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."
California – I wish I was there
Under your pacific sunsets, I wish I was there
Remember the time when we were both just sitting at that party, shooting the breeze and breathing summer’s wind?
It had been awhile since I had met someone that made time disappear, or at least helped me forget where it begins.
I loved the way you investigated the light caught in your eyes – it made me want to be your sunshine.
And if only I could’ve been that sweet, vanilla ice cream melting in your mouth ‘cause I know that I would cool you down
I’m glad you also like living free ‘cause I was getting sick of loneliness and being labeled “crazy”
We only met for what seemed like a second, but man those two days were pretty cool
I’m sure that all my thoughts of you are politely reciprocated through that other girl who had a thing for guys and their guitars.
So, you’ll probably never know this, but I have got the softest crush on you
So what should I do about it? Where should I go? Where should I go? Should I go west?
And all the other people gathered seemed to have one thing in mind, and that was having a good time with boos and cameras, singing songs, not caring if they sang all of the lyrics wrong… yeah…
While you and I just chilled there, and talked about the things we didn’t care to share with anyone else – like how to read constellations, weekend plans – both two topics coupled hand in hand.
This conversation, I felt, came from the heart
I wish I knew what you were thinking when I was teaching you to build a Wonderwall – do you remember that at all?
Well this is great – a great sun-setting fantasy
It puts me at ease whenever I am down
But, please do not be frightened ‘cause that’s not my intention – you’re just the thing that takes my frowns and turns them right around
And I’m glad I know someone like me, who falls asleep to screaming Used up harmonies
And again, I am sorry if this makes you uneasy – don’t think of it that way
It’s just good to know I know someone who knows how to play their cards right
So, thanks for the good times
Thanks for your insights
Thanks for that Havana night back home
Thanks for those few conversations on the phone
Thanks for being real and not pretend
Thanks for being cool and a really awesome friend
Thanks for being what I needed most, even if you never knew it though.
So, if it’s ok with you, I think I’ll go…
I think I’ll go…
I think I’ll go…
I think I’ll go west.
Under your pacific sunsets, I wish I was there
Remember the time when we were both just sitting at that party, shooting the breeze and breathing summer’s wind?
It had been awhile since I had met someone that made time disappear, or at least helped me forget where it begins.
I loved the way you investigated the light caught in your eyes – it made me want to be your sunshine.
And if only I could’ve been that sweet, vanilla ice cream melting in your mouth ‘cause I know that I would cool you down
I’m glad you also like living free ‘cause I was getting sick of loneliness and being labeled “crazy”
We only met for what seemed like a second, but man those two days were pretty cool
I’m sure that all my thoughts of you are politely reciprocated through that other girl who had a thing for guys and their guitars.
So, you’ll probably never know this, but I have got the softest crush on you
So what should I do about it? Where should I go? Where should I go? Should I go west?
And all the other people gathered seemed to have one thing in mind, and that was having a good time with boos and cameras, singing songs, not caring if they sang all of the lyrics wrong… yeah…
While you and I just chilled there, and talked about the things we didn’t care to share with anyone else – like how to read constellations, weekend plans – both two topics coupled hand in hand.
This conversation, I felt, came from the heart
I wish I knew what you were thinking when I was teaching you to build a Wonderwall – do you remember that at all?
Well this is great – a great sun-setting fantasy
It puts me at ease whenever I am down
But, please do not be frightened ‘cause that’s not my intention – you’re just the thing that takes my frowns and turns them right around
And I’m glad I know someone like me, who falls asleep to screaming Used up harmonies
And again, I am sorry if this makes you uneasy – don’t think of it that way
It’s just good to know I know someone who knows how to play their cards right
So, thanks for the good times
Thanks for your insights
Thanks for that Havana night back home
Thanks for those few conversations on the phone
Thanks for being real and not pretend
Thanks for being cool and a really awesome friend
Thanks for being what I needed most, even if you never knew it though.
So, if it’s ok with you, I think I’ll go…
I think I’ll go…
I think I’ll go…
I think I’ll go west.
Lyrics submitted by rmorriso
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Mountain Song
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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,
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