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."
When I grow up
I want to be a forester
Run through the moss on high heels
That's what I'll do
Throwing out boomerang
Waiting for it to come back to me
When I grow up
I want to live near the sea
Crab claws and bottles of rum
That's what I'll have
Staring at the seashell
Waiting for it to embrace me
I put my soul in what I do
Last night I drew a funny man
With dark eyes and a hanging tongue
It goes way bad
I never liked a sad look
From someone who wants to be loved by you
I'm very good with plants
When my friends are away
They let me keep the soil moist
On the seventh day I rest
For a minute or two
Then back on my feet and cry for you
You've got cucumbers on your eyes
Too much time spent on nothing
Waiting for a moment to arise
The face in the ceiling
And arms too long
I wait for him to catch me
Waiting for you to embrace me
I want to be a forester
Run through the moss on high heels
That's what I'll do
Throwing out boomerang
Waiting for it to come back to me
When I grow up
I want to live near the sea
Crab claws and bottles of rum
That's what I'll have
Staring at the seashell
Waiting for it to embrace me
I put my soul in what I do
Last night I drew a funny man
With dark eyes and a hanging tongue
It goes way bad
I never liked a sad look
From someone who wants to be loved by you
I'm very good with plants
When my friends are away
They let me keep the soil moist
On the seventh day I rest
For a minute or two
Then back on my feet and cry for you
You've got cucumbers on your eyes
Too much time spent on nothing
Waiting for a moment to arise
The face in the ceiling
And arms too long
I wait for him to catch me
Waiting for you to embrace me
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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,
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.
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/
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.
From the very first time I heard this song I think I understood it but it was on a subconscious level. It immediately got stuck in my head to where I HAD to listen to it again and again because I was so touched by it emotionally. I interpret this song as follows: This is a adult haunted by her memories of childhood. She speaks as a child to a parent or some other very significant person from whom she sought love and approval but never really felt. Just a note about one lyric that seems to have a lot of people perplexed, I offer another take on this: "You have cucumbers on your eyes"- cucumber slices on the closed eyelids are often used to reduce puffiness in the eye area (from crying, lack of rest, etc.) The song is from a child's perspective, and the person this is referring to here is almost certainly a female, possibly the child's mother or an older sister. This was a beauty treatment this woman performed day after day, possibly in preparation for a significant event, such as a wedding. From the child's point of view this behavior is puzzling, it seem like such a waste of time... young children do not comprehend vanity because they are not yet conscious of their appearance "too much time spent on nothing waiting for a moment to arrive". The child does not see the point of this ritual at all. It's taking attention away from her as the beloved person is focused more on herself. The child put her soul into everything she does, like her drawing of a of a funny man... can't this person see that? Wouldn't it be nice if Karin would just tell us all what she meant???
I would love to see an interview with her on the meaning of her songs!
I love this song, I am captive to it.
I understand it as a sung from an adult who still waiting for a sign of affection (or a show of comfort) that they've had since childhood; a hug from mom/dad or the like. Maybe the person the narrator sings to abdondoned them, or died, or maybe they failed to return the love the child felt for them.
By the verses: 1-even when I grow up I'll be waiting for you to come (back) to me 2-for all the things I'll have, I'll be "waiting for it |you| to embrace me" 3-I did things for you, drew a picture, but I didn't like it because "I never liked a sad look from someone who wants to be loved by you" - like I do. 4-I'm an adult/my friends trust me/I am responsible/I work- I stay occupied because when I have time to think, I cry for you. 5-(Cucumber facial?)you spent your time preparing for things that didn't happen, that didn't involve me. I was afraid in the dark. And I'm... Waiting for you to embrace me.
nice!
I like this interpretation. :)
I think she sings "it goes way BACK" instead of "it goes way BAD"... Play it loud, you'll hear the "ck" rather clearly.
That's true. It's in the lyrics included with the CD.
This song is one of the most strongest songs I've ever heard - and one of the strongest music videos I've ever witnessed.
It seems to me that she really wants away from all the world and wants to focus on nature. In the video, she wears very "hippy" clothes and almost seems that of American Indian descent. She's trying to say that probably her mother is superficial. Her mom has cucumbers on her eyes while getting pampered and just laying around. She wants to be one with the nature, as she has an eye drawn on her palm, the usually egyptian/Native American symbol of all knowing. She wants her mother to embrace her and actually care.
Interesting... But Karin's mother died in 2006. The Knife song "We Share Our Mother's Health" was written just after her death and deals with losing the connection to your heritage through a parent's death. I doubt Karin would make casual slanderous comments about her mother in this song. <br /> "on the seventh day i rest<br /> for a minute or two<br /> then back on my feet and cry for you"<br /> <br /> This line makes me think she's still grieving for her mother in between raising her children and carrying on her day to day activities. <br /> <br /> The first verse is from her daughter's perspective - as with many Fever Ray songs, the child's perspective is often represented - the daughter is perhaps fascinated by Australia and maybe has books on it and talks about it constantly in the way kids become obsessed so wholly with things. <br /> <br /> The next verse is I think Karin fantasising about growing up all over again from childhood and and wondering what path her life could have take a turn had she chosen a different course. <br /> <br /> The theme's of age and alternate perspectives are all over this album. The video for "Seven" shows Karin as an old woman still looking after 'children' (the farm animals) as though she see's no end to the demands on her time by 'underlings'. The clip for this song is less directly Native American influenced than it is any kind of tribal person from any ancient culture. Her character enters a domestic setting and commands the water in the pool to bubble and leap on her command as though she sees herself as far removed from simple domesticity and her connection to the earth has strengthened since bringing two children into the world. Domesticity/tired mum with kids at her feet is a somewhat enforced lifestyle so she feels like a stranger in that world. <br /> <br />
i love this song!
to me she just wants to be with nature. and be embraced by it.
i could listen to this song all day.
it feels so...strong to me. if you know what i mean? maybe not. but this song gives me butterflies.
it kinda sounds like what god would say to the population.
I actually think, that in this song she takes God's place...But it's only because of "on the seventh day i rest"...Just as God did, after world's creation...Though I do agree with all the other opinions here...<br /> One thing I know...This song is amazing..One of the best I heard lately...
Though,her "God" is Nature, I guess:o)
phenomenal
then back on my feet and CALL for you??<br />
then back on my feet and CALL for you??
I think you may be right.
I think you may be right.
yep yep. definitely call
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_folklore could this have any relation...? From the video, I thought she was a Tomte, since there's the whole "When my friends are away" bit. But I don't know anything really of swedish folklore, just wanted to throw that out there in case
staggering. so so so so good.