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."
I met you at JC Penney
I think your name tag said "Jenny"
I cold step to you with a fresh pack of gum
Somehow I knew you were lookin' for some
Like a fruit that's ripe for a pickin'
I wouldn't do you like that Zankou Chicken
Cause only you've got a thing
That I just got to get with
I just got to get with you
And you know what we're gonna do
I want to get with you
And your sister
I think her name's Debra
I want to get with you
And your sister
I think her name's Debra
I pick you up late at night after work
I said "lady, step inside my Hyundai"
I'm gonna take you up to Glendale
Gonna take you for a real good meal
Cause when our eyes did meet
Girl you know I was packin' heat
Ain't no use in wastin' no time gettin' to know each other
You know the deal
Cause only you got a thing
That I just got to get with
I want to get with you
And your sister
I think her name's Debra
I want to get with you
And your sister
I think her name's Debra
Lovely lady
Girl you drive me crazy
I think your name tag said "Jenny"
I cold step to you with a fresh pack of gum
Somehow I knew you were lookin' for some
Like a fruit that's ripe for a pickin'
I wouldn't do you like that Zankou Chicken
Cause only you've got a thing
That I just got to get with
I just got to get with you
And you know what we're gonna do
I want to get with you
And your sister
I think her name's Debra
I want to get with you
And your sister
I think her name's Debra
I pick you up late at night after work
I said "lady, step inside my Hyundai"
I'm gonna take you up to Glendale
Gonna take you for a real good meal
Cause when our eyes did meet
Girl you know I was packin' heat
Ain't no use in wastin' no time gettin' to know each other
You know the deal
Cause only you got a thing
That I just got to get with
I want to get with you
And your sister
I think her name's Debra
I want to get with you
And your sister
I think her name's Debra
Lovely lady
Girl you drive me crazy
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
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 Beck's parody/ode to old lovelorn, overblown R&B numbers that soul singers used to do. The something he "just gots to get with" is actually the woman who he's singing to's sister, named Debra. This is a great song to put on mix tapes because you'd be surprised how many people haven't heard it but would love it.
Sometimes I listen to this song with my friends and ask them what the girl who's sister is Debra's name is. They never get it :-D
I think her name tag, said Jenny.<br /> <br /> Your friends are lame. I would laugh my ass off if one of my friends asked me that.
Zankou Chicken is a middle eastern restaurant in Glendale, CA, near where Beck spent his youth.
A love song for the Modern Man.
No one composes sonnets or speaks as melifluously as Cyrano anymore. They offer gum to a member of the opposite gender and harbor discreet feelings for her sister.
The chariot of traditional courtship has been replaced by a Hyundai.
All in all, a biting social commentary.
@bjengles3
It sort of bothers me that some versions of this CD have other tracks following this, because it serves as such a perfect closer.
i love how he sets up the sort of punchline of the chorus by making you think he's talking about doing it with just the girl. this song is great and i always impress my friends when i bust out the high part in tune!!
one of my favorite bars plays this song all the time... i was surprised to find out how well this song goes with alcohol.
Does anyone like the bonus noise at the end of this song? Its interesting, but kinda throws of the great album closer that is Debra...Oh well
my girlfriend seranaded me with this song last night. yeah...i don't know what to make of it, either.
@catherineks The obvious question is, does she have a sister?
bjengles3 is exactly right. No one could have said it better.
"Debra" is hysterical- I love screaming out, "I think her name's Deebrraa"