind and it never-ever stops
And you don't taste like her and you never-ever will
And we don't read the papers, we don't read the news
And it's never enough, we will never be fooled
Turning away from the light
Becoming adult
Turning into my self
I wanted to bite, not destroy
To feel her underneath
Turning into the light
And if you feel (and if you feel)
A little left behind (a little left behind)
We will wear you on the other side
And if you feel (and if you feel)
A little left behind (a little left behind)
We will wear you on the other side
'Cause I'm on fire
'Cause you know I'm on fire when you come
'Cause you know I'm on fire
'Cause you know I'm on fire so stomp me out
'Cause I'm on fire
'Cause I'm on fire
'Cause I'm on fire
'Cause I'm on fire
I can give you life, I can take it away
A heart of stone, a smoking gun
I'm working it out, I'm
Why'd you feel so underrated?
Why'd you feel so negated?
Ha-ha
Turning away from the light
Becoming adult
Turning into my self
I wanted to bite, not destroy
To feel her underneath
Turning into the light
She don't think straight
No-no-no she don't think straight
She's got such a dirty mind and it never-ever stops
And you don't taste like her and you never-ever will
And we don't read the papers, we don't read the news
And it's never enough, we will never be fooled
Turning away from the light
Becoming adult
Turning into my self
I wanted to bite, not destroy
To feel her underneath
Turning into the light
And if you feel (and if you feel)
A little left behind (a little left behind)
We will wear you on the other side
And if you feel (and if you feel)
A little left behind (a little left behind)
We will wear you on the other side
'Cause I'm on fire
'Cause you know I'm on fire when you come
'Cause you know I'm on fire
'Cause you know I'm on fire so stomp me out
'Cause I'm on fire
'Cause I'm on fire
'Cause I'm on fire
'Cause I'm on fire
Lyrics submitted by swizzle_stick
Banquet Lyrics as written by Kele Okereke Gordon Moakes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
No Surprises
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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.
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.
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.
I went to see interpol last night and bloc party were supporting them.my friend and i met bloc party in a chip shop across the road from the gig and the kele (lead singer) said that this song is a about a young girl being corrupted
I think it's about taking a girls virginity, like how bean and medicated explain. I also used to think that he was comparing this 'virgin' girl to his previous lover in "you don't taste like her" But now I think. the "her" is the virgin. Basically the way this girl was before they had sex and the way she is now are like two different people, they don't even taste the same. He's comparing the corrupted and non-corrupted versions of this girl. "it never ever stops" Now all she wants to do is have sex or do sexual things, they dont even talk or read the papers anymore. He didn't mean to turn her into a sex maniac or whatever she's become, but he still enjoys it "Im on fire when you come"
i dont know where people are getting the "ex girlfriend" idea in this song
when he says: "She's got such a dirty mind and it never ever stops And you don't taste like her and you never ever will"
the "her" is the same person as the girl who has the dirty mind not his ex
"I'm working it out Why'd you feel so underrated? Why'd you feel so negated?"
it looks like he likes a girl and they've been going out here and there but sometimes he feels like she ignores him even after their date but he's trying to work it out so that they start an actual loving relationship but he also wants to have sex with her at the same time becuase she is so tempting
could this song be a little bit cooler? NO! bloc party are incredible.
I agree its about sex, however I also think its about trying to replace an ex girlfriend that maybe he regrets breaking up with. Using "And you don't taste like her and you never ever will" I think he also conveys that what he had was so much better than what he has now, and he wishes he had it back, using the metaphor of heaven never being enough. ie: The grass is always greener on the other side. A great song, hope they come to Oz soon.
this song is about a girl losing her virginity
It's about sex. Kele said it's a song about desire before playing it live on a live version I have.
I think that a banquet is a a formal sort of affair & the lead singer (or narrator) is a type of very passionate, out of control, emotional, unrefined, and revved up kinda guy.. & when he's confronted w/ a formal type situation he gets all pumped up & his hearts racing (the tempo of the song & fast drums) & his voice sounds like he's about to burst w/ desire for these women... like he's howling at the moon & a little confused & desperate sounding about the whole thing & wanting this desire to be quenched ("I'm on fire, stub me out"). It's a really fun song & very paradoxical much like the album's title (Silent Alarm) & his voice is surely like an alarm too, a cry to be heard, understood, & placated... but in a really fun way, for the listeners. Also, banquet may mean, he eats of the fruit of their love making or he hungers for their love greatly.
@jchristi03 i totalley agree with all of your interpretation
this song is absolutly amazing, however im not sure wat it means, to me its about confusion, and how he doesnt like being confused, nd wants it to stop, also keles voice is absolutly ace
I think it's more about how he has strong feelings for someone (potentially romantic feelings) who doesn't share his feelings or even cares bout him in general.<br /> <br /> "A heart of stone a smoking gun"<br /> <br /> So instead of pursuing her he settles for someone else and is dissatisfied with her.<br /> <br /> "And you don't taste like her and you never ever will"<br /> <br /> though from the chorus it is possible that it was a teenage/high school sweetheart that he wishes he could get back together with but she doesn't feel the same way about him anymore.<br /> <br /> "Turning away from the light, becoming adult turning into my soul."
i think its about someone who has a reputation for turning innocent people into someone like them.