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."
Can you see me
Floating above your head
As you lay in bed
Thinking about everything
That you did not do
'Cause saying I love you
Has nothing to do with meaning it
And I don't trust you
'Cause every time you're here
Your intentions are unclear
I spend every hour waiting for a phone call
That I know will never come
I used to think you were the one
Now I'm sick of thinking anything at all
You ain't ever coming back to me
And that's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just to give it back
No other lover has ever done that
Do you remember
The way we used to melt?
Do you remember how it felt
When I touched you?
Oh, 'cause I remember very well, whoa
And how long has it been
Since someone you let in
Has given when I gave to you?
And at night when you sleep
Do you dream I would be there
Just for a minute or two
Do you, oh?
You ain't ever coming back to me
And that's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just to give it back
No other lover has ever done that
Heartache, heartache I just have so much
A simple love with a complex touch
And there is nothing you can say or do
I called to let you know I'm through with you
Oh
You ain't ever coming back to me
And that's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just to give it back
No other lover has ever done that
Heartache, heartache I just have so much
A simple love with a complex touch
And there is nothing you can say or do
I called to let you know I'm through
I called to let you know I'm through
I called to let you know I'm through with you
And I ain't ever comin' back to you
Floating above your head
As you lay in bed
Thinking about everything
That you did not do
'Cause saying I love you
Has nothing to do with meaning it
And I don't trust you
'Cause every time you're here
Your intentions are unclear
I spend every hour waiting for a phone call
That I know will never come
I used to think you were the one
Now I'm sick of thinking anything at all
You ain't ever coming back to me
And that's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just to give it back
No other lover has ever done that
Do you remember
The way we used to melt?
Do you remember how it felt
When I touched you?
Oh, 'cause I remember very well, whoa
And how long has it been
Since someone you let in
Has given when I gave to you?
And at night when you sleep
Do you dream I would be there
Just for a minute or two
Do you, oh?
You ain't ever coming back to me
And that's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just to give it back
No other lover has ever done that
Heartache, heartache I just have so much
A simple love with a complex touch
And there is nothing you can say or do
I called to let you know I'm through with you
Oh
You ain't ever coming back to me
And that's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just to give it back
No other lover has ever done that
Heartache, heartache I just have so much
A simple love with a complex touch
And there is nothing you can say or do
I called to let you know I'm through
I called to let you know I'm through
I called to let you know I'm through with you
And I ain't ever comin' back to you
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I love at the tail end when he says "And I ain't never coming back to you." He's so powerful in this song. Every line makes perfect sense, and he expressed all of his emotions in the music and the words... like the verse "do you remember the way we used to melt do you remember how it felt when I touched you" the music seems to be more flowing, like in a happy, romantic memory. And it gets all strict and the beat strengthens on lines like "and I don't trust you!" great song.