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."
Damn right that slut's my bitch
She fuckin' sucked my God damn dick
First time is never enough and
Second time you're 'bout to bust and
Third time and you're beggin' for more and more and more and...
Everybody now take your places
And all the ladies with the pretty faces
I'll be waiting for you backstage to give you what you need
We got, all that you're wantin'
We got, all that you're needin'
We got, all that you desire
I'm feelin' fine and lookin' twice as good
The things we're doin', man, I know you wish you could
The only thing that matters my friend is we'll be here in the end
You can't explain it, and you'll never contain it
'Cause what we are is something that you'll never ever be
There's no need to run and hide
When everything that you need's inside
So come along and join the ride
FP's in the place tonight
Grip it, rip it, rock it, roll it, and trip it
Everybody watchin' knows that we're bitchin'
Eyes wide and the drawers are droppin' for what we've got
Line 'em up and we'll knock 'em down
And tonight we're getting kicked outta this town
And all we're leaving behind is a pile of broken hearts and tears
We got, everything that you're wantin'
We got, everything that you're needin'
We got, everything that you desire
Once onstage they start to scream our name
Once onstage they start to go insane
Offstage I'll take one back and fuck oh, what's her name?
You can't explain it, and you'll never contain it
'Cause what we are is something that you'll never ever be
There's no need to run and hide
When everything that you need's inside
Come along and join the ride
FP's in the place tonight
Listen up and listen good, 'cause I'll only say this once
Forget everything that you've seen and heard and just keep your eyes on us
No disrespect intended, and I hate to boast and brag
But it's hard to keep my mouth shut when I know that this shit's in the bag
And we've come too far and we've worked too hard to just roll over and play dead
And at the end of the day there's only one things that's still in my head
Rock n' roll, rock n' roll
Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll
And if you've got a problem with that you should just hit the fuckin' door
She fuckin' sucked my God damn dick
First time is never enough and
Second time you're 'bout to bust and
Third time and you're beggin' for more and more and more and...
Everybody now take your places
And all the ladies with the pretty faces
I'll be waiting for you backstage to give you what you need
We got, all that you're wantin'
We got, all that you're needin'
We got, all that you desire
I'm feelin' fine and lookin' twice as good
The things we're doin', man, I know you wish you could
The only thing that matters my friend is we'll be here in the end
You can't explain it, and you'll never contain it
'Cause what we are is something that you'll never ever be
There's no need to run and hide
When everything that you need's inside
So come along and join the ride
FP's in the place tonight
Grip it, rip it, rock it, roll it, and trip it
Everybody watchin' knows that we're bitchin'
Eyes wide and the drawers are droppin' for what we've got
Line 'em up and we'll knock 'em down
And tonight we're getting kicked outta this town
And all we're leaving behind is a pile of broken hearts and tears
We got, everything that you're wantin'
We got, everything that you're needin'
We got, everything that you desire
Once onstage they start to scream our name
Once onstage they start to go insane
Offstage I'll take one back and fuck oh, what's her name?
You can't explain it, and you'll never contain it
'Cause what we are is something that you'll never ever be
There's no need to run and hide
When everything that you need's inside
Come along and join the ride
FP's in the place tonight
Listen up and listen good, 'cause I'll only say this once
Forget everything that you've seen and heard and just keep your eyes on us
No disrespect intended, and I hate to boast and brag
But it's hard to keep my mouth shut when I know that this shit's in the bag
And we've come too far and we've worked too hard to just roll over and play dead
And at the end of the day there's only one things that's still in my head
Rock n' roll, rock n' roll
Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll
And if you've got a problem with that you should just hit the fuckin' door
Lyrics submitted by Eli
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I just love that starting. It makes me laugh every time.