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."
Isn't it great to see how life begins
Things may change, let the joy begin
Can you hear this new life crying
Breed it out, it will be worth it
Show me your newborn smile
(Please tell me why)
I don't want to hold you
(Please tell me why)
I don't want to see you
'Cause even your smile hurts
Oh it hurts like hell
Isn't it good to see how life begins
There's no sin and there's no crime
Down where I am there's no bitter end at all
This bitterness is endless, keeps going on and on
I don't want to hold you
I don't want to see you
Even birth can bear disgrace
I don't want to hold you
I don't want to see you
Or even the smile upon your face
I fear my heart and fear my soul
And all the things that are unknown
There's a chance things will turn wrong, my friend
Far too fast I'm losing ground
Well, let's face it here and now
You're not wellcome you should know
I fear my heart and fear my soul
Life goes on it surely will
Without me it will wither
Will I ever see light again
Will I ever see light again
Oh life goes on
I don't want to hold you
I don't want to see you
My tear of joy turned into grief
(I don't want to stand it anymore)
Down where I am that's where darkness rules
The silence shall be only friend
Things may change, let the joy begin
Can you hear this new life crying
Breed it out, it will be worth it
Show me your newborn smile
(Please tell me why)
I don't want to hold you
(Please tell me why)
I don't want to see you
'Cause even your smile hurts
Oh it hurts like hell
Isn't it good to see how life begins
There's no sin and there's no crime
Down where I am there's no bitter end at all
This bitterness is endless, keeps going on and on
I don't want to hold you
I don't want to see you
Even birth can bear disgrace
I don't want to hold you
I don't want to see you
Or even the smile upon your face
I fear my heart and fear my soul
And all the things that are unknown
There's a chance things will turn wrong, my friend
Far too fast I'm losing ground
Well, let's face it here and now
You're not wellcome you should know
I fear my heart and fear my soul
Life goes on it surely will
Without me it will wither
Will I ever see light again
Will I ever see light again
Oh life goes on
I don't want to hold you
I don't want to see you
My tear of joy turned into grief
(I don't want to stand it anymore)
Down where I am that's where darkness rules
The silence shall be only friend
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Mountain Song
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this song is definetly about EerieOompaLoompa because when it was born its mother threw it in the trash because she knew that it would be a dick
i have no idea.......its a tough one
perhaps a child that isn't his?
his partner gave birth, and the child was someone other guys?
I read some place that this song is about someone having a child with "Downs" syndrome. Seems kinda rough, but I also read that this isn't Hansi's personal view on the subject.
I almost wanna associate this song with Arthurian legend, and the whole relationship between Arthur and Mordred (as Mordred came about in an incestuous way, in some versions of the story). Even birth can bare disgrace.
Vindicator, that's an interesting theory you got there. The down syndrome makes sense too, though.
vindicator, i think you may be onto something. the song goes from positive to so negative very abruptly. but i'm not sure the "new life" is a literal child. it might be a metaphor for some other type of relationship gone bad.
its a strange coincidence that vindicator would have seemingly no knowledge of the Mordred Deschain character and still end up guessing the Mordred of Arthurian Legend... spooky
Well since King is greatly inspired by Arthurian legand ESPECIALLY in the dark tower series you are probably both right. Modred is a dick any way fuck him
That and I see this song from 2, maybe three different perspectives. That of Sussanah, of Mia and of Roland. although it might be Sussanah/Mia and Rolands views on the child. but i deffinetly see 2 different views expressed
You guys are probably right, and although this song isn't about a relationship gone wrong, I like to think about it and listen to it as if it's about a failed relationship. Either way, it's severely deep and emotional.
According to this interview:<br /> "“Down Where I Am” is about a baby born with Down’s Syndrome and the struggle of his father and the emotions going in and out of his mind. It’s all pretty heavy despite all the acoustic guitars and it doesn’t matter if the music came first or the lyrics came first or if it was written all together. The way I define heavy is that it creates a moving emotion inside you."<br /> metal-rules.com/zine/index.php