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."
Danger bird, he flies alone
And he rides the wind back to his home
Although his wings have turned to stone
And we used to be so calm
Now I think about you all day long
(That's the moment that he cracked)
'Cause you've been with another man (long ago in the museum with his friends)
There you are and here I am
The jailbird takes a rap
And then finds himself spread-eagled on the track
But the training that he learned would get him nowhere fast
And I know we should be free
But freedom's just a prison to me (rain pounding on his back)
(He recalls the moment that he cracked)
'Cause I lied to keep it kind (long ago in the museum with his friends)
When I left you far behind (like those memories, the rain)
(Just keeps poundin' down, down, down)
And though these wings have turned to stone
I can fly, fly, fly away
Watch me fly above the city
Like a shadow on the sky
Fly, fly, fly
Fly, fly, fly
Fly, fly, fly
And he rides the wind back to his home
Although his wings have turned to stone
And we used to be so calm
Now I think about you all day long
(That's the moment that he cracked)
'Cause you've been with another man (long ago in the museum with his friends)
There you are and here I am
The jailbird takes a rap
And then finds himself spread-eagled on the track
But the training that he learned would get him nowhere fast
And I know we should be free
But freedom's just a prison to me (rain pounding on his back)
(He recalls the moment that he cracked)
'Cause I lied to keep it kind (long ago in the museum with his friends)
When I left you far behind (like those memories, the rain)
(Just keeps poundin' down, down, down)
And though these wings have turned to stone
I can fly, fly, fly away
Watch me fly above the city
Like a shadow on the sky
Fly, fly, fly
Fly, fly, fly
Fly, fly, fly
Lyrics submitted by danger bird, edited by smallwonderrobot
Danger Bird Lyrics as written by Neil Young
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Awesome song.
I kinda think this song is about a guy running away from his problems. He is also schytzo! His woman is sleeping with his other personality, and he is having heavy problems dealing with the normal day to day life. So he runs away from everything, and pretty soon theres no where left to go and he kills himself. Thats just what i get, i feel it in the music.
I just reread what i typed and it sounds ridiculous. Its hard to gauge neil young sometimes. Danger bird is a loner and a troublemaker, who just cant deal with the normal day to day living. He Runs (flies) away from everything and anything...
this album is amazing, i highly recommend you get it. Neil Young and Crazy Horse is amazing. this song live is sooo good, with all the feedback and reverb and delay on neil youngs guitar its sooo trippy, it will put you into a trance, its almost a peaceful trance, but eerie
This song is about being betrayed by his lover who slept with someone else. He is the Danger Bird. The pain of her betrayal has turned his wings to stone. But yet he is strong enough to fly away, even with stone wings. As a double Scorpio, I have a unique insight into his lyrics. The album has other songs that address this;
Barstool Blues
Pardon My Heart Looking for a Lover
Neil Young is boring.