A Philosophical Discussion in Contemporary Music: Jane's Addiction and Bush

A Philosophical Discussion in Contemporary Music: Jane's Addiction and Bush

The purpose of this paper is to examine philosophical and theological themes in the work of two modern musical groups. The alternative rock bands Jane’s Addiction and Bush will be the focus of this study. I have chosen these two artists since I have observed what I believe to be contrasting ideas in their work. Perry Farrell was the songwriter for Jane’s Addiction. His band’s release in 1988, titled Nothing’s Shocking contains views on God, man’s place in the world, and instruction on living a life that adheres to Zen philosophical views. Songs on the album include “Ocean Size," a memoir about how life should be lived; “Had A Dad," Perry Farrell’s beliefs about God; and “Ted, Just Admit It...", that will be discussed in more detail below. Bush’s lyrics, written by Gavin Rossdale on the album Sixteen Stone, argue directly with the ideas contained on Nothing’s Shocking. I believe that his song “Everything Zen” is a response to Perry Farrell’s beliefs.

I will first attempt to fit the ideas of Perry Farrell into a philosophical Zen framework. A good starting point is the song “Ocean Size” that points to the Zen theme of a oneness with nature. The speaker in the song seeks to get beyond his thinking self, and become like the ocean. The almost interminable suffering of human existence is described by Farrell as, “Like a tooth aching a jawbone” (2:6). He writes of his own human weaknesses, “I was made with a heart of stone/ to be broken/ with one hard blow." (2:7-9). His frailty contrasts with the strength of nature, “We’ve seen the ocean/ brake on the shore/ come together with no harm done" (2:10-12). The song’s verse states, “It ain’t easy living.../ I want to be/ as deep/ as the ocean/ mother ocean" (2:13-17). He calls upon the common theme that words fail to convey the true meanings in Zen with, “I want to be like the ocean/ no talking/ all action" (2:21-23). In the words of Lao-tzu “Those who know do not speak; Those who speak do not know” (Watts xii-xiii). Only through an escape from his thinking, talking self can the author can stop experiencing the suffering of being human.

Zen themes may be familiar to a student of religion, since they arise from Buddhism. The Buddha, Sidhartha Gautama, is said to have achieved his four noble truths about the nature of existence through meditation.