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."
Well it's Saturday night
And you know what that means
It's time for laps that's right
Start to rev those machines
You may think we're crazy
Driving round and round
But you would be this proud
If your sounds were this loud
Well I got my Holden
And I'm ready for rolling
This car ain't stolen
I've been saving my dough man
You may think I'm crazy
And my brain is thrashed
But you're only saying that
'Cause you ain't true white trash
'Cause I'm white trash
Yeah I'm real white trash
If you want to see white trash
I'll show you white trash
Do you know what I mean
Well I walked out of school at twelve
I couldn't handle those letters
So I started my career
Don't at my uncles car wreckers
You should see my new hairdo
I dyed it jet black
Oh well its short on top
And it's long in the back
Well I got my belt buckle
And I'm wearing it out
'Cause I want to show the ladies what I'm all about
Well my jeans come in all colors as long as its black
'Cause I want to show the world that I'm true white trash
And you know what that means
It's time for laps that's right
Start to rev those machines
You may think we're crazy
Driving round and round
But you would be this proud
If your sounds were this loud
Well I got my Holden
And I'm ready for rolling
This car ain't stolen
I've been saving my dough man
You may think I'm crazy
And my brain is thrashed
But you're only saying that
'Cause you ain't true white trash
'Cause I'm white trash
Yeah I'm real white trash
If you want to see white trash
I'll show you white trash
Do you know what I mean
Well I walked out of school at twelve
I couldn't handle those letters
So I started my career
Don't at my uncles car wreckers
You should see my new hairdo
I dyed it jet black
Oh well its short on top
And it's long in the back
Well I got my belt buckle
And I'm wearing it out
'Cause I want to show the ladies what I'm all about
Well my jeans come in all colors as long as its black
'Cause I want to show the world that I'm true white trash
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,
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Just a fun song by an awesome band.