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."
White light, White light goin' messin' up my mind
White light, and don't you know its gonna make me go blind
White heat, aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, Oh have mercy white light have it goodness knows
White light, White light goin' messin' up my brain
White light, Aww white light its gonna drive me insane
White heat, Aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, Aww white light I said now goodness knows, do it
Hmm hmm, White light
Aww I surely do love to watch that stuff tip itself in
Hmm hmm, White light
Watch that side, watch that side don't you know it gonna be dead in the drive
Hmm hmm, White heat
Hey foxy mama watchin' her walk down the street
Hmm hmm, White light
Come up side your head gonna make a deadend on your street
White light, White light moved in me through my brain
White light, White light goin' makin' you go insane
White heat, Aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, Aww white light I said now goodness knows
White light, Aww white light it lighten up my eyes
White light, don't you know it fills me up with surprise
White light, Aww white heat tickle me down to my toes
White light, Aww white light I tell you now goodness knows, now work it
Hmm hmm, White light
Aww she surely do moves me
Hmm hmm, White light
Watch that speed freak, watch that speed freak everybody gonna go and make it every week
Hmm hmm, White heat
Aww sputter mutter everybody gonna go kill their mother
Hmm hmm, White light
Here she comes, here she comes, everybody get 'n gone make me run to her
White light, and don't you know its gonna make me go blind
White heat, aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, Oh have mercy white light have it goodness knows
White light, White light goin' messin' up my brain
White light, Aww white light its gonna drive me insane
White heat, Aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, Aww white light I said now goodness knows, do it
Hmm hmm, White light
Aww I surely do love to watch that stuff tip itself in
Hmm hmm, White light
Watch that side, watch that side don't you know it gonna be dead in the drive
Hmm hmm, White heat
Hey foxy mama watchin' her walk down the street
Hmm hmm, White light
Come up side your head gonna make a deadend on your street
White light, White light moved in me through my brain
White light, White light goin' makin' you go insane
White heat, Aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, Aww white light I said now goodness knows
White light, Aww white light it lighten up my eyes
White light, don't you know it fills me up with surprise
White light, Aww white heat tickle me down to my toes
White light, Aww white light I tell you now goodness knows, now work it
Hmm hmm, White light
Aww she surely do moves me
Hmm hmm, White light
Watch that speed freak, watch that speed freak everybody gonna go and make it every week
Hmm hmm, White heat
Aww sputter mutter everybody gonna go kill their mother
Hmm hmm, White light
Here she comes, here she comes, everybody get 'n gone make me run to her
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
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.
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.
It is "Watch that speed freak / Watch that speed freak / Gonna shoot it up every night of the week!" in the live version but the studio version is: "Watch that side, watch that side don't you know it gonna be dead in the drive"
Ooh thank you so much, that is better. Sounds like Reed was asked to come up with something new in the studio.
this is such an awesome song.... why is there only one comment?
Yes it´s rather well known. This is a song about shoting illigal stuff. Have anyone heard Bowies version of the song. That version blows me away everytime I hear it.
@Rebelcat yeah, the Bowie version on Ziggy Stardust: the Motion Picture is really, really great.
I have four versions of this song... the album version, a live one, a live one with just Lou, and the David Bowie one. Have to say, the one on the WL/WH album is probably the weakest, it's just so much better live! I kinda like the David Bowie one, especially the line: 'White Light make me sing like Lou Reed/ White light gonna fulfil my EVERY need!'
i would surely love to hear bowies version, but the album version is good, i love it.
Come to think of it, this whole song is about the rush from shooting meth.
Maybe the whole album is about the rush from shooting meth.
It sounds a speed / meth ad, must have been a total shock for 1968.
I particularly love that ugly background noise during the verses - the guitar. Next to a Jerry Lee Lewis-like piano pounding, it's the perfect match.
this song is actually about when lou reed was 17. His parents sent him in for electroshock therapy for displaying homosexual tendencies. So, basically this song is describing what it was like.
i think u r confusing this w/ Kill Your Sons?
@matttc yes you’re correct it even talks about it in Prozac nation … which lou we in that as well .. lou was particular so yes it’s about EST/ECT ALSO so is kill your sons .. the person below is just rude !
