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."
You told me you loved me
But it never really felt that way
Just another game you played
It always seemed to make me stay
You said you adored me
But you never looked me in the eyes
But you called me all alone one night
Tossed me roses and turned out the lights
Do you have a heart?
You seemed so artificial
It tears me apart
The way you say that word to me
You know you're no work of art
Still you managed to get to me
But don't even start
To tell me things that you don't mean
Love
Love is just a word
A used up term
Unless it's heartfelt
Love
Love is just a noun
An empty sound
Unless it's heartfelt
Why don't you just hold me
Or would you prefer a smaller thing?
But at least your kisses do not sting
As much as all the words that you don't mean
Maybe you should just leave me
I've shed so many tears for you
I've wasted all these years on you
I was always so sincere with you
Do you have a heart?
You seemed so artificial
It tears me apart
The way you say that word to me
You know you're no work of art
Still you managed to get to me
But don't even start
To tell me things that you don't mean
Love
Love is just a word
A used up term
Unless it's heartfelt
Love
Love is just a noun
An empty sound
Unless it's heartfelt
Love
Love is still around
It can be found
It can be heartfelt
Love
Love is more than a word
When its meant to be heard
Love can make you heartfelt
But it never really felt that way
Just another game you played
It always seemed to make me stay
You said you adored me
But you never looked me in the eyes
But you called me all alone one night
Tossed me roses and turned out the lights
Do you have a heart?
You seemed so artificial
It tears me apart
The way you say that word to me
You know you're no work of art
Still you managed to get to me
But don't even start
To tell me things that you don't mean
Love
Love is just a word
A used up term
Unless it's heartfelt
Love
Love is just a noun
An empty sound
Unless it's heartfelt
Why don't you just hold me
Or would you prefer a smaller thing?
But at least your kisses do not sting
As much as all the words that you don't mean
Maybe you should just leave me
I've shed so many tears for you
I've wasted all these years on you
I was always so sincere with you
Do you have a heart?
You seemed so artificial
It tears me apart
The way you say that word to me
You know you're no work of art
Still you managed to get to me
But don't even start
To tell me things that you don't mean
Love
Love is just a word
A used up term
Unless it's heartfelt
Love
Love is just a noun
An empty sound
Unless it's heartfelt
Love
Love is still around
It can be found
It can be heartfelt
Love
Love is more than a word
When its meant to be heard
Love can make you heartfelt
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I love this song.
I'm positive the last line of this song is "Love can make your heart melt."
I also love this song. It seems like it's trying to teach a lesson in a way. That love is just a word, and sometimes people don't really mean it. But, it can have meaning and be very powerful if the emotion is behind its use hence being able to make your "heart melt."