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've got a book of matches
I've got a can of kerosene
I've got some bright ideas involving you and me
I don't blame you for walking away
I touch myself at thoughts of flames
I shat the bed and laid there in it
Thinking of you wide awake for days
Wide awake for days
And I found you tongue tied
In my twisted little brain
You couldn't crack a smile
I barely caught your name
I don't blame you for walking away
I'd do the same if I saw me
I swear it's not contagious
In four short steps we can erase this
Step one: slit my throat
Step two: play in my blood
Step three: cover me in dirty sheets
And run laughing out of the house
Step four: stop off at Edgebrook Creek
And rinse your crimson hands
You took me hostage and made your demands
I couldn't meet them so you cut off my fingers
One by one
One by one
I'm like a broken record
I've got a needle scratching me
It injects the poison of alcohol I.V.
I don't blame you for walking away
I'd do the same if I saw me
I swear it's not contagious
I swear to god it's not contagious
Step one: slit my throat
Step two: play in my blood
Step three: cover me in dirty sheets
And run laughing out of the house
Step four: stop at lake Michigan
And rinse your crimson hands
You took me hostage you made your demands
I couldn't meet them so you cut off my fingers
One by one
One by one
This could be love (love for fire)
This could be love (love for fire)
This could be love (love for fire)
This could be love
For fire forevermore
Step one: slit my throat
Step two: play in my blood
Step three: cover me in dirty sheets
And run laughing out of the house
Step four: stop at Berkeley Marina
Rinse your crimson hands
You took me hostage and made your demands
I couldn't meet them so you cut off my fingers
One by one
One by one
One by one
I've got a can of kerosene
I've got some bright ideas involving you and me
I don't blame you for walking away
I touch myself at thoughts of flames
I shat the bed and laid there in it
Thinking of you wide awake for days
Wide awake for days
And I found you tongue tied
In my twisted little brain
You couldn't crack a smile
I barely caught your name
I don't blame you for walking away
I'd do the same if I saw me
I swear it's not contagious
In four short steps we can erase this
Step one: slit my throat
Step two: play in my blood
Step three: cover me in dirty sheets
And run laughing out of the house
Step four: stop off at Edgebrook Creek
And rinse your crimson hands
You took me hostage and made your demands
I couldn't meet them so you cut off my fingers
One by one
One by one
I'm like a broken record
I've got a needle scratching me
It injects the poison of alcohol I.V.
I don't blame you for walking away
I'd do the same if I saw me
I swear it's not contagious
I swear to god it's not contagious
Step one: slit my throat
Step two: play in my blood
Step three: cover me in dirty sheets
And run laughing out of the house
Step four: stop at lake Michigan
And rinse your crimson hands
You took me hostage you made your demands
I couldn't meet them so you cut off my fingers
One by one
One by one
This could be love (love for fire)
This could be love (love for fire)
This could be love (love for fire)
This could be love
For fire forevermore
Step one: slit my throat
Step two: play in my blood
Step three: cover me in dirty sheets
And run laughing out of the house
Step four: stop at Berkeley Marina
Rinse your crimson hands
You took me hostage and made your demands
I couldn't meet them so you cut off my fingers
One by one
One by one
One by one
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
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
The whole album is sick...but they changed this song a bit. The first location is something creek i think, the second is lake michagan and the third is Berkley marina. Since matt lived in chicago and southern california the third one is probably another place he lived or lake michagan is for dan who still lives in chicago and the first is for derek.