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."
Becky Johnson bought the farm
Put a needle in her arm
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
And her brother laid her down
In the cold Kentucky ground
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
Well, Miranda ran away
Took her cat and left LA
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
She was busted, broke and flat
Had to sell that pussy cat
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
See the brightest ones of all
Early in October fall
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
While the dark ones go to bed
With good whiskey in their head
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank
You tell Russo, I'll tell Frank
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Did he throw her down a well?
Did she leave him for that swell?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
When you lay me down to rest
Leave a pistol in my vest
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Do you miss my gentle touch?
Did I hurt you very much?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when you and I were friends
Put a needle in her arm
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
And her brother laid her down
In the cold Kentucky ground
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when she and I were friends
Well, Miranda ran away
Took her cat and left LA
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
She was busted, broke and flat
Had to sell that pussy cat
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when he and I were friends
See the brightest ones of all
Early in October fall
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
While the dark ones go to bed
With good whiskey in their head
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Now Billy Joe's back in the tank
You tell Russo, I'll tell Frank
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Did he throw her down a well?
Did she leave him for that swell?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when all of us were friends
When you lay me down to rest
Leave a pistol in my vest
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
Do you miss my gentle touch?
Did I hurt you very much?
That's the way that it goes
That's the way
That's the way that it goes
Everybody's buying little baby clothes
That's the way that it ends
Though there was a time when you and I were friends
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More Featured Meanings
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.
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.
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 song is about how everyone starts of as a baby, innocent and vulnerable. Almost everyone has parents and relatives who want nothing but the best. “Everybody's buying little baby clothes.” But one way or another–“ That's the way that it goes”–these kiddos grow up to be dead druggie–“Becky Johnson bought the farm; Put a needle in her arm”–A prostitute–“ She was busted, broke and flat; Had to sell that pussy cat [double entendre]”–a killer and a cheating wife–“ Did he throw her down a well? Did she leave him for that swell [another man]?” Ironically, the people who seemed the happiest with the brightest future as a youngster are the ones who have a great downfall–“See the brightest ones of all; Early in October [in middle life] fall.” The ones who are evil and mean do well in this wicked world able to by expensive drink and sleep well–“While the dark ones go to bed;With good whiskey in their head.” But “That's the way that it ends.” This is not theoretical. All these stories are about people the author knew–“Though there was a time when you and I were friends.” I’m not sure what the author is saying about him or herself:
When you lay me down to rest Leave a pistol in my vest Do you miss my gentle touch? Did I hurt you very much?
I (s)he is saying me too: I had all the potential, and I ended up cold and unloving because I was so defensive.
This is such a beautiful and insightful song. I get sad sometimes thinking about how the world beats you down, and all our hopes and dreams do not come to fruition. For many people the American Dream is the American Nightmare.
It's also a sharp counterpoint to another beautiful song on this album: "The Way the Whole Thing Ends" -- both are about the way things begin, the way they fail, and in particular the way people diverge. Both songs reference lost friendship.<br /> <br /> As cause and effect? As melancholic reflection? As ironic statement?<br /> <br /> It doesn't really matter, because the heart of the thing is so simple:<br /> <br /> That's the way it is.<br /> <br /> (Excellent companion song: "Here it is" by Leonard Cohen.)
Great and insightful song. the writer speaks of people she knew at one time or another. They all start off being born with great potential and high hopes of the parents (everyone's buying baby clothes), and then somehow ended up not so well-off. one buy good property and they commits suicide, another got into crime, got busted, some ended up drunk, others ditched for someone else etc etc etc. That part about being buried with a 'pistol in my vest', I believe speaks of the reminder of the cruel world that had put the author into the ground. the innocence is missed along the way of getting accustomed to this world, together with the loss of a gentle touch. great song, sadly true for many cases. Just my opinion.
@dylansuppiah \r\nThe expression " bought the farm" means that the person died. Some interesting origin(s) but most agree that it dates back to WWI or WWII & perhaps dying while in military combat although it has come to mean when one says "bought the farm" that the subject could have died in many different ways now --- such as in this song. Nice interpretation of the song. Thanks for your post. \r\n
The first time I heard it, I liked something about the hard travelin' feel of the line, "When you lay me down to rest Leave a pistol in my vest."
But, it resonates even more since I heard Dave Rawlings say that to him it's a way of saying that I don't know what happens after death, so I want to be prepared for anything.
Thanks for that. I couldn't figure that line out.
Great and insightful song. the writer speaks of people she knew at one time or another. They all start off being born with great potential and high hopes of the parents (everyone's buying baby clothes), and then somehow ended up not so well-off. one buy good property and they commits suicide, another got into crime, got busted, some ended up drunk, others ditched for someone else etc etc etc. That part about being buried with a 'pistol in my vest', I believe speaks of the reminder of the cruel world that had put the author into the ground. the innocence is missed along the way of getting accustomed to this world, together with the loss of a gentle touch. great song, sadly true for many cases. Just my opinion.
i dub, that's a right on comment that put this songs meaning on the fast track for me. I use songs like this for group therapy sessions and your take on it made my decision to incorporate it into my groups. Thanks
i dub, that's a right on comment that put this songs meaning on the fast track for me. I use songs like this for group therapy sessions and your take on it made my decision to incorporate it into my groups. Thanks
Great and insightful song. the writer speaks of people she knew at one time or another. They all start off being born with great potential and high hopes of the parents (everyone's buying baby clothes), and then somehow ended up not so well-off. one buy good property and they commits suicide, another got into crime, got busted, some ended up drunk, others ditched for someone else etc etc etc. That part about being buried with a 'pistol in my vest', I believe speaks of the reminder of the cruel world that had put the author into the ground. the innocence is missed along the way of getting accustomed to this world, together with the loss of a gentle touch. great song, sadly true for many cases. Just my opinion.
I think the "everybody's buying little baby clothes", line has nothing to do with potential. Instead, it refers to the limited potential or even predestination of children born into that culture. Que sera sera.
The lyrics remind me of what happens to your peer group.The "interesting" ones are few and mentioned, the majority "everybody" are not mentioned and just get on with reproduction and "baby clothes".