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."
Hello, sailor, buy you a drink?
Hello, sailor, tell me what do you think?
How was the big beach, how was the sand?
Did you fly an aeroplane, did you get a tan?
How does it feel to be back on american soil, hearing no blood for oil? Hello, sailor, tell me what do you think?
Hello, sailor, will we get him next week?
How does it feel to be hated and loved back home?
I'm telling you, you should have known
That I'm a little despot, short and stout
Here is my handgun, here is my crowd control
When you tick me off then the bullets fly out
Because free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Hello, sailor
Hello, sailor, buy you a smoke?
Hello, sailor, can I tell you a joke? Knock knock, who's there?
No, I'm just happy to see you
It'll be a hundred if you come
Hello, sailor, tell me how does it feel
Hello, sailor, to be fighting for real? Sailor, they got you coming and going
Sailor, look out 'cause your pussy is showing
How does it feel to be back on american soil, hearing no blood for oil?
I'm a little prostitute, I put out and sell
Here come the market monkeys with their little fontainelles
When they tip me over, they better tip me well
Because free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Hello, sailor, buy you a fuck?
Hello, sailor, you had much more than luck
You had the US army on your side
And that red, white, and pride
Hello, sailor, I mean women and men
Hello, sailor, you gonna be up for it again?
How does it feel to make shooting stars in the sky?
Was it a rush to almost die?
Hello, sailor
I said, 'hello, sailor.'
How does it feel to be back on american soil, hearing no blood for oil?
I'm a little liberal, I'm stupid in doubt
Here is my platform, here is my holy roller
When you snow me under, I rock and roll you out
Because free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Hello, sailor, tell me what do you think?
How was the big beach, how was the sand?
Did you fly an aeroplane, did you get a tan?
How does it feel to be back on american soil, hearing no blood for oil? Hello, sailor, tell me what do you think?
Hello, sailor, will we get him next week?
How does it feel to be hated and loved back home?
I'm telling you, you should have known
That I'm a little despot, short and stout
Here is my handgun, here is my crowd control
When you tick me off then the bullets fly out
Because free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Hello, sailor
Hello, sailor, buy you a smoke?
Hello, sailor, can I tell you a joke? Knock knock, who's there?
No, I'm just happy to see you
It'll be a hundred if you come
Hello, sailor, tell me how does it feel
Hello, sailor, to be fighting for real? Sailor, they got you coming and going
Sailor, look out 'cause your pussy is showing
How does it feel to be back on american soil, hearing no blood for oil?
I'm a little prostitute, I put out and sell
Here come the market monkeys with their little fontainelles
When they tip me over, they better tip me well
Because free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Hello, sailor, buy you a fuck?
Hello, sailor, you had much more than luck
You had the US army on your side
And that red, white, and pride
Hello, sailor, I mean women and men
Hello, sailor, you gonna be up for it again?
How does it feel to make shooting stars in the sky?
Was it a rush to almost die?
Hello, sailor
I said, 'hello, sailor.'
How does it feel to be back on american soil, hearing no blood for oil?
I'm a little liberal, I'm stupid in doubt
Here is my platform, here is my holy roller
When you snow me under, I rock and roll you out
Because free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Free love is a whole lot of bullshit
Lyrics submitted by reznorfreak
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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/
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This is one of the best anti-war songs ever. Mixing in the nursey rhyme, "I'm a Little Teapot" is genius. She compares the situation to three main things: a dictator, a prostitute, and a liberal. Her theme, "Free love is whole lot of bullshit" sounds pro-war, but the free love would actually be directed towards the Sailor. This theme resonates in the three analogies very well. Dictators never openly give love or kindness, prostitutes always charge for their "love", and liberals are constantly condemning behavior. It's not anti-liberal either. It just shows how complicated the situation really is.