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."
In a way, I need a change
From this burnout scene
Another time, another town
Another everything
But it's always back to you
Stumble out, in the night
From the pouring rain
Made the block, sat and thought
There's more I need
It's always back to you
But I'm good without ya
Yeah, I'm good without you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
Give me a break let me make my own pattern
All that it takes is some time but I'm shattered
I always turn the car around
I had no idea that the night
Would take so damn long
Took it out, on the street
While the rain still falls
Push me back to you
But I'm good without ya
Yeah, I'm good without you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
Give me a break let me make my own pattern
All that it takes is some time but I'm shattered
I always turn the car around
Give it up, give it up, baby
Give it up, give it up, now
Now
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
All that I feel is the realness I'm faking
Taking my time but it's time that I'm wasting
Always turn the car around
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
Don't wanna turn that car around
I gotta turn this thing around
From this burnout scene
Another time, another town
Another everything
But it's always back to you
Stumble out, in the night
From the pouring rain
Made the block, sat and thought
There's more I need
It's always back to you
But I'm good without ya
Yeah, I'm good without you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
Give me a break let me make my own pattern
All that it takes is some time but I'm shattered
I always turn the car around
I had no idea that the night
Would take so damn long
Took it out, on the street
While the rain still falls
Push me back to you
But I'm good without ya
Yeah, I'm good without you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
Give me a break let me make my own pattern
All that it takes is some time but I'm shattered
I always turn the car around
Give it up, give it up, baby
Give it up, give it up, now
Now
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
All that I feel is the realness I'm faking
Taking my time but it's time that I'm wasting
Always turn the car around
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
Don't wanna turn that car around
I gotta turn this thing around
Lyrics submitted by TheStranger5250
Shattered Lyrics as written by Marc Roberge Gregg Wattenberg
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
This is an amazing song. Absolutely amazing. To me, it's about two people who, for whatever reason, cannot be together anymore. The person narrating it knows this and realizes that's how it has to be but still cannot come to terms with it. He is not trying to get back with this person, but he cannot get her off of his mind. He has tried to move away, do whatever he could, but nothing works. 'Taking my time but it's time that I'm wasting' is my favorite quote and I can relate this quote a LOT...he thinks that in time that he will get over the loss, but he knows he's wasting time by not moving on with his life in the meantime...There is so much meaning in this song I could go on forever---he's been hurt, the relationship won't and can't work, but the facts don't make him feel any better nonetheless. If you've never had a love go bad like this, you wouldn't understand the song and it will have no meaning. When circumstances make it impossible for 2 people to be together, it is heart wrenching. I love this song.
I agree with you, blondielou2... This song means to me exactly what you said. Thats what I'm trying do now with my life... moving on after a relationship where I was being hurt. But guess what? I still think about her and no matter what I try to do, its a waste of time. I cannot get her rid of my thoughts. I will try to do what KIKI5678 suggested: as I still love I need to let her go... If one day she comes back it is because it was meant to be. Peace and love to everyone.<br />
I know you are right. I tried to post a new comment trying to say the same things, but it didn't come ouy right. You basically rded alotook the meaning right out of my mouth, but wot better. To the original poster, the other replier, and anyone else who feels like this, you have my sympathy, and i hope I have yours.
sorry. i meant to say it didn't come out right, and took the meaning out of my mouth. my stupid computer just randomly moves the typing spot to a different spot and i type there and screw up words.
I completely agree with you. Many times we have to let go. If it comes back at a better time later, then that is what is meant to be.
@blondielou2<br /> You're right about that. I heard this song incessantly on the radio growing up, thinking it was an okay song, but I never really understood the real meaning of this song until I was still in a similar situation you described. No matter how impossible a relationship is with another person, you still can't get that person out of your head.<br /> Been almost 4 years and over 6,700 miles, and I still haven't completely gotten over her.
one of my biggest pet peeves...people who complain a band sucks and are sellouts because they change their sound. If they didn't then someone would say - it's the same old sh**. The beauty of OAR is that all these new sounding songs will be that much cooler when they play them live and incorporate their traditional sound.
This song was really obvious to me, I'm surprised no one else interpreted it like me! This one is sooo obviously about a boy that keeps constantly getting hurt by a girl. But he can't take it anymore "How many times can I break til I shatter?" No matter how much crap she does to him, he always "Turn(s) the car around." Maybe it's so obvious to me because I've done this to a guy, but he keeps coming back.
I totally agree that's the first thing I though of when I heard this song too and I was surprised that nobody else thought that's what it was about!
