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."
Hide nor hair
Oh, I was lying in the bed with fever
And I was burning up inside
My baby walked in my bedroom
And I could hardly open my eyes
She said she was going to the pawn shop
Just across the track
She started packing some clothes in a hurry
And then she said she would be right back
But I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day
Well I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since she went away
I remember so well when she slammed the door
But the girl didn't make it back no more
I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day
Well I waited for her twenty four hours
And I was just about to starve to death
It didn't look like she was coming back
So I had to look out for myself
Well I called the police department
To find out what they knew
They said, no by heck but we will get her yet
Because they were looking for her too.
But I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day
Well I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since she went away
Well I don't know what happened across the track
But I know my baby didn't make it back
I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day.
Well I called my Dr. Foster
And when the girl answered the phone
I got a funny feeling
The way she said Dr. Foster had gone
She said he left with a lady patient
About twenty four hours ago
I added two and two and here's what I got
I got I'll never see that girl no mo'
But I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day
Well I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since she went away
If Dr. foster has got her then I know I'm through
Cause he's got medicine and money too.
I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day.
Whoa no
Oh, I was lying in the bed with fever
And I was burning up inside
My baby walked in my bedroom
And I could hardly open my eyes
She said she was going to the pawn shop
Just across the track
She started packing some clothes in a hurry
And then she said she would be right back
But I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day
Well I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since she went away
I remember so well when she slammed the door
But the girl didn't make it back no more
I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day
Well I waited for her twenty four hours
And I was just about to starve to death
It didn't look like she was coming back
So I had to look out for myself
Well I called the police department
To find out what they knew
They said, no by heck but we will get her yet
Because they were looking for her too.
But I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day
Well I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since she went away
Well I don't know what happened across the track
But I know my baby didn't make it back
I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day.
Well I called my Dr. Foster
And when the girl answered the phone
I got a funny feeling
The way she said Dr. Foster had gone
She said he left with a lady patient
About twenty four hours ago
I added two and two and here's what I got
I got I'll never see that girl no mo'
But I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day
Well I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since she went away
If Dr. foster has got her then I know I'm through
Cause he's got medicine and money too.
I ain't seen hide nor hair my baby since that day.
Whoa no
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
Hide nor Hair Lyrics as written by Percy Mayfield Morton Craft
Lyrics © TANGERINE MUSIC CORP. C/O THE RAY CHARLES FOUNDATION
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Dr. Foster was Ray Charles's real doctor, and this song was a kind of tribute to him. Foster delivered one of Ray's children and helped repair his hand after he seriously injured it. You can read Dr. Foster's life story in the book "The Warmth of Other Suns".