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."
With sadness in my heart and joy in my mind
I thought about the ghost that we left behind.
With everyone around telling us what to do
With deafening sound whisper "I love you."
The fire in your eyes-- may it never go out.
The sweetness of your tears make it feel like night.
I see no escape from the roles we always play
What do we have to prove on this judgement day
You're missing the whole point-- you're not my little pet
Don't throw away your life-- The games not over yet
I do not own your soul--don't want you in a cage
I only want your heart to find a special place
You're mine now But you're not my sister
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine But you're not my child
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine now But you're not my slave
With sadness in my heart and clounds in my head
I thought about us both and the lives we led.
The pages on a book and pictures on a screen
We shape ourselves like clay from someone else's dream.
One second you are cast just like stones at my feet
But I am not a king please don't worship me.
With everyone around telling us what to do
With deafening sound whisper "I love you."
You're missing the whole point-- you're not my little pet
Don't throw away your life-- The games not over yet
I do not own your soul--don't want you in a cage
I only want your heart to find a special place
You're mine now But you're not my sister
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine But you're not my child
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine But you're not my sister
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine But you're not my child
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine now But you're not my slave
I thought about the ghost that we left behind.
With everyone around telling us what to do
With deafening sound whisper "I love you."
The fire in your eyes-- may it never go out.
The sweetness of your tears make it feel like night.
I see no escape from the roles we always play
What do we have to prove on this judgement day
You're missing the whole point-- you're not my little pet
Don't throw away your life-- The games not over yet
I do not own your soul--don't want you in a cage
I only want your heart to find a special place
You're mine now But you're not my sister
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine But you're not my child
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine now But you're not my slave
With sadness in my heart and clounds in my head
I thought about us both and the lives we led.
The pages on a book and pictures on a screen
We shape ourselves like clay from someone else's dream.
One second you are cast just like stones at my feet
But I am not a king please don't worship me.
With everyone around telling us what to do
With deafening sound whisper "I love you."
You're missing the whole point-- you're not my little pet
Don't throw away your life-- The games not over yet
I do not own your soul--don't want you in a cage
I only want your heart to find a special place
You're mine now But you're not my sister
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine But you're not my child
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine But you're not my sister
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine But you're not my child
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine now But you're not my slave
You're mine now But you're not my slave
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But of course, it makes just as much sense if its about traditional roles and marraige.