This song isn't that bad, but what happened to O.A.R.? This isn't anywhere close to the music that made me like them. They went from an original sound to mainstream bullshit. And to say that "What is Mine" and "This Town" are more like their original or traditional stuff is ridiculous. Have you ever heard their old stuff? And has Jerry forgotten how to play the sax? Why do you need three guitars, in one band? Marc on acoustic, Rich on electric, that's all the guitar they needed, but I guess maybe teenage girls don't want to hear a saxophone huh? It was one thing when "Stories of a Stranger" came out, but it wasn't nearly as bad as what I've heard from "All Sides". So "Here's to You" O.A.R., I guess losing a few good fans who are "So Moved On" isn't bad when you got a million new high school girls cheering you on. And maybe they should change the name of "The Fallout" to "The Sellout".
I feel as if this person understands me. Yeah, when "Shattered" first cmae out, I liked it, but once I realized what it meant for the band, it was a sobering feeling.<br /> <br /> I was listening to "Stories of a Stranger" the other day and every song was just great. I was constantly tapping my foot and bobbing my head. It was a CD that you could jam to. Then came "Shattered," a song that really has none of the meaning that the other songs had. I didn't even realize it was OAR. Yeah, the voice was the same, but there was no sax. Then I head "Our Town" on a Nascar commercial.<br /> <br /> I'll still listen to their music, hoping for a 180, maybe even a plea of insanity, but if they don't come back soon, I'm switching to Dispatch for permanent.
I think the lead singer is talking about missing Home..... He's trying to make it on his own ( Make my own pattern), but no matter how far he gets away, he always turns the car around and comes home. He's good whiles hes away and he doesnt need home, but its apart of him and he'll always go back
I had no idea that the night Would take so damn long Took it out, on the street While the rain still falls Push me back to you
I think thats when he drives home through the night to get home
I cried when I heard this song tonight. Mostly because of what it was saying to me. I've recently been spending time with an ex-boyfriend of mine who I would be engaged/married to by this point if I hadn't initially ruined things between us. Though I've moved away from our hometown, and we've grown and changed so much over the 4 years that we've been on and off/friends, we always end up finding each other again. Always. And last night, I literally turned my car around to go see him and it seriously was like a punch to the chest tonight when I heard this song. Anyone else have any ideas?
I feel that the line "How many times can I break till I shatter" has not much to do with broken heart. I feel that he is in relationship where that he has grown used to. He's no longer in love with her in the same old way but the thought of leaving it is really scary. "Break till I shatter" and "Give me a break let me find my own pattern" all hint that he doesn't know how he feels anymore if he loves her or if there is something greater out there. What he does know is that he's faking happiness and love because he doesn't really know anymore what he wants from love and from life. "Taking my time but its time that I'm wasting" refers to his life, he's staying with her, where its safe, taking his time... but he feels it is wasted. I really like this song and it speaks to me alot.
i believe this song is about a relationship where one person(ima say the guy) in it is trying to stay as faithful as possible but the other person(ima say the girl) keeps screwing up (lying,cheating, ect.). the guy who is broken by everything that the other person is doing, so they leave time after time but they always manage to come back to the other person because they cant forget them no matter how hard they try ('its always back to you'). the guy eventually cant take it anymore and he just shatteres, he leaves and doesnt come back ('Don't wanna turn that car around I gotta turn this thing around') when he says gotta turn this thing around he isnt talking about the car anymore hes talking about his life, because she just keeps bringing him down with all the cheating and everything., thats what i think.
-A.J.
I guess I shouldve read your before I posted. I thought the same exact thing! The word "thing" in the last line leaves it wide open. Maybe I interpret it this way because it lines up with my own personal life. I am glad to see that someone else found the same "thing" I did. Hopefully, you can't parallel it to your life though. ;)
i would agree completely and can relate as this happened to me... unless it happened to you, not sure u could completely understand. unfortunately, i am not sure u ever get over it. i haven't...
Ahh yes. I am looking forward to O.A.R's new album. While their sound seems to have changed (based on this song only), I don't mind the new direction they have taken. However I do hope that they have more songs on their new album that kept up with their past trends.
i'd have to say that this song is about a drug addiction. i dont know anything about the band or the things that they're into, but it sounds to me like a reoccuring failure to sober up. "how many times will i break til i shatter" and "it's always back to you" or "i always turn this car around"<br /> <br /> any song has multiple meanings, thats just what i get out of this one.<br /> <br /> great song
i like the new stuff. It is a little different but still good. something coming over from the album live from madison square garden will be on it and that one is a lot like their old stuff, so i think it will be a mix. i think this song is about a guy who can't let go of a girl even though he should