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."
Next phase, next craze, next nothing new.
Got the pretty boy beat him up black and blue.
Broke the sissy boy's teeny toy heart in two.
Turned him into a video kid like you.
I know we're just pretending.
There's no window for escape.
I know you see right through me.
There's no promise left to break.
Shot the pretty boy killed him on commodore.
Need a new game, need a new something more.
Got a new face got a new way to score.
Got a voice like something I've heard before.
The message misleading.
We're lying, we're cheating.
We're only repeating.
The motions preceding.
Got the pretty boy beat him up black and blue.
Broke the sissy boy's teeny toy heart in two.
Turned him into a video kid like you.
I know we're just pretending.
There's no window for escape.
I know you see right through me.
There's no promise left to break.
Shot the pretty boy killed him on commodore.
Need a new game, need a new something more.
Got a new face got a new way to score.
Got a voice like something I've heard before.
The message misleading.
We're lying, we're cheating.
We're only repeating.
The motions preceding.
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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I believe that this song reffers to a woman who uses men as 'toys' and sees them as nothing more.
Next phase, next craze, next nothing new.
Got the pretty boy beat him up black and blue. Broke the sissy boy's teeny toy heart in two.
Turned him into a video kid like you.
I know you're just pretending.
There's no window for escape. I know you see right through me. There's no promise left to break.
Shot the pretty boy killed him on commodore. -She is done 'playing' around with this dude obviously (The shooting thing is clearly metaphorical)
Need a new game, need a new something more. Got a new face got a new way to score.
Got a voice like something I've heard before.
The message misleading.
~Cheers, MoonlightOrchid