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."
Slow it down some
No split clown bum
Your old hit sound dumb
Hold it now, crown 'I'm
Where you found them at
Got 'em 'round town
Coulda drowned in it
Woulda floated bloated
Voted sugar coated
Loaded hip shooter
Draw for the poor
Free coffee at the banks
Hit through the straw
None more for me, thanks
That blanks the raw
That dang sure stank lit
Sank passed the pit for more hardcore prank spit
Crank it on blast
Roll past front street
Blew the whole spot
Like some old ass with skunk meat
These kids is too fast
Juiced off a junk treat
Who could get looser off a crunk or a funk beat?
Something is starting today
Where did he go why you want it to be?
Well you know November has come
When it's gone away
Something is starting today
Where did he go why you want it to be?
Well you know, November has come
When it's gone away
Baha
Can you dig it like a spigot
My guess is yes you can
Like, can I kick it?
Wicked
Liquor shot
If you happy and you know it
As you clap your hands to the thick snot
Of a poet flowin'
Broke a pen and I'm in cope hymen
Dope or rhymin all worth it then
The Hope Diamond
Required off the blackmarket
Or wire tappin'
Couldn't target a jar of spit
The rapid fire spark lit
Zzzz!
A rapper bug zapper
And it don't matter after if they's a thug or a dapper
Plug yer trap or it's maximum exposure
The beast got family in numbers asking 'em for closure
Aw, send 'em a gun and tell 'em clean it
Then go get the nun who said her son didn't mean it
She wore a filled-in thong
A billabong
And said, nah, fo'realla
The Villain on a Gorilla jawn?
Something is starting today
Where did he go why you want it to be?
Well you know November has come
When it's gone away
Something is starting today
Where did he go why you want it to be?
Well you know, November has come
When it's gone away
When it's
When it's gone away
No split clown bum
Your old hit sound dumb
Hold it now, crown 'I'm
Where you found them at
Got 'em 'round town
Coulda drowned in it
Woulda floated bloated
Voted sugar coated
Loaded hip shooter
Draw for the poor
Free coffee at the banks
Hit through the straw
None more for me, thanks
That blanks the raw
That dang sure stank lit
Sank passed the pit for more hardcore prank spit
Crank it on blast
Roll past front street
Blew the whole spot
Like some old ass with skunk meat
These kids is too fast
Juiced off a junk treat
Who could get looser off a crunk or a funk beat?
Something is starting today
Where did he go why you want it to be?
Well you know November has come
When it's gone away
Something is starting today
Where did he go why you want it to be?
Well you know, November has come
When it's gone away
Baha
Can you dig it like a spigot
My guess is yes you can
Like, can I kick it?
Wicked
Liquor shot
If you happy and you know it
As you clap your hands to the thick snot
Of a poet flowin'
Broke a pen and I'm in cope hymen
Dope or rhymin all worth it then
The Hope Diamond
Required off the blackmarket
Or wire tappin'
Couldn't target a jar of spit
The rapid fire spark lit
Zzzz!
A rapper bug zapper
And it don't matter after if they's a thug or a dapper
Plug yer trap or it's maximum exposure
The beast got family in numbers asking 'em for closure
Aw, send 'em a gun and tell 'em clean it
Then go get the nun who said her son didn't mean it
She wore a filled-in thong
A billabong
And said, nah, fo'realla
The Villain on a Gorilla jawn?
Something is starting today
Where did he go why you want it to be?
Well you know November has come
When it's gone away
Something is starting today
Where did he go why you want it to be?
Well you know, November has come
When it's gone away
When it's
When it's gone away
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
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
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.
With the tone of the rest of the album, I wouldn't doubt that "November has come/And it's gone away" is a reference to a lost opportunity to oust Bush.