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."
Is it wrong to assume that you missed me?
Because the look in your eyes says that you're dying to kiss me
The touch of your lips is tasteful and forgiving
A part of the past that I don't mind reliving
Just get in the car, well don't you think that we're taking this a little to far
Don't ask me questions, show me answers
The policy is honesty and nothing is censored
Nobody wants to, but everyone needs to come clean
While we break bad habits
Try and be good when you're misunderstood
Trade one heart for another
Stop, just hit the breaks, I've had all I can take
The need to compensate for all our mistakes
We fake the love we make
What you get is what you take
Well it's cruel to be kind, but you're to kind to be cruel
And you've never had a problem with me playing the fool
It's perfectly fair if you're fully aware
And I wouldn't dare it's a secret, I swear
You've never been the one to let down your guard
But this is my game face and I'm playing the right cards
You're so selfish you're already sweating
Staring down the barrel of a shotgun wedding
It's over now
All that you gave is fading out
Nothing is as it was
Because the look in your eyes says that you're dying to kiss me
The touch of your lips is tasteful and forgiving
A part of the past that I don't mind reliving
Just get in the car, well don't you think that we're taking this a little to far
Don't ask me questions, show me answers
The policy is honesty and nothing is censored
Nobody wants to, but everyone needs to come clean
While we break bad habits
Try and be good when you're misunderstood
Trade one heart for another
Stop, just hit the breaks, I've had all I can take
The need to compensate for all our mistakes
We fake the love we make
What you get is what you take
Well it's cruel to be kind, but you're to kind to be cruel
And you've never had a problem with me playing the fool
It's perfectly fair if you're fully aware
And I wouldn't dare it's a secret, I swear
You've never been the one to let down your guard
But this is my game face and I'm playing the right cards
You're so selfish you're already sweating
Staring down the barrel of a shotgun wedding
It's over now
All that you gave is fading out
Nothing is as it was
Lyrics submitted by Camisado
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This song's beautiful. Any ideas to its meaning?
any ideas? are you kidding? well, here's how i took it (because it basically described my life): the girl and guy break up, they hang out again, they kiss, and its like 'wow, we used to have something really great' so then he says he 'doesn't mind reliving' it like he liked what he had. then things just start getting more serious. they get in the car, makeout, or whatever... and then hes like 'we all need to break bad habits' because he still likes/loves her but he needs to break himself of that habit. sounds like she played him or at least dragged him around some because he says 'policy is honesty and nothing is censored' like he just wants her to be honest with him. so yea, thats what i think.. and pretty much i love this song because that happened to me and i find it amazing when i find a song that describes my life
I love this song.. its whats happening to me right now... any ideas where to download it?
i get this song but what is the significance of the shot gun wedding? it just seems so random
Shotgun wedding is caused by an unplanned pregnancy. It's where the participants don't really have the desire to get married, but it'd be less embarrassing for their parents if they did.
its about a couple that broke up and they kiss and they realize how good it was and start hooking up again but realize they can't
actually, i really do know the meaning of it. he was explaning how he dated a girl and i guess they never officially broke it off but they did break up. and then later he found out that she was married so he knew for sure that it was over, hahah.
i think the shotgun wedding is just a reference from a panic at the disco song..in which "shotgun wedding" is a reference from the book invisible monsters