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."
I remember when baseball was everything
It was little league, but what a big game
There were two men on and one man out
I got a fastball hanging outside
I swung that bat with all my might
And the ball was gone
They say I knocked the cover off
It was the only homer that I ever had
You should of seen my dad
[Chorus]
And there ain't nobody gonna take that from me
As long as I'm holding on
Heaven wouldn't ask it of me
The devil on a good day ain't that strong
I'm keeping it here inside me
As long as I live and breathe
The ball was soaring and the crowd was roaring
And there ain't nobody gonna take that from me
I was nineteen, it was a good job
Moving TV's on a loading dock
Till the boss said, "son
Try to lose every seventh one
I got it worked out with a good friend
Keep your mouth shut, and we'll cut you in
Now what do you say
Don't you want to be rich one day"
I lost a real good job that night
But I kept my pride
[Chorus]
And sometimes it feels like
My best years are behind me
Then somehow, out of nowhere
Something sneaks up to remind me
Like this morning, I woke up
To a little voice that spoke up
Saying, "daddy, please
Fix a bowl of rice krispies
You're the bestest friend that I ever had
You know I love you dad"
[Chorus]
It was little league, but what a big game
There were two men on and one man out
I got a fastball hanging outside
I swung that bat with all my might
And the ball was gone
They say I knocked the cover off
It was the only homer that I ever had
You should of seen my dad
[Chorus]
And there ain't nobody gonna take that from me
As long as I'm holding on
Heaven wouldn't ask it of me
The devil on a good day ain't that strong
I'm keeping it here inside me
As long as I live and breathe
The ball was soaring and the crowd was roaring
And there ain't nobody gonna take that from me
I was nineteen, it was a good job
Moving TV's on a loading dock
Till the boss said, "son
Try to lose every seventh one
I got it worked out with a good friend
Keep your mouth shut, and we'll cut you in
Now what do you say
Don't you want to be rich one day"
I lost a real good job that night
But I kept my pride
[Chorus]
And sometimes it feels like
My best years are behind me
Then somehow, out of nowhere
Something sneaks up to remind me
Like this morning, I woke up
To a little voice that spoke up
Saying, "daddy, please
Fix a bowl of rice krispies
You're the bestest friend that I ever had
You know I love you dad"
[Chorus]
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