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."
The heart is a stone and this is a stone that we throw
Put your hand on this stone, it's the stone of a home you know
They say we will go far, but they don't know how far we'll go
With our legs on the edge and our feet on the horizon
They say we can throw far, but they don't know how far we throw
With our legs on the edge and our feet on the horizon
The heart is a stone, and this is a stone that we throw
They say we will go far, but they don't know how far we'll go
It can't be gone, we're still right here
It took so long, can't say we heard it all
Limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell
Tear a moment from the days that carry us on forever
This push and pull is the force of a wave of time
In the heat of the night, we would cry, you are not mine
They said we would go far, but they don't know how far we'd go
'Cause this heart is a stone, and this is a stone that we throw
It can't be gone, we're still right here
It took so long, can't say we saw it all
Limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell
Ride pyramids at night, they carry us on forever
It can't be gone, we're still right here
It took so long, can't say we felt it all
Limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell
Love's like a pantheon, it carries on forever
Put your hand on this stone, it's the stone of a home you know
They say we will go far, but they don't know how far we'll go
With our legs on the edge and our feet on the horizon
They say we can throw far, but they don't know how far we throw
With our legs on the edge and our feet on the horizon
The heart is a stone, and this is a stone that we throw
They say we will go far, but they don't know how far we'll go
It can't be gone, we're still right here
It took so long, can't say we heard it all
Limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell
Tear a moment from the days that carry us on forever
This push and pull is the force of a wave of time
In the heat of the night, we would cry, you are not mine
They said we would go far, but they don't know how far we'd go
'Cause this heart is a stone, and this is a stone that we throw
It can't be gone, we're still right here
It took so long, can't say we saw it all
Limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell
Ride pyramids at night, they carry us on forever
It can't be gone, we're still right here
It took so long, can't say we felt it all
Limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell
Love's like a pantheon, it carries on forever
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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,
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
lyrics from the song book (omg buy the album):
the heart is a stone and this is a stone that we throw put your hand on this stone it's the stone of a home you'll know they say we will go far but they don't know how far we'll go with our legs on the edge and our feet on the horizon
they say we can throw far but they don't know how far we throw with our legs on the edge and our feet on the horizon the heart is a stone and this is a stone that we throw they say we will go far but they don't know how far we'll go
it can't be gone we're still right here it took so long can't say we heard it all limbs parallel we stood so long we fell tear a moment from the days that carry us on forever
this push and pull is the force of a wave of time in the heat of a night, we would cry, you are not mine they said we would go far but they didn't know how far we'd go cause this heart is a stone and this is a stone that we throw
it can't be gone we're still right here it took so long can't say we saw it all limbs parallel we stood so long we fell bright pyramids at night that carry us on forever
it can't be gone we're still right here it took so long can't say we felt it all limbs parallel we stood so long we fell love's like a pantheon it carries on forever
the only variations from the top are "bright pyramids" was missed, and the book has "didn't" instead of "don't" although admittedly it sounds like she sings "don't" while didn't fits with the tense.
I created an account just to say that this song is great. I hope future generations will listen to this and see my comment and go, "man, that guy was feeling this song." I enjoy laying in my bed on a cold Winter morning as this plays. I promptly cry myself back to sleep and wake up and listen to it again. This song is fucking great and I want to buy a new car.
@somnambulant i hope you got that new car you wanted
@jayivy Know what? I fucked up. I don't have a license. Shit. That's what I want this time. I'll come back in 2016 and I'll tell you all about it. It'll be a great time. Fucking Beach Houses.
@jayivy I'M DOING IT. GETTING THAT FUCKING CAR.
@jayivy I'M DOING IT. GETTING THAT FUCKING CAR.
@somnambulant YES!!!!!!!!! drive carefully. always wear your seatbelt!!!!! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!! i hope your life is going great. seeing your comment made me smile so much. you have come so far and i'm listening to beach house right now and i know they would be so proud
@jayivy I'm watching Spongebob to prepare myself for my driving test. I think I can do it. I've driven before... without a license, but that doesn't matter. I'm also seeing a therapist and it's great. Though I thought about the therapist-client relationship and ultimately realized it's depressing. They help you grow your wings, then one day you say goodbye and they'll never see the new, improved you. I cried all night and then I listened to Beach House. My life has come full circle.
@somnambulant got swept up in life and totally forgot to reply, haha~-`)* i hope u passed the test!!!!!!!! i'm glad ur doing well!!! and even if they don't see the new and improved you i'm sure they'll be proud regardless. i hope 2016 is your best year yet and i hope you had a great christmas (or just a great December 25th if you don't celebrate it) <3
@jayivy I'm taking it pretty soon... Pretty soon. I've been so depressed. Therapy isn't helping that much. I became closer with my family, but that also isn't really helping. It's interesting to think about. I get a few objects of desire, yet it doesn't do much. It makes me question what I've ever wanted in the first place.
@somnambulant hopefully the last few years have been kinder to you, even if you haven't figured out what you want. i definitely haven't!
@jayivy I’ve moved out and have a new car. :)) I still think this song is great and I still cry to it. It takes me back to a simpler time. In that summer of 2014, I had no idea the best was yet to come in life. I came back to this thinking I wrote the original comment in 2017. So so crazy. I’m a little sad looking back on this. These lyrics were a premonition and I didn’t really listen. I spent those days thinking the best already happened. Kinda like now, I suppose. Now I’m a little older and nostalgic! I hope life is going well for you and everyone else, truly. I hope you reply. If not, I’ll update in 2026 lmao.
