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 came to the conclusion
I don't need me no one
I get fouled, that's and one
You need a god to stop him
Ya'll Niggas is so dumb
Ya'll forever doubt him
I disappear and go numb
I come right back and blow up
I came to the conclusion
I don't need me no one
I get fouled, that's and one
You need a god to stop him
Y'all Niggas is so dumb
Ya'll forever doubt him
I disappear and go numb
I come right back and blow up
I remember the days I had braids
No girl wanted to give me no play
Now I gotta fade
And stacks of money
Bad little bitch
She all up on me
Now I got bread
She really want me
Before I had bread
She didn't know me
Walk past me
Went to my homie
I was on my grind
My movements low key
I focused on me
Yea
Look where I'm at now
You faded right off to the background
And Yea
Ya boy the man now
I came to kill this shit hands down
Listen I'm stacking my bands now
I Did this shit without a handout
Niggas they holding they hands out
Niggasthey holding they hands out
They want me give em a path
Give em the cash
Or put the key on the dash
Fuck em, Ain't kissing no ass
Listen I got this on smash
I am just the top of the class
You and your bitch she a fan
If you not fans then you mad
Mad that I'm doing big
Mad at this life that I live
Mad that said that I'd do it, now look what I did
Listen, I don't know what you're doing
Keep it moving, put your time in
I'm dropping back to back because I know that it's my time and
Nothing gonna stop me from working And Putting my time in
Money all around me
Cus ya know ya boy been grinding
I came to the conclusion
I don't need me no one
I get fouled, that's and one
You need a god to stop him
Y'all Niggas is so dumb
Y'all forever doubt him
I disappear and go numb
I come right back and blow up
I came to the conclusion
I don't need me no one
I get fouled, that's and one
You need a god to stop him
Y'all Niggas is so dumb
Y'all forever doubt him
I disappear and go numb
I come right back and blow up
I don't need me no one
I get fouled, that's and one
You need a god to stop him
Ya'll Niggas is so dumb
Ya'll forever doubt him
I disappear and go numb
I come right back and blow up
I came to the conclusion
I don't need me no one
I get fouled, that's and one
You need a god to stop him
Y'all Niggas is so dumb
Ya'll forever doubt him
I disappear and go numb
I come right back and blow up
I remember the days I had braids
No girl wanted to give me no play
Now I gotta fade
And stacks of money
Bad little bitch
She all up on me
Now I got bread
She really want me
Before I had bread
She didn't know me
Walk past me
Went to my homie
I was on my grind
My movements low key
I focused on me
Yea
Look where I'm at now
You faded right off to the background
And Yea
Ya boy the man now
I came to kill this shit hands down
Listen I'm stacking my bands now
I Did this shit without a handout
Niggas they holding they hands out
Niggasthey holding they hands out
They want me give em a path
Give em the cash
Or put the key on the dash
Fuck em, Ain't kissing no ass
Listen I got this on smash
I am just the top of the class
You and your bitch she a fan
If you not fans then you mad
Mad that I'm doing big
Mad at this life that I live
Mad that said that I'd do it, now look what I did
Listen, I don't know what you're doing
Keep it moving, put your time in
I'm dropping back to back because I know that it's my time and
Nothing gonna stop me from working And Putting my time in
Money all around me
Cus ya know ya boy been grinding
I came to the conclusion
I don't need me no one
I get fouled, that's and one
You need a god to stop him
Y'all Niggas is so dumb
Y'all forever doubt him
I disappear and go numb
I come right back and blow up
I came to the conclusion
I don't need me no one
I get fouled, that's and one
You need a god to stop him
Y'all Niggas is so dumb
Y'all forever doubt him
I disappear and go numb
I come right back and blow up
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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
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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
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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.
I love this song, it is amazing. People need to get on the ball with posting more KGB lyrics, they are such a great band. A breath of fresh air. Love it, absolutely love it!