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."
This ache that follows you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
I turn to go but quite instead
It sinks its fangs into my head
And gnaws upon me like a greedy bone
The fragrant scent of parts unknown
I try my best but it gets worse
And fearful of this blessed curse
The moon is full, I feel my teeth
My instincts give no sympathy
For me
And all I want is to stay
Here with you
For at least a couple of minutes more
In your front seat
By any reason I can find
My right foot's still dangling out your door
This ache that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
The pots and pans and bareassed bones
Would have me feeling all alone
But never fear the ache is there
And calmly he pulls up a chair
And through the night we play some hands
While the ache he issues his demands
Yeah the ache he issues his demands
And I'm like Custer at his lemonade stand
And all I have is this ache
Just to see you again
Though I've got no pretext to
And hope
Won't quench my thirst this time
Can't you see that I'm aching for you?
I go to sleep; when I awake
In the kitchen is my ache
He cooks me breakfast, ties my shoes
Puts in the time, he pays my dues
He sticks a needle in my eye
And haunts me like some tragic lie
Reminds me 'till I bend to break
But I've been given the gift of
This ache, that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
This ache, that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well he won't leave
Quietly
He just waits here noisily with me
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
I turn to go but quite instead
It sinks its fangs into my head
And gnaws upon me like a greedy bone
The fragrant scent of parts unknown
I try my best but it gets worse
And fearful of this blessed curse
The moon is full, I feel my teeth
My instincts give no sympathy
For me
And all I want is to stay
Here with you
For at least a couple of minutes more
In your front seat
By any reason I can find
My right foot's still dangling out your door
This ache that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
The pots and pans and bareassed bones
Would have me feeling all alone
But never fear the ache is there
And calmly he pulls up a chair
And through the night we play some hands
While the ache he issues his demands
Yeah the ache he issues his demands
And I'm like Custer at his lemonade stand
And all I have is this ache
Just to see you again
Though I've got no pretext to
And hope
Won't quench my thirst this time
Can't you see that I'm aching for you?
I go to sleep; when I awake
In the kitchen is my ache
He cooks me breakfast, ties my shoes
Puts in the time, he pays my dues
He sticks a needle in my eye
And haunts me like some tragic lie
Reminds me 'till I bend to break
But I've been given the gift of
This ache, that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
This ache, that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well he won't leave
Quietly
He just waits here noisily with me
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.