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."
Anything we should know about your change?
Are you looking for the truth or another fight?
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Freedom, and looking for the,
And looking for the fight.
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
The world that circles around me could benefit from silence.
This song is my enemy, watch how I become it.
Cradled by mystery and make believe,
I am fully(?) in the other night.
Children wish upon me,
This man and his army,
Praying that fortresses make you guns of steeples,
Insurgents of people,
Messiahs and immigrants detained at the border.
Severed from his trinity, his wife and his daughter.
America the beautiful, now beheaded hoedown.
Lynched birds throw down,
It seems our favorite pastime has become our most fair future.
Technology has failed us,
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Are you looking for the truth or another fight?
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Freedom, and looking for the, and looking for the fight.
If you're gonna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Are you looking for the truth or another fight?
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Freedom, and looking for the, and looking for the fight.
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Are you looking for the truth or another fight?
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Freedom, and looking for the,
And looking for the fight.
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
The world that circles around me could benefit from silence.
This song is my enemy, watch how I become it.
Cradled by mystery and make believe,
I am fully(?) in the other night.
Children wish upon me,
This man and his army,
Praying that fortresses make you guns of steeples,
Insurgents of people,
Messiahs and immigrants detained at the border.
Severed from his trinity, his wife and his daughter.
America the beautiful, now beheaded hoedown.
Lynched birds throw down,
It seems our favorite pastime has become our most fair future.
Technology has failed us,
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Are you looking for the truth or another fight?
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Freedom, and looking for the, and looking for the fight.
If you're gonna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Are you looking for the truth or another fight?
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Freedom, and looking for the, and looking for the fight.
If you're wanna give me what I want, then give it up tonight.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
Gunshots by computer.
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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,
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The sad and dismal future of this country if it continues to head on its current course.