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 is for every life story, every detail
Ex-dotcom millionaires with shitty jobs in retail
Every ingrown toenail, pile of junk mail
Drivin' test drive fail, vain search for the Holy Grail
Every move you make, every breath you take
Every twelve inch record your dumped girlfriend decided to break
And all the under achievin' geezers getting more lean and peezer
On melon Bacardi Breezers and skinny plastic cached reefers
And every impotent porn star
And the girls with the red lights on, doin' tricks for Mars bars
And all the ravers wishin' they were back in '89
'Cause everythin' was so much better the first time
Jack, jack, jack, jack your body
And all the bastards lookin' for change in the station
Every money grabbin' musical collaboration
And every last member of the X generation
Addicted to the Internet drugs and masturbation
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget me, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
This is for every life story, every chapter
Every memory stored and photograph captured
'Cause even the most mundane things
Can shine forth like a beacon
Make your palms sweaty and knees weaken
Well, there is an awful lot of false gods speakin'
We're scratchin' in the dark for somethin' true to believe in
Just keep breathin' and hope that in the long run
That's a real hand you're tightly squeezin'
This is for everybody who got cussed down in the playground
And every bad boy who shitted when his mates weren't around
And all the bedroom DJ's perfecting their skills
And every girl with a complex and a handful of slimming pills
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
All about you, all about you, all about you
This is for every life story
Every intertwined tale of guts and glory
'Course some of them are nice and bright and corny
And some of them will shake your hand less warmly
Outlook still stormy
Every sweepin' saga from the here now to the hereafter
Tall tales around the campfire, tragedies of fallen empire
And everythin' that will and won't transpire
Sometimes it's just too diabolical
Carryin' our stories like DNA in hair follicles
Luggin' chronicles like baggage handlers
I'm not stickin' around, I'm shippin' out with the ramblers
Collectin' chapters of fractures and raptures
High on a cactus with a bunch of backpackers
Toastin' backwards with a shot of Cachacas
But that's another story and I'll tell it if you let me
But in the meantime just remember to forget me
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
All about you, all about you
All about you, sounds come through
All about you, all about you
All about you, sounds come through
Ex-dotcom millionaires with shitty jobs in retail
Every ingrown toenail, pile of junk mail
Drivin' test drive fail, vain search for the Holy Grail
Every move you make, every breath you take
Every twelve inch record your dumped girlfriend decided to break
And all the under achievin' geezers getting more lean and peezer
On melon Bacardi Breezers and skinny plastic cached reefers
And every impotent porn star
And the girls with the red lights on, doin' tricks for Mars bars
And all the ravers wishin' they were back in '89
'Cause everythin' was so much better the first time
Jack, jack, jack, jack your body
And all the bastards lookin' for change in the station
Every money grabbin' musical collaboration
And every last member of the X generation
Addicted to the Internet drugs and masturbation
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget me, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
This is for every life story, every chapter
Every memory stored and photograph captured
'Cause even the most mundane things
Can shine forth like a beacon
Make your palms sweaty and knees weaken
Well, there is an awful lot of false gods speakin'
We're scratchin' in the dark for somethin' true to believe in
Just keep breathin' and hope that in the long run
That's a real hand you're tightly squeezin'
This is for everybody who got cussed down in the playground
And every bad boy who shitted when his mates weren't around
And all the bedroom DJ's perfecting their skills
And every girl with a complex and a handful of slimming pills
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
All about you, all about you, all about you
This is for every life story
Every intertwined tale of guts and glory
'Course some of them are nice and bright and corny
And some of them will shake your hand less warmly
Outlook still stormy
Every sweepin' saga from the here now to the hereafter
Tall tales around the campfire, tragedies of fallen empire
And everythin' that will and won't transpire
Sometimes it's just too diabolical
Carryin' our stories like DNA in hair follicles
Luggin' chronicles like baggage handlers
I'm not stickin' around, I'm shippin' out with the ramblers
Collectin' chapters of fractures and raptures
High on a cactus with a bunch of backpackers
Toastin' backwards with a shot of Cachacas
But that's another story and I'll tell it if you let me
But in the meantime just remember to forget me
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
Forget me, this is all about you
Forget us, this is all about you
Forget we, this is all about you
We're just the siphon, the sounds come through
All about you, all about you
All about you, sounds come through
All about you, all about you
All about you, sounds come through
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.
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.
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.