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."
Sweat, sweat, cos I’m a poisonous pill,
Pop me in your mouth baby, sit and distil,
Not yet, I ain’t through wit’ you girl,
Put me in your glass baby, give me a swirl.
Don’t stop don’t let it (oh),
Freeze up your trembling lips,
Don’t you regret it (oh),
Cos you can bet that this won’t even ever happen again.
So hold me close tiny dancer,
The only thing I’ve got’s this electrorock answer,
I saw a picture on the canvas,
Baby’s got a ciggy and he let’s her know she’s cancerous.
Yes, yes; your tight white dress.
You’re all alone and I’m about to microphone check.
Oh yeah, prep the area here,
Shock, shock, electrorock and steady now; clear.
Yes, yes; my tight white vest.
You’re all alone and I’m about to microphone check.
Oh yeah prep the area here,
Shock, shock, electrorock and steady now clear.
Sweat, sweat, cos I’m a poisonous pill,
Pop me in your mouth baby, sit and distil,
Not yet, I ain’t through wit’ you girl,
Put me in your glass baby, give me a swirl.
I am a static hat full of magic tricks,
You are kinetic, slow down baby,
Why you leavin’ so quick?
So hold me close tiny dancer,
The only thing I’ve got’s this electrorock answer,
I saw a picture on the canvas,
Baby’s got a ciggy and he let’s her know she’s cancerous.
Yes, yes; your tight white dress.
You’re all alone and I’m about to microphone check.
Oh yeah, prep the area here,
Shock, shock, electrorock and steady now clear.
Yes, yes; my tight white vest.
You’re all alone and I’m about to microphone check.
Oh yeah prep the area here,
Shock, shock, electrorock and steady now clear.
Steady now, steady, steady now; clear.
Pop me in your mouth baby, sit and distil,
Not yet, I ain’t through wit’ you girl,
Put me in your glass baby, give me a swirl.
Don’t stop don’t let it (oh),
Freeze up your trembling lips,
Don’t you regret it (oh),
Cos you can bet that this won’t even ever happen again.
So hold me close tiny dancer,
The only thing I’ve got’s this electrorock answer,
I saw a picture on the canvas,
Baby’s got a ciggy and he let’s her know she’s cancerous.
Yes, yes; your tight white dress.
You’re all alone and I’m about to microphone check.
Oh yeah, prep the area here,
Shock, shock, electrorock and steady now; clear.
Yes, yes; my tight white vest.
You’re all alone and I’m about to microphone check.
Oh yeah prep the area here,
Shock, shock, electrorock and steady now clear.
Sweat, sweat, cos I’m a poisonous pill,
Pop me in your mouth baby, sit and distil,
Not yet, I ain’t through wit’ you girl,
Put me in your glass baby, give me a swirl.
I am a static hat full of magic tricks,
You are kinetic, slow down baby,
Why you leavin’ so quick?
So hold me close tiny dancer,
The only thing I’ve got’s this electrorock answer,
I saw a picture on the canvas,
Baby’s got a ciggy and he let’s her know she’s cancerous.
Yes, yes; your tight white dress.
You’re all alone and I’m about to microphone check.
Oh yeah, prep the area here,
Shock, shock, electrorock and steady now clear.
Yes, yes; my tight white vest.
You’re all alone and I’m about to microphone check.
Oh yeah prep the area here,
Shock, shock, electrorock and steady now clear.
Steady now, steady, steady now; clear.
Lyrics submitted by Street Spirit
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I love the part "I am a static hat full of magic tricks, You are kinetic, slow down baby, Why you leavin’ so quick?" the best. It's definitely something I can quote for something in my life, which is part of what makes a good song, to me.
That's my favorite part, too.
CaitHasNoControl Whatttt? Mainstream? 3OH!3? You're kidding right? They sound nothing like anything else I've ever heard. :|
This song is ridiculously catchy.
its EXTREMELY catchy. the music video is the BEST. i like their older stuff though where they screamed a bit. :) theyre a bit mainstream but theyre still worth listening to. 3OH!3
This sounds a lot like MGMT's Destrokk, even in the speaking from the dreug's point of view. still like them!
I totally adore this. How amazing is it? I expecially love the video to it. It's hilarious!
If you think 3oh3 is mainstream its because you first heard them on mtv or the radio.
This is my favorite song by 3OH!3!!
The video is AMAZING. Perfect 3OH!3, before they got all famous.
If you think about it, this song is actually about not smoking. "Baby's got a ciggy in her lips and now she's cancerous" "Pop me in your mouth" its almost like its told from the cigarettes point of view.
If you watch the video, it also magnifies my theory.
Call me crazy...lol!
OMG luv this song...definitely NOT about literal cancer. It is about a girl whose "cancerous". he is telling her to just go with it and "pop" him in her mouth cuz the opportunity will never arise again.
Been listening to 3Oh3 forever. This song has been a hidden gem. It's insanely addictive. Also, turn this song up on a good stereo and wow. Be careful you can blow some speakers. It's literally sickening...