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."
I tried to make it but I failed
The world came crashing down and everything derailed
Tried to go without you for a day
But I figured out that I can’t live this way
So I’m
Calling you back, calling you here
Calling on your heart my dear
I made a mistake and sealed the break
And I acted out in fear
Haven’t you heard, I’m living to learn
And I’ve learned that I can’t live without you here
We had it in, we had it out
Think we both forgot what we were fighting about
I said those words I didn’t mean
They made you leave, and I can’t breathe
And now all I can do is scream
Calling you back, calling you here
Calling on your heart my dear
I made a mistake and sealed the break
And I acted out in fear
Haven’t you heard, I’m living to learn
And I’ve learned that I can’t live without you here
It’s not to say I can’t be on my own
I have lived most of my life walking alone
But all that changed since you came around
You’re by far the best thing that I’ve found
Calling you back, calling you here
Calling on your heart my dear
I made a mistake and sealed the break
And I acted out in fear
Haven’t you heard, I’m living to learn
And I’ve learned that I can’t live without you here
The world came crashing down and everything derailed
Tried to go without you for a day
But I figured out that I can’t live this way
So I’m
Calling you back, calling you here
Calling on your heart my dear
I made a mistake and sealed the break
And I acted out in fear
Haven’t you heard, I’m living to learn
And I’ve learned that I can’t live without you here
We had it in, we had it out
Think we both forgot what we were fighting about
I said those words I didn’t mean
They made you leave, and I can’t breathe
And now all I can do is scream
Calling you back, calling you here
Calling on your heart my dear
I made a mistake and sealed the break
And I acted out in fear
Haven’t you heard, I’m living to learn
And I’ve learned that I can’t live without you here
It’s not to say I can’t be on my own
I have lived most of my life walking alone
But all that changed since you came around
You’re by far the best thing that I’ve found
Calling you back, calling you here
Calling on your heart my dear
I made a mistake and sealed the break
And I acted out in fear
Haven’t you heard, I’m living to learn
And I’ve learned that I can’t live without you here
Lyrics submitted by dontwasteyoursong
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