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."
David was a boy, just a letch,
A simple means of birth, oh so sick,
Another wasted life, like so many before,
But David wanted better, so much more
David’s got a feeling, earthly bounds are retreating,
He’s gonna get to heaven tonight
David’s got a feeling, earthly bounds are retreating
All he has to do is step into the light
The promise of heaven out of reach.
With expectations he couldn’t meet
But David found a way to jump the line
A back door in to a life divine,
Death comes swiftly, for those who wait,
But he’s just like the rest of us, an impatient ingrate
A simple means of birth, oh so sick,
Another wasted life, like so many before,
But David wanted better, so much more
David’s got a feeling, earthly bounds are retreating,
He’s gonna get to heaven tonight
David’s got a feeling, earthly bounds are retreating
All he has to do is step into the light
The promise of heaven out of reach.
With expectations he couldn’t meet
But David found a way to jump the line
A back door in to a life divine,
Death comes swiftly, for those who wait,
But he’s just like the rest of us, an impatient ingrate
Lyrics submitted by capitalidea
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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.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
To me, this seems like a song about taking drugs as a shortcut to a higher conscience. It makes sense, Damian Abraham is straight edge as far as I know.
Sorry but there is a video of him teaching you how to make a bong out of a water bottle and an apple...
I always thought that this was a song about suicide.
I hear it more as a dream and less about drugs or suicide, though both of those could be involved... Mostly basing this off of the female vocals singing softly: "David its time to get up." Could be awakening from a dream or from a suicide attempt or drug induced coma though I suppose.
I think the great thing about this song is that it can apply to so many things... generally: the quest for god / higher understanding, but that can manifest itself as drugs use, religion, relationships, blowing up a factory that makes lightbulbs (LOL) etc.. anything used with the expectation of "jumping the line" David is a flawed character.. just like the rest of us.
David needs to buy himself a jumbo pack of condoms....old man size.
Old men don't need condoms,they barely produce any sperm,if they can even attain an erection.I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. ;)
I think the great thing about this song is that it can apply to so many things... generally: the quest for god / higher understanding, but that can manifest itself as drugs use, religion, relationships, blowing up a factory that makes lightbulbs (LOL) etc.. anything used with the expectation of "jumping the line" David is a flawed character.. just like the rest of us. Read more at songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858662180/