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."
My heart is true
But my sigh is erratic
My mind is filled
With a symphony of static
And nothing is traumatic
Unless you make it be so
I'm getting better at the small stuff
I'm getting better at the small stuff, small stuff
I'm getting better yeah,
Day by day, night by night,
Little by little I'm getting it right
And soon it's just a thing of beauty
There's nothing wrong
With a little well-placed efficiency
But I can't tell
If it really means you're dissing me
But I can't sit here bitching
And watch you make it be so
I'm getting better at the small stuff
I'm getting better at the small stuff, small stuff
I'm getting better yeah,
Day by day, night by night,
Little by little I'm getting it right
And soon it's just a thing of beauty
There is a straight section by my bedside
Your body in the riptide
I see a putrid leg flip out of the sunrise
Like a putrid dolphin, yeah
The radar dishes filled on the beach
Just like they're human organs
And all the while they start to feel my pain
Just like a... (choke 4x)
So I'm the man
You're the emperor of Texas
And no one's sane
Now that Sam Houston has axed us
And nothing can protect us
Unless you let it be so
I'm getting better at the small stuff
I'm getting better at the small stuff, small stuff
I'm getting better yeah,
Day by day, night by night,
Little by little I'm getting it right
And soon it's just a thing of beauty
But my sigh is erratic
My mind is filled
With a symphony of static
And nothing is traumatic
Unless you make it be so
I'm getting better at the small stuff
I'm getting better at the small stuff, small stuff
I'm getting better yeah,
Day by day, night by night,
Little by little I'm getting it right
And soon it's just a thing of beauty
There's nothing wrong
With a little well-placed efficiency
But I can't tell
If it really means you're dissing me
But I can't sit here bitching
And watch you make it be so
I'm getting better at the small stuff
I'm getting better at the small stuff, small stuff
I'm getting better yeah,
Day by day, night by night,
Little by little I'm getting it right
And soon it's just a thing of beauty
There is a straight section by my bedside
Your body in the riptide
I see a putrid leg flip out of the sunrise
Like a putrid dolphin, yeah
The radar dishes filled on the beach
Just like they're human organs
And all the while they start to feel my pain
Just like a... (choke 4x)
So I'm the man
You're the emperor of Texas
And no one's sane
Now that Sam Houston has axed us
And nothing can protect us
Unless you let it be so
I'm getting better at the small stuff
I'm getting better at the small stuff, small stuff
I'm getting better yeah,
Day by day, night by night,
Little by little I'm getting it right
And soon it's just a thing of beauty
Lyrics submitted by apettythief
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
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
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.