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."
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody has those days
One, two, three, four!
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody has those days (oh yeah)
Everybody knows what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody gets that way (that's right)
Everybody makes mistakes (uh huh)
Everybody has those days
Everybody knows what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody gets that way (yeah)
Sometimes I'm in a jam
I've gotta make a plan
It might be crazy
I do it anyway
No way to know for sure
I'll figure out a cure
I'm patchin' up the holes
But then it overflows
If I'm not doin' too well
Why be so hard on myself?
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it!
Again and again till I get it right
Nobody's perfect!
You live and you learn it!
And if I'm messing up sometimes (hey)
Nobody's perfect
Sometimes I work a scheme
But then it flips on me
Doesn't turn out how I planned
Get stuck in quick sand
No problem, can be solved
Once I get involved
I try to be delicate
Then crash right into it
My intentions are good, yeah yeah yeah
Sometimes just misunderstood
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it! (work it!)
Again and again till I get it right (that's right)
Nobody's perfect!
You live and you learn it!
And if I'm messing up sometimes
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it! (come on)
I know in time I'll find a way (oh)
Nobody's perfect!
Sometimes I fix things up
And they fall apart again
Nobody's perfect
I know I mix things up
But I always get it right in the end
You know what I do
Next time you feel like (feel like)
It's just one of those days (one of those days)
When you just can't seem to win
If things don't turn out the way you plan (if things don't turn out the way you plan)
Figure something else out! (figure something else out!)
Don't stay down! (Don't stay down!)
Try again! (Try again!)
Yeah!
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody has those days (that's right)
Everybody knows what, what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody gets that way
Everybody makes mistakes (here we go)
Everybody has those days (uh huh)
Everybody knows what, what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody gets that way
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it! (work it!)
Again and again till I get it right!
Nobody's perfect!
Ya live and ya learn it!
And if I'm messing up sometimes
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it!
I know in time I'll find a way
Nobody's perfect!
You live and you learn it!
'Cause everybody makes mistakes!
Nobody's perfect
Nobody's perfect!
No, no, nobody's perfect!
Everybody has those days
One, two, three, four!
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody has those days (oh yeah)
Everybody knows what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody gets that way (that's right)
Everybody makes mistakes (uh huh)
Everybody has those days
Everybody knows what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody gets that way (yeah)
Sometimes I'm in a jam
I've gotta make a plan
It might be crazy
I do it anyway
No way to know for sure
I'll figure out a cure
I'm patchin' up the holes
But then it overflows
If I'm not doin' too well
Why be so hard on myself?
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it!
Again and again till I get it right
Nobody's perfect!
You live and you learn it!
And if I'm messing up sometimes (hey)
Nobody's perfect
Sometimes I work a scheme
But then it flips on me
Doesn't turn out how I planned
Get stuck in quick sand
No problem, can be solved
Once I get involved
I try to be delicate
Then crash right into it
My intentions are good, yeah yeah yeah
Sometimes just misunderstood
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it! (work it!)
Again and again till I get it right (that's right)
Nobody's perfect!
You live and you learn it!
And if I'm messing up sometimes
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it! (come on)
I know in time I'll find a way (oh)
Nobody's perfect!
Sometimes I fix things up
And they fall apart again
Nobody's perfect
I know I mix things up
But I always get it right in the end
You know what I do
Next time you feel like (feel like)
It's just one of those days (one of those days)
When you just can't seem to win
If things don't turn out the way you plan (if things don't turn out the way you plan)
Figure something else out! (figure something else out!)
Don't stay down! (Don't stay down!)
Try again! (Try again!)
Yeah!
Everybody makes mistakes
Everybody has those days (that's right)
Everybody knows what, what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody gets that way
Everybody makes mistakes (here we go)
Everybody has those days (uh huh)
Everybody knows what, what I'm talkin' 'bout
Everybody gets that way
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it! (work it!)
Again and again till I get it right!
Nobody's perfect!
Ya live and ya learn it!
And if I'm messing up sometimes
Nobody's perfect!
I gotta work it!
I know in time I'll find a way
Nobody's perfect!
You live and you learn it!
'Cause everybody makes mistakes!
Nobody's perfect
Nobody's perfect!
No, no, nobody's perfect!
Lyrics submitted by jbfanherre
Nobody's Perfect Lyrics as written by Robert S. Nevil Matthew Gerrard
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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This song is kinda nnoying and the spoken part kinda creeps me out but other than that its really addicting!!!!