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."
Let me go I'm only letting you down
I got nothing to say to you now
Lose the feelings that are weighing me down
When I'm sane
It's turning morning all the birds sing
I'm not complicating anything
I'll have another and then I'll go to bed
And dream of you
Cause it's almost over
Yeah it's almost gone
I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love for you now
You and I used to shine like a jewel
But time's been nothing to us but cruel
So play it out and never play the fool
Cause you'll lose everytime
We were nothing,we were only the past
Hard times like that don't last
I've been forgiven,I've been surpassed
By my heart
Have you?
Cause it's almost over
Yeah it's almost gone
I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love
Love for you that I can't use
Lonely nights multiplied by the blues
I can't resolve
You never knew me but you did you're best
I'm just lonely inside I guess
You gave me everything you really tried
Thanks
If we are nothing and we're only the past
Well I'm just living in a dream I guess
A long black dream that takes me down the river to you
Where it's almost over
And it's almost gone
And I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
Sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love for you now
I got nothing to say to you now
Lose the feelings that are weighing me down
When I'm sane
It's turning morning all the birds sing
I'm not complicating anything
I'll have another and then I'll go to bed
And dream of you
Cause it's almost over
Yeah it's almost gone
I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love for you now
You and I used to shine like a jewel
But time's been nothing to us but cruel
So play it out and never play the fool
Cause you'll lose everytime
We were nothing,we were only the past
Hard times like that don't last
I've been forgiven,I've been surpassed
By my heart
Have you?
Cause it's almost over
Yeah it's almost gone
I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love
Love for you that I can't use
Lonely nights multiplied by the blues
I can't resolve
You never knew me but you did you're best
I'm just lonely inside I guess
You gave me everything you really tried
Thanks
If we are nothing and we're only the past
Well I'm just living in a dream I guess
A long black dream that takes me down the river to you
Where it's almost over
And it's almost gone
And I can feel the sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
Sweet illusion
Sweet confusion
Sweet illusion coming down
And I ain't got nothing but love for you now
Lyrics submitted by Sum1LsesChpstck
Sweet Illusions Lyrics as written by Catherine Anne Popper Bradley Smith Pemberton
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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/
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.
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.
"Let me go, I'm only letting you down."
He feels like he wasn't good enough for her.
"I'll have another, then I'll go to bed."
He still loves her and he's drinking himself tired and then going to bed at night and dreaming of her. He obviously can't get her out of his mind.
"You and I used to shine like a jewel ..."
The relationship was all-encompassing and grand at one point, but it eventually soured, for whatever reason and that initial magic is no longer there ... but the love still is (at least on his part).
"We were nothing, we were only the past."
He's lying to himself here, saying that the relationship is done and over with and he's moving on. He's saying it's almost gone, but then admits he's confused and he still loves her. Seems he's trying to justify the end.
"You never knew me but I did my best I'm just lonely inside I guess You gave me everything You really tried, thanks If we were nothing and we're only the past Well I'm just living in a dream I guess"
That's pretty self-explanatory, to me. He finally, again, admits that the relationship couldn't have meant nothing and you can't just chalk it up to "lesson learned." He's obviously still lonely and thinks about her often.
Fucking amazing. Either this song or Cherry Lane is my life.
anyone who doesn't have respect for Ryan Adams is an idiot. like his music or not, you've GOT to say, he's a lyrical genius. i adore this song. probably the best "i am heartbroken and i totally give up" song ever.
LOVE IT!
AND I AINT GOT OTHONG BUT LOVR FOR YOU NOW!! one of THE best Ryan songs! its so poetic and the music is awesoome, well done the band!! tickets to his next show are a must! this song describes almost evey emotion, icant think of a heartfelt emotion that it doesit include, pure life. Listen and hum and fall in love with and connect to heartbreak and terror of what once was and what is, it's evertythong
this song is so good so deep what everyone feels at one time in their broken up relationships
Oh, I also want to add it sounds like his best wasn't good enough for her, but she tried to make it work.
"You never knew me but I did my best I'm just lonely inside I guess"
Man, what a line!