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."
I hope that you like it in your little motel
And I hope that the suite sleeps and suits you well
Well, I can see it as time and a sight through smell, and
That's why it's nice to be by yourself
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'
We treat mishaps like sinking ships, and
I know that I don't want to be out to drift
Well, I can see it in your eyes, like I taste your lips, and
They both tell me that we're better than this
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'
We trade tit for tat, like that for this
And I don't think that there was an insult that was missed
I can see it in your eyes, like I taste your lips, and
I'm very sorry
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'
Remainders of a shooting star
Landed directly on our broke-down little car
Before that we had made a wish
That we would be missed
If one or the other just did not exist
'Cause that's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, darlin'?
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
And I hope that the suite sleeps and suits you well
Well, I can see it as time and a sight through smell, and
That's why it's nice to be by yourself
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'
We treat mishaps like sinking ships, and
I know that I don't want to be out to drift
Well, I can see it in your eyes, like I taste your lips, and
They both tell me that we're better than this
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'
We trade tit for tat, like that for this
And I don't think that there was an insult that was missed
I can see it in your eyes, like I taste your lips, and
I'm very sorry
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'
Remainders of a shooting star
Landed directly on our broke-down little car
Before that we had made a wish
That we would be missed
If one or the other just did not exist
'Cause that's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, darlin'?
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
Isaac Brock always hides deeper meanings within his lyrics using symbolism, look at Cockroach for instance. If you don't really listen to the lyrics of Cockroach, you don't understand how deep the song actually is. Little Motel is no different. It's laced with symbolism from the very beginning – the title. Little Motel. Why little motel? If you think about it, a motel is something you check in and out of as you please. It is accessible whenever convenient for you and its staff caters to your every need. When you leave, don't worry about cleaning up the mess, the motel takes care of it.
When he sings, "I hope that you like it in your little motel and I hope that the suite sleeps and suites you well" I think that he is metaphorically speaking about himself. His hurt and pain is beautifully hidden within these lyrics, as it is with so many of his songs. He is a genius like that.
"I can see it as time and as sight through smell and that's why it's nice to be by yourself"
He is consumed by her, she haunts his memories, she is all he can think about, making it impossible for him to move on, because regardless who he is with, when she is ready to "check back in" he'll open up a room for her, even if one isn't available, so it's best not to move on. Just stay single because he still can't refuse her whenever she decides to come around.
At this point in the song, that is what he is waiting for.
We treat mishaps like sinking ships and I know that I don't want to be out to drift Well I can see it in your eyes like I taste your lips and They both tell me that we're better than this
When you are out to drift, you are left wondering aimlessly and hopelessly alone, lost. He knows that he doesn't want that, but yet, they treat mishaps like sinking ships. One fight, one argument and they abandon ship, let it go down, swim to shore. Then he reverts back to the memory of her - of them- and he knows, they are better than this. They could make it work. And that's what he is waiting for this time.
We trade tit for tat, yeah, that for this And I don't think that there was an insult that was missed I can see it in your eyes like I taste your lips and I'm very sorry
Here he is saying that they take everything for granted. They clearly had a falling out. He, again, reverts back to the memory he has of them -of her- only this time, when he recalls her eyes and her lips, he is now tasting how damaged she is. He is very sorry and hopes that she will be fixed, which is what he is waiting for this time.
The remnants of a shooting star Landed directly on our broke-down little car If only then we had made a wish That we would be missed If one or another just did not exist
Okay, now this is where reality begins to actually set in. As beautiful as it is to see a shooting star fly across the sky, it is nothing but ugly rock and ash that causes a lot of damage when it finally lands. He uses the symbolism of the remnants of this ugly, dusty rock falling on a broken car. The damage of the star doesn't really matter that much since the car was already broken. I like to think that their relationship is the star and his heart is the car. "If only then we had made a wish" When they saw that it was crashing down, if they would have done anything to salvage some portion of the relationship, be it some form of friendship or civility, just a wish that what they had would be missed when it was over, but they didn't. And now, what they are both waiting for is the memory of what they had to disappear, to be over. They both want the painful memories of what they almost were, what they could have been, to not exist.
That is what they are waiting for.
Isaac Brock, you know the lyrics to my soul!!!
I think i love you ... i really could not have made a better post myself... although i think i know this song you really opened some aspects i missed. thanks
Beautiful. Couldn't agree more!
@HEARTStheCOAL I've seen alot of Comments on this Song and they won't add up<br /> <br /> I Think the video is clearly related to the lyrics.<br /> <br /> Its meaning is very strong just read this out and try to connect the dots later..<br /> <br /> I hope that you like it in your little motel<br /> And I hope that the suite sleeps and suits you well<br /> Well, I can see it as time and a sight through smell and<br /> That's why it's nice to be by yourself<br /> <br /> Little motel , you Check in a motel for a short period of time and leave it , and I assume thats how life is you check in for a short period of time and die...<br /> The suite sleeps are the events<br /> I can see it as time and a sight through smell, he is talking about death because thats why it's nice to be by yourself so you won't hurt others and that is how you're going to end up alone..<br /> <br /> <br /> Cause that's what I'm waiting for<br /> That's what I'm waiting for<br /> That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?<br /> That's what I'm waiting for<br /> That's what I'm waiting for<br /> That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'<br /> <br /> We are waiting for death to come to us.. First he starts with "I'm Waiting for" then in the video her child is dead he added "We're waiting for"..<br /> <br /> We treat mishaps like sinking ships and<br /> I know that I don't want to be out to drift<br /> Well, I can see it in your eyes like I taste your lips and<br /> They both tell me that we're better than this<br /> <br /> We exaggerate on our mishaps and he knows he shouldn't get out of control with exaggeration and he can sense it in us (the exaggeration) ,thats why we're better than this. <br /> <br /> We trade tit for tat like that for this<br /> And I don't think that there was an insult that was missed<br /> I can see it in your eyes like I taste your lips and<br /> I'm very sorry<br /> <br /> We trade tit for tat (Which is a british phrase) is action used to punish others, it's commonly like that for this we now harass others and punish thats why every insult will be remember. I can see it in your eyes like I taste your lips he is reminiscing because he remembers that he hurt others and he is hurt thats why he is very sorry.<br /> <br /> The remainders of a shooting star<br /> Landed directly on our broke down little car<br /> We fold and we had made a wish<br /> That we would be missed if one another just did not exist<br /> <br /> He wished for something else but his dream never came true otherwise a disaster happened (like death) and he is very hurt from this death that he wished he never knew the other that they didn't exist because he wouldn't be this hurt.<br /> <br /> "Cause that's what we're waiting for<br /> That's what we're waiting for<br /> That's what we're waiting on, aren't we?<br /> That's what we're waiting for<br /> That's what we're waiting for<br /> That's what we're waiting for darlin'<br /> <br /> That's what we're waiting for<br /> That's what we're waiting for<br /> That's what we're waiting for aren't we?"<br /> <br /> this is him mentioning death for all of us because we literally are waiting for this