In my opinion this is about a love that arose out of an unexpected or forbidden relationship. It is about falling in love with someone when possibly married or dating another person who is abusive or not right for them.
The heart is a stone and it is a stone that we throw, (The heart has become hardened as it has been hurt very much perhaps by life or by being in abusive relationships, and it has been thrown at someone who seemed very far away) They saw we can throw far but they don't know how far we throw With our legs on the edge (This relationship has seemed to never be able to exist, and it is on the edge of becoming what could never be.) And our feet on the horizon (Hoping and knowing that it can be more.) It took so long, can't say we heard it all (It seemed to take long for the relationship to finally be, and in a sense not hearing what would happen from each other, or other people, maybe a current boyfriend or husband? that is no longer in the picture) Limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell. (They were close, yet far. And knew each other for what seemed a long time that they couldn't be together. And as time went on they fell in love) It can't be gone, we're still right here (The relationship, may not be how they imagined or dreamed when they weren't together- but their desires have lasted so many years- that they know they love each other and stay together.) I took so long, can't say we felt it all (It took long to be together, and they may not have allowed their full feelings for each other to show because they weren't supposed to love each other) Limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell. Love's like a pantheon it carries on forever. (Their love is not how they imagined or dreamed it would be when they weren't together- but they know they are in love and will always be.)
It can't be gone we're still right here (The relationship finally exists, and it isn't exactly how they imagined it to be.
I read this comment on the Youtube video: "I feel like it's about the bittersweet end of a crazy unbelievable relationship that has to end." And I couldn't agree more.
Definitely the best track on the album, unreal song.
I'm completely agree. Gives a feeling thats indescribable. Euphoric.
For me this is a very sad song. I imagine a couple sitting on an edge of a cliff with their feet at the horizon They are happy and in love and they think their love will go far, they throw stones as if it were their hearts to see how far they can go.
But their relationship ended unexpectedly. It is gone and she can't believe it because she still remembers and feels like that moment on the cliff's edge (It can't be gone, we're still right here)
I've got the feeling they were together long (we stood so long we fell) but still haven't had heard it all/ seen it all / felt it all they thought they would because they had hope their relationship to be so much more. (it took so long can't say we heard it all) (it took so long can't say we heard it all) (it took so long can't say we felt it all)
They thought their happy moments would make their relationship last forever (tear a moment from the days that carry us on forever / (bright pyramids at night that carry us on forever)
But time changes things... (this push and pull is the force of a wave of time in the heat of a night, we would cry, you are not mine)
And I think that, even though their relationship ended, they are still in love with each other because, sadly, that can't change.... (Love's like a pantheon It carries on forever)
Your comment cracked me up, in fact, I'm still laughing. First, sleep is a human necessity, so if your nickname 'somnambulant' is just an irony don't worry, but if not, you have the right to sleep at this moment (unless you are driving a car).
Second, I'm too afraid of this song atm to put int in words. But indeed I'm NOT AFRAID of my strong feelings for that person, which remain somehow intact. I believe I'm afraid of this song atm because there's some sense of destruction and suffering which comes with it which is terrifying. I can only think of the frightening tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin...
I feel cold and empty. Love shouldn't bring death or destruction to our lives. I feel really bad today, exhausted and full of guilt and sorrow tbh.
The mood of what I feel today is more that of the songs 'Out of Time' by Blur or 'Wish I Was Here' by Cat Power and Chris Martin.
I also want to say sorry if my vanity on commenting this song offended anyone or you. I really feel somehow like a bitch.
@leticia1221 Please, be careful. You are my friend. I get so sad, man. I mean, I think my girlfriend is a bitch. It sucks going through all that downtime again, just searching for someone else and getting over it. I'LL TAKE CARE OF UUUUUUUUUUUU.......... What a song. I listened to that and cried on Christmas Eve of 2010 it was the best time of my life. @jayivy is the man. I hope my gf doesn't see this. But if she does, hey, fuck your shit man stop being such a liar... There's no definitive proof she's a liar but I'm pretty sure. Maybe I'm the liar? What a twist that'd be. I'd also like to give a shout out to my grandfather. Thanks, Lecia. I get the black lives matter thing.
The lyrics to this one are often hard to make out, you did a good job.
However, I'm pretty sure it's not "this is a stone BED we throw" but "this is a stone THAT we throw."
I think some of the (?) can be partly filled in with "...is the force of a wave of time..." "...in the heat of the night we will..." "bright pyramids at night, they carry us on forever..." Those are the bits of lyrics I think I can make out. Like I said, it's sort of hard to tell sometimes with Beach House.
i took a stab at it.. still needs work though...
The heart is a stone and this is a stone that we throw Put your hand on the stone It's the stone of a home you know They say we will go far, but they don't know how far we'll go With our legs on the edge and our feet on the horizon They say we can throw far but they don't know how far we throw With our legs on the edge, and our feet on the horizon The heart is a stone, and this is a stone that we throw They say we will go far, but they don't know how far we'll go
It can't be gone, it's still right here It took so long, can't say we heard it all Wings parallel, we stood so long we fell 'Till warm and calmer days (?) They'll carry us on forever
This blue shade moon is the force of a wave of time (tide?) In the heat of the night we would cry you are not mine They say we go far but they don't know how far we go 'cause this heart is a stone and this is a stone that we throw
It can't be gone, we're still right here It took so long, can't say we saw it all Wings parallel, we stood so long we fell Bright pyramids at night they carry us on forever
It can't be gone, We're still right here It took so long, can't say we felt it all Wings Parallel, we stood so long we fell Looks like a path beyond it carries on forever
im pretty sure it says "limbs parallel, we stood so long we fell"
possibly the best track on the album...love it.