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."
When I counted up my demons
Saw there was one for every day
With the good ones on my shoulders
I drove the other ones away
So if you ever feel neglected
And if you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost
When you thought that it was over
You could feel it all around
And everybody's out to get you
Don't you let it drag you down
'Cause if you ever feel neglected
And if you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost
If you ever feel neglected
If you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost
Singing out oh, oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Everything's not lost
So come on, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, yeah
And everything's not lost
Oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
And everything's not lost
Come on, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, yeah
Come on, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, yeah
And everything's not lost
Sing out, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, yeah
And everything's not lost
Come on, yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Sing out, yeah
And everything's not lost
Now I never meant to do you wrong
That's what I came here to say
But if I was wrong, then I'm sorry
I don't let it stand in our way
'Cause my head just aches when I think of
The things that I shouldn't have done
But life is for living, we all know
And I don't want to live it alone
Sing out, ah ah
Sing ah ah ah
And just sing ah ah ah ah ah
Saw there was one for every day
With the good ones on my shoulders
I drove the other ones away
So if you ever feel neglected
And if you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost
When you thought that it was over
You could feel it all around
And everybody's out to get you
Don't you let it drag you down
'Cause if you ever feel neglected
And if you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost
If you ever feel neglected
If you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost
Singing out oh, oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Everything's not lost
So come on, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, yeah
And everything's not lost
Oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
And everything's not lost
Come on, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, yeah
Come on, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, yeah
And everything's not lost
Sing out, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, yeah
And everything's not lost
Come on, yeah
Oh, oh yeah
Sing out, yeah
And everything's not lost
Now I never meant to do you wrong
That's what I came here to say
But if I was wrong, then I'm sorry
I don't let it stand in our way
'Cause my head just aches when I think of
The things that I shouldn't have done
But life is for living, we all know
And I don't want to live it alone
Sing out, ah ah
Sing ah ah ah
And just sing ah ah ah ah ah
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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 could be my favorite coldplay song. i love it so much, it's gorgeous. the way it progresses - i just don't want it to end.