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."
Up the street from this hotel building
I sit alone with my beliefs
Contradicted by a memory of sunlight
She leaves no sentiment for me
(Please could you help me sleep when I'm dreaming?)
Drawn from memory he knows her call
Sees the world through different eyes
No-one can see me in the labyrinth inside
But I still fall saleep and try
(Please could you help me wake when I'm screaming?)
(chorus)
But I am locked inside her service
It seems like we're falling inbetween
These green apple trees bring no comfort for me
It feels like it's 'Love in the time of cholera' for me
Down the street from this ruined cathedral
I sleep alone beneath the stars
Mercury was falling through a gap beneath the waves
Broken by the love that went too far
(Please could you let me sleep when I'm dreaming?)
Rivers running through me but they cannot find the sea
Cholera has turned them all to green
Now her lover hangs in balance in the leaves
But til he falls I won't be free
(Can't someone help me wake when I'm screaming?)
CHORUS
The General in his maze
Writes four songs that can't be erased
The cavalry of pawns
Sing of love and other demons
And I can't believe that you read them all for me
I feels like it's 'Love in the time of cholera' for me
It seems like there's solitude beneath
But could you tell me when I'm drifting off to sleep?
I sit alone with my beliefs
Contradicted by a memory of sunlight
She leaves no sentiment for me
(Please could you help me sleep when I'm dreaming?)
Drawn from memory he knows her call
Sees the world through different eyes
No-one can see me in the labyrinth inside
But I still fall saleep and try
(Please could you help me wake when I'm screaming?)
(chorus)
But I am locked inside her service
It seems like we're falling inbetween
These green apple trees bring no comfort for me
It feels like it's 'Love in the time of cholera' for me
Down the street from this ruined cathedral
I sleep alone beneath the stars
Mercury was falling through a gap beneath the waves
Broken by the love that went too far
(Please could you let me sleep when I'm dreaming?)
Rivers running through me but they cannot find the sea
Cholera has turned them all to green
Now her lover hangs in balance in the leaves
But til he falls I won't be free
(Can't someone help me wake when I'm screaming?)
CHORUS
The General in his maze
Writes four songs that can't be erased
The cavalry of pawns
Sing of love and other demons
And I can't believe that you read them all for me
I feels like it's 'Love in the time of cholera' for me
It seems like there's solitude beneath
But could you tell me when I'm drifting off to sleep?
Lyrics submitted by admather
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Mountain Song
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