@matttc yes you’re correct it even talks about it in Prozac nation … which lou we in that as well .. lou was particular so yes it’s about EST/ECT ALSO so is kill your sons .. the person below is just rude ! Tell JPC 611 to watch Prozac nation .. Lou wouldn’t ever be apart of anything that book telling the sorry of it and how it made him love the guitar sounds why also it’s gets crazy … electric …. This person is correct … to make it see more Main Stream to the druggies he added the twist … and poof fooled them …
@matttc yes you’re correct it even talks about it in Prozac nation … which lou we in that as well .. lou was particular so yes it’s about EST/ECT ALSO so is kill your sons .. the person below is just rude ! Tell JPC 611 to watch Prozac nation .. Lou wouldn’t ever be apart of anything that book telling the sorry of it and how it made him love the guitar sounds why also it’s gets crazy … electric …. This person is correct … to make it see more Main Stream to the druggies he added the twist … and poof fooled them … also the part sputter mutter Etc … it’s about being forced to have election shock .. yes wow ! Lou has 2 songs maybe more about that to the person that tried to correct you … also the last shot is about drinking, shooting up speed heroin etc …. Lou WASN'T a one size fits all songwriter … rearrr
@matttc yes you’re correct it even talks about it in Prozac nation … which lou we in that as well .. lou was particular so yes it’s about EST/ECT ALSO so is kill your sons .. the person below is just rude ! Tell JPC 611 to watch Prozac nation .. Lou wouldn’t ever be apart of anything that book telling the sorry of it and how it made him love the guitar sounds why also it’s gets crazy … electric …. This person is correct … to make it see more Main Stream to the druggies he added the twist … and poof fooled them … also the part sputter mutter Etc … it’s about being forced to have election shock .. yes wow ! Lou has 2 songs maybe more about that to the person that tried to correct you … also the last shot is about drinking, shooting up speed heroin etc …. Lou WASN'T a one size fits all songwriter … rearrr
@matttc yes you’re correct it even talks about it in Prozac nation … which lou we in that as well .. lou was particular so yes it’s about EST/ECT ALSO so is kill your sons .. the person below is just rude ! Tell JPC 611 to watch Prozac nation .. Lou wouldn’t ever be apart of anything that book telling the sorry of it and how it made him love the guitar sounds why also it’s gets crazy … electric …. This person is correct … to make it see more Main Stream to the druggies he added the twist … and poof fooled them … also the part sputter mutter Etc … it’s about being forced to have election shock .. yes wow ! Lou has 2 songs maybe more about that to the person that tried to correct you … also the last shot is about drinking, shooting up speed heroin etc …. Lou WASN'T a one size fits all songwriter … rearrr
@matttc yes you’re correct it even talks about it in Prozac nation … which lou we in that as well .. lou was particular so yes it’s about EST/ECT ALSO so is kill your sons .. the person below is just rude ! Tell JPC 611 to watch Prozac nation .. Lou wouldn’t ever be apart of anything that book telling the sorry of it and how it made him love the guitar sounds why also it’s gets crazy … electric …. This person is correct … to make it see more Main Stream to the druggies he added the twist … and poof fooled them … also the part sputter mutter Etc … it’s about being forced to have election shock .. yes wow ! Lou has 2 songs maybe more about that to the person that tried to correct you … also the last shot is about drinking, shooting up speed heroin etc …. Lou WASN'T a one size fits all songwriter … rearrr
@matttc yes you’re correct it even talks about it in Prozac nation … which lou we in that as well .. lou was particular so yes it’s about EST/ECT ALSO so is kill your sons .. the person below is just rude ! Tell JPC 611 to watch Prozac nation .. Lou wouldn’t ever be apart of anything that book telling the sorry of it and how it made him love the guitar sounds why also it’s gets crazy … electric …. This person is correct … to make it see more Main Stream to the druggies he added the twist … and poof fooled them … also the part sputter mutter Etc … it’s about being forced to have election shock .. yes wow ! Lou has 2 songs maybe more about that to the person that tried to correct you … also the last shot is about drinking, shooting up speed heroin etc …. Lou WASN'T a one size fits all songwriter … rearrr
@matttc yes you’re correct it even talks about it in Prozac nation … which lou we in that as well .. lou was particular so yes it’s about EST/ECT ALSO so is kill your sons .. the person below is just rude ! Tell JPC 611 to watch Prozac nation .. Lou wouldn’t ever be apart of anything that book telling the sorry of it and how it made him love the guitar sounds why also it’s gets crazy … electric …. This person is correct … to make it see more Main Stream to the druggies he added the twist … and poof fooled them … also the part sputter mutter Etc … it’s about being forced to have election shock .. yes wow ! Lou has 2 songs maybe more about that to the person that tried to correct you … also the last shot is about drinking, shooting up speed heroin etc …. Lou WASN'T a one size fits all songwriter … rearrr
@matttc they need to read or watch Prozac nation .. if it wasn’t true Lou would have Süd- them and surely not have taken part in the movie etc … and perfect day is about Heroin .. sorry this is the worst app it won’t let me edit ? It just keeps adding more comments
"watch that speed freak, gonna shoot it up every night of the week"
Gee, hmmm, I wonder what this song is about.
The title and hook (as well as somewhat musically) sounds like it might have been inspired by George Jones' 1959 rockabilly hit 'White Lightning', which is about moonshine.
Changing the meaning to a certain different kind of drug (heroine/amphetamines), it is performed appropriately more punk and faster.
I'm actually a bit surprised that this connection has apparently never been made before.
@terrycraig Thank you, that is fantastic and I discovered a fantastic singer/artist whom I hadn't heard of before. I will give you one. Watch 'Chinatown' and think of 'Blade Runner'
@terrycraig had been ages since I’d heard White Lightnin’, I was ready to call ‘bullshit’ as it began, but I believe you may have something here.