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."
Brought to you by THE GIFT...
John K. Wells (Writer)
Earthquake (Producer)
Verse 1: Danger, danger· has got me stepping like a Power Ranger· calling on the power of the One from the manger· · in anger, but not in sin· I begin· to make my way thru all of this mess I’m in· · It’s hard to see so many born faster· got hate oozing out’em like sulfuric acid· · everyday a new thief· today’s, might want my teeth· to string them all together and make’em into a wreath· · Brother’s ill, and won’t think twice· to shake his boom pipe· even if I run the jewels, he’ll still want my life· Puppy’s sick· gotta shoot the gospel quick· and hope the truth will hit him much harder than a mule kick· · I let him know that if he lets the hollow points spray· God’s got a vengeance that’ll make a flambé· · But let me shut up before I provoke the "cack, cack!"· wish I could do a kick and put him on his back· not to make him handicapped· · but so that I could get away· and have another chance to pray· that this brother would get out of the Maddness
Chorus: What do you do when life’s a must· but you already caught the rush· money, power, lust· In whom will you place your trust· · All sin, no question, no doubt· Stuck and you can’t get out· Christ knows how you feel· So get’em up in the air if you know He’s real!
Verse 2: Caution, caution· has got me turnin’· tossin’· pausin’· six million moves, Steve Austin· · Check the picture· here comes that madd, fly, dime sister· guess she’s sittin’ waiting for her loving money Mr.· · I wonder if she’s got time to hear the plan· I see her lips say "Her comes this corny preacher man"· · I try to strike one up, I say, "That skirt is fly, is it pleated?"· She said, "Man beat it!"· · I said "Why is that the greeting that I’m given?"· She said "Step!", I said "God Bless your soul and keep livin’ "· · And as I walk away· I wish there was something I could say· to really make her understand that she’s more than a Chick-fila’· · Piece of meat to be bought or sandwich to be made· cause a little mayonnaise won’t change how your played· · Cause the next man bites· and the next man bites· and when it’s all over it’s a terrible sight· · Cause when they are done pulling up everything, man it’s spooky· You got substance, but float around the bowl· and God’s got a flush for all the manure· that’s why I’m trying to tell her, to keep her out of the sewer· of the Maddness
Chorus
Verse 3: Power, power· has got me lasting for another hour· trying to stay alert, awake to the devourer· · Though his fate must drag on· The Dragon· Satan· been hawking to destroy me ever since I was a little man· And even though I know I’m sealed for the long ride· he tempts me to feel the pleasure of the dark side· · It gets raw hide in obeying God’s will· the power is in steady spittin’· "It’s Written"· in his lying grill· · And if he wasn’t enough to shake roll and rattle· the world is another enemy of constant battle· · They invite me in, only to disown me· build me up to brake me down, till I’m lonely· · Lastly· I war with myself the most· Today will I play dictator or will I play host· · Will I do what I hate· or hate what I do· or don’t do what I should· or deny what I know is true· · This is the ceaseless, keeping it real, kinda war· not only am I a conqueror but I’m more· · So tell my three enemies that God’s got the back of his buddy· So I’m going to my grave with my knucks (Knuckles) bloody· · Not in the physical, but in a spiritual kinda baddness· cause I gotta fight the Maddness
Chorus
John K. Wells (Writer)
Earthquake (Producer)
Verse 1: Danger, danger· has got me stepping like a Power Ranger· calling on the power of the One from the manger· · in anger, but not in sin· I begin· to make my way thru all of this mess I’m in· · It’s hard to see so many born faster· got hate oozing out’em like sulfuric acid· · everyday a new thief· today’s, might want my teeth· to string them all together and make’em into a wreath· · Brother’s ill, and won’t think twice· to shake his boom pipe· even if I run the jewels, he’ll still want my life· Puppy’s sick· gotta shoot the gospel quick· and hope the truth will hit him much harder than a mule kick· · I let him know that if he lets the hollow points spray· God’s got a vengeance that’ll make a flambé· · But let me shut up before I provoke the "cack, cack!"· wish I could do a kick and put him on his back· not to make him handicapped· · but so that I could get away· and have another chance to pray· that this brother would get out of the Maddness
Chorus: What do you do when life’s a must· but you already caught the rush· money, power, lust· In whom will you place your trust· · All sin, no question, no doubt· Stuck and you can’t get out· Christ knows how you feel· So get’em up in the air if you know He’s real!
Verse 2: Caution, caution· has got me turnin’· tossin’· pausin’· six million moves, Steve Austin· · Check the picture· here comes that madd, fly, dime sister· guess she’s sittin’ waiting for her loving money Mr.· · I wonder if she’s got time to hear the plan· I see her lips say "Her comes this corny preacher man"· · I try to strike one up, I say, "That skirt is fly, is it pleated?"· She said, "Man beat it!"· · I said "Why is that the greeting that I’m given?"· She said "Step!", I said "God Bless your soul and keep livin’ "· · And as I walk away· I wish there was something I could say· to really make her understand that she’s more than a Chick-fila’· · Piece of meat to be bought or sandwich to be made· cause a little mayonnaise won’t change how your played· · Cause the next man bites· and the next man bites· and when it’s all over it’s a terrible sight· · Cause when they are done pulling up everything, man it’s spooky· You got substance, but float around the bowl· and God’s got a flush for all the manure· that’s why I’m trying to tell her, to keep her out of the sewer· of the Maddness
Chorus
Verse 3: Power, power· has got me lasting for another hour· trying to stay alert, awake to the devourer· · Though his fate must drag on· The Dragon· Satan· been hawking to destroy me ever since I was a little man· And even though I know I’m sealed for the long ride· he tempts me to feel the pleasure of the dark side· · It gets raw hide in obeying God’s will· the power is in steady spittin’· "It’s Written"· in his lying grill· · And if he wasn’t enough to shake roll and rattle· the world is another enemy of constant battle· · They invite me in, only to disown me· build me up to brake me down, till I’m lonely· · Lastly· I war with myself the most· Today will I play dictator or will I play host· · Will I do what I hate· or hate what I do· or don’t do what I should· or deny what I know is true· · This is the ceaseless, keeping it real, kinda war· not only am I a conqueror but I’m more· · So tell my three enemies that God’s got the back of his buddy· So I’m going to my grave with my knucks (Knuckles) bloody· · Not in the physical, but in a spiritual kinda baddness· cause I gotta fight the Maddness
Chorus
Lyrics submitted by lilreader
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