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."
How many days
are your afraid of turning off?
You'd be amazed how easy
it's been to sleepwalk.
I'm in a state where I can't tell
what's right from wrong
I'm making a face
that I've been holding for far too long
I'm on the cross, I'm on the cross
Nothing to hide when all is lost
I'm on the cross, I'm on the cross
Truth or a lie, which could be worse?
Which could be--
How many days until
I can see that I'm just fine?
I try and I try but I just need a little time
I haven't slept in one month
things just don't seem okay
And every time the sun's up
it's a new yesterday
I'm on the cross, I'm on the cross
Nothing to hide when all is lost
I'm on the cross, I'm on the cross
Truth or a lie, which could be worse?
Which could be--
Drill the pressure right out of my head.
Maybe I'm scared,
Maybe I am
Drill the pressure right out of my head.
Maybe I'm scared,
Maybe I am
Weak and paranoid
When I speak, white noise
pours out from my voice.
Every time I move my lips, it tears
your little ears to bits
I'm frozen all the time, a deer in headlights
I'll get to the point:
You can't depend on love or truth
to get you through
Do you want me to explain?
Are you broken at the bone?
Do you try and rearrange
a better life,
a bigger home?
So turn off the lights
or at least unplug the phone
I'm a threat when I'm left alone
How many days
are you afraid of turning off?
Do you feel like letting go?
It's been a good life, I'll be sad to see it go
are your afraid of turning off?
You'd be amazed how easy
it's been to sleepwalk.
I'm in a state where I can't tell
what's right from wrong
I'm making a face
that I've been holding for far too long
I'm on the cross, I'm on the cross
Nothing to hide when all is lost
I'm on the cross, I'm on the cross
Truth or a lie, which could be worse?
Which could be--
How many days until
I can see that I'm just fine?
I try and I try but I just need a little time
I haven't slept in one month
things just don't seem okay
And every time the sun's up
it's a new yesterday
I'm on the cross, I'm on the cross
Nothing to hide when all is lost
I'm on the cross, I'm on the cross
Truth or a lie, which could be worse?
Which could be--
Drill the pressure right out of my head.
Maybe I'm scared,
Maybe I am
Drill the pressure right out of my head.
Maybe I'm scared,
Maybe I am
Weak and paranoid
When I speak, white noise
pours out from my voice.
Every time I move my lips, it tears
your little ears to bits
I'm frozen all the time, a deer in headlights
I'll get to the point:
You can't depend on love or truth
to get you through
Do you want me to explain?
Are you broken at the bone?
Do you try and rearrange
a better life,
a bigger home?
So turn off the lights
or at least unplug the phone
I'm a threat when I'm left alone
How many days
are you afraid of turning off?
Do you feel like letting go?
It's been a good life, I'll be sad to see it go
Lyrics submitted by floz2323, edited by lukeeffect, drummerboypbc
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This is about a man giving up on life...the term sleepwalking isnt meant to be literal i don't think..its more of a adjective here instead of an action. He's living his life on autopilot. going through the motions..not caring about anything. He knows alot of people crowd themselves out with people and are constantly busy and trying to stay busy. Thats why he says are you afraid of turning off? He has no right or wrong because he simply doesn't care. He's a deer in headlights..not knowing wich direction to turn but not caring wich direction to go. Its a very existentialist point of view represented here but it also captures society's business What he does is a form of "sleepwalking" but are the people that are so busy and scared to turn off living life on autopilot just as much as he is?
this song makes me think.