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 don't ever want to hate you
So don't show me your bed
The only roads are cul-de-sacs
The first thing that she said
Temptation, greets you like your naughty mate
The one that used to get you in bother
But one you could never bring yourself to hate
And she said we've got that spark
That only lights a fuse
Helps you see in the dark
But it's a sight you'll lose when
The temptation greets you like your naughty friend
I don't ever want to hate you
So don't show me your bed
The only roads are cul-de-sacs
The only ends are dead
Temptation greets you like your naughty mate
One that made you steal and set things on fire
But one you haven't seen of late
And I said that kind of talk
Only adds intrigue
To the cauldron of thought
It's already exceeding
Temptation, the very thing that held her back
I don't ever want to hate you
So don't show me your bed
The only roads are cul-de-sacs
The only ends are dead
I don't ever want to hate you
It's not part of the plan
So keep your charm where I can't see it
And your hands where I can
We used to be in tight me and my naughty friends
Caused enticement in the air
I mean day 'n' night
We robbed, we stole, we loved to fight
Smoking, drinking, joyriding
Drugs, thugs, not law-abiding
Reckless gangsters, no direction
No sign of correction
But then I switched it off
Changed my ways
What the hell
Like oh my days
But like my naughty friends
They're not phased
Can't believe that this music pays
See no reason why we can't do
All the things we've always done
Still in my heart I know that's just what
But its hard to fight the temptation son
The panic will fall down around you
If you don't do what I say
I don't ever want to hate you
So don't show me your bed
The only roads are cul-de-sacs
The only ends are dead
I don't ever want to hate you
It's not part of the plan
So keep your charm where I can't see it
And your hands where I can
So don't show me your bed
The only roads are cul-de-sacs
The first thing that she said
Temptation, greets you like your naughty mate
The one that used to get you in bother
But one you could never bring yourself to hate
And she said we've got that spark
That only lights a fuse
Helps you see in the dark
But it's a sight you'll lose when
The temptation greets you like your naughty friend
I don't ever want to hate you
So don't show me your bed
The only roads are cul-de-sacs
The only ends are dead
Temptation greets you like your naughty mate
One that made you steal and set things on fire
But one you haven't seen of late
And I said that kind of talk
Only adds intrigue
To the cauldron of thought
It's already exceeding
Temptation, the very thing that held her back
I don't ever want to hate you
So don't show me your bed
The only roads are cul-de-sacs
The only ends are dead
I don't ever want to hate you
It's not part of the plan
So keep your charm where I can't see it
And your hands where I can
We used to be in tight me and my naughty friends
Caused enticement in the air
I mean day 'n' night
We robbed, we stole, we loved to fight
Smoking, drinking, joyriding
Drugs, thugs, not law-abiding
Reckless gangsters, no direction
No sign of correction
But then I switched it off
Changed my ways
What the hell
Like oh my days
But like my naughty friends
They're not phased
Can't believe that this music pays
See no reason why we can't do
All the things we've always done
Still in my heart I know that's just what
But its hard to fight the temptation son
The panic will fall down around you
If you don't do what I say
I don't ever want to hate you
So don't show me your bed
The only roads are cul-de-sacs
The only ends are dead
I don't ever want to hate you
It's not part of the plan
So keep your charm where I can't see it
And your hands where I can
Lyrics submitted by ,tAn-x, edited by ScottBITW, itsmpurser
Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend Lyrics as written by Alex Turner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
i'm sure it's
"and i said that kind of talk only adds intriuge to the cold on the floor over the exceeding temptation the very thing that held her back "
i'm not sure its "to the cold on the floor" but i can't figure it out.