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."
Cooler than the red dress
'cause I'm cooler
'cause I'm cooler
'cause I'm cooler than the red dress
'cause I'm cooler
'cause I'm cooler
Using subtle diploma
To get what she wants
Can't say that it's wrong
No baby
A man's not a boy can't you see
We're pulling the strings
We're taking the lead
And when you're sure
You'll never let him play you again
She'll put on your favorite smile
And plug the cord
And get you in your dirty dance
Her hips will send you into a trance
'cause I'm cooler than the red dress
I'd rather catch a guy on my own
(Give me credit)
'cause what you see the man gets
(Don't forget it)
And if he don't I'm better off here alone
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Don't need candlelight to make you stay over
I'm giving it up now, baby
If that's what I gotta do just to own you
I'm giving it up now maybe
(To you)
I've played the desperate lady
Jumped through all of the hoops boy
Instead of constant craving
I leave the chasing to you
And if you don't respect it
Ill pick up my Jimmy Choos
'cause boy if you don't love me
Then I've got nothing to lose
'cause I've been down this roads before
I should have known that I was to blame
Won't put on your
Favorite smile
Won't plug the cord to get you to your dirty dance
That's not the way I get my demands
'cause I'm cooler than the red dress
I'd rather catch a guy on my own
'cause what you see the man gets
And if he don't I'm better off here alone
(Save your kisses)
'cause I'm cooler than the red dress
(Do you get it)
I'd rather catch a guy on my own
(Give me credit)
'cause what you see the man gets
(Don't forget it)
And if he don't I'm better off here alone
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Don't need candlelight to make you stay over
I'm giving it up now baby
If that's what I gotta do just to own you
I'm giving it up now baby
Don't need candlelight to make you stay over
(Right now)
I'm giving it up now baby
If that's what I gotta do just to own you
(Own you, own you baby)
I'm giving it up now maybe
Said don't call me baby
(Cooler than the red dress)
Said don't call me baby
(Cooler than the red dress)
'cause I'm cooler
'cause I'm cooler
'cause I'm cooler than the red dress
'cause I'm cooler
'cause I'm cooler
Using subtle diploma
To get what she wants
Can't say that it's wrong
No baby
A man's not a boy can't you see
We're pulling the strings
We're taking the lead
And when you're sure
You'll never let him play you again
She'll put on your favorite smile
And plug the cord
And get you in your dirty dance
Her hips will send you into a trance
'cause I'm cooler than the red dress
I'd rather catch a guy on my own
(Give me credit)
'cause what you see the man gets
(Don't forget it)
And if he don't I'm better off here alone
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Don't need candlelight to make you stay over
I'm giving it up now, baby
If that's what I gotta do just to own you
I'm giving it up now maybe
(To you)
I've played the desperate lady
Jumped through all of the hoops boy
Instead of constant craving
I leave the chasing to you
And if you don't respect it
Ill pick up my Jimmy Choos
'cause boy if you don't love me
Then I've got nothing to lose
'cause I've been down this roads before
I should have known that I was to blame
Won't put on your
Favorite smile
Won't plug the cord to get you to your dirty dance
That's not the way I get my demands
'cause I'm cooler than the red dress
I'd rather catch a guy on my own
'cause what you see the man gets
And if he don't I'm better off here alone
(Save your kisses)
'cause I'm cooler than the red dress
(Do you get it)
I'd rather catch a guy on my own
(Give me credit)
'cause what you see the man gets
(Don't forget it)
And if he don't I'm better off here alone
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Don't need candlelight to make you stay over
I'm giving it up now baby
If that's what I gotta do just to own you
I'm giving it up now baby
Don't need candlelight to make you stay over
(Right now)
I'm giving it up now baby
If that's what I gotta do just to own you
(Own you, own you baby)
I'm giving it up now maybe
Said don't call me baby
(Cooler than the red dress)
Said don't call me baby
(Cooler than the red dress)
Lyrics submitted by littlemissgiggles23
Red Dress Lyrics as written by Brian Thomas Higgins Heidi Range
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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I admit these lyrics may be wrong, let me know if you spot any mistakes!!!