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."
Mother, mother, how's the family?
I'm just calling to say hello
How's the weather? How's my father?
Am I lonely? Heavens know
Mother, mother, are you listening?
Just a phone call to ease your mind
Life is perfect, never better
Distance making the heart grow fond
When you sent me off to see the world
Were you scared that I might get hurt?
Would I try a little tobacco?
Would I keep on hiking up my skirt?
I'm hungry, I'm dirty
I'm losing my mind, everything's fine
I'm freezing, I'm starving
I'm bleeding to death, everything's fine
Yeah, I'm working, making money
I'm just starting to build a name
I can feel it, around the corner
I could make it any day
Mother, mother, can you hear me?
Sure I'm sober, sure I'm sane
Life is perfect, never better
Still your daughter, still the same
If I tell you what you want to hear
Will it help you to sleep well at night?
Are you sure that I'm your perfect dear?
Now just cuddle up and sleep tight
I'm hungry, I'm dirty
I'm losing my mind, everything's fine
I'm freezing, I'm starving
I'm bleeding to death, everything's fine
I miss you, I love you
I'm just calling to say hello
How's the weather? How's my father?
Am I lonely? Heavens know
Mother, mother, are you listening?
Just a phone call to ease your mind
Life is perfect, never better
Distance making the heart grow fond
When you sent me off to see the world
Were you scared that I might get hurt?
Would I try a little tobacco?
Would I keep on hiking up my skirt?
I'm hungry, I'm dirty
I'm losing my mind, everything's fine
I'm freezing, I'm starving
I'm bleeding to death, everything's fine
Yeah, I'm working, making money
I'm just starting to build a name
I can feel it, around the corner
I could make it any day
Mother, mother, can you hear me?
Sure I'm sober, sure I'm sane
Life is perfect, never better
Still your daughter, still the same
If I tell you what you want to hear
Will it help you to sleep well at night?
Are you sure that I'm your perfect dear?
Now just cuddle up and sleep tight
I'm hungry, I'm dirty
I'm losing my mind, everything's fine
I'm freezing, I'm starving
I'm bleeding to death, everything's fine
I miss you, I love you
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More Featured Meanings
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
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.
This song perfectly describes a complicated relationship with the mother. I am way past leaving home for college and this pretty much sums up the interaction with old mum, that is when I can get her to take my call.
great song. pretty self explanatory i guess
Oh gosh, this song reminds me SO much of college... This is my fav part... "sure im sober, sure im sane life is perfect never better, still your daughter, still the same. If i tell you what you want to hear, will it help you to sleep well at night? Are you sure that im your perfect dear? now just cuddle up and sleep tight." What they don't know, won't hurt them!
I love this song...so great. There's always this wall between what we say and what we're too scared to say even though we want to. Great.
i looooove playing this on guitar!~ such a great song...... its a summertime song to me!!!
This song was big at a time when I was a freshman at college and I wasn't getting into the whole college freshman culture at the time. I eventually dropped out of this college after two-and-a-half years.
For those associations, I don't like hearing this song... ha ha.
This song sure can keep you from falling over the edge.. I love her growl.. EVERYTHING"S FINE!
This song live OWNS.. Tracy is Amazing!
This song pretty much describes how most teens and young adults feel, they won't tell there parents things because they are worried about how they will react. Or because they don't want to worry the parents and rather only trouble themselves rather than everyone else with their problems.
Also it's a bit about rebelling too I think, so you can get away with something. To sum it up: "What they don't know can't hurt them"
This song rips your face off.