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."
Nighttime fades into day
And a big mistake you didn't know you made
See if you can take it back
You thought this is what it seemed
Fate doesn't care about plans
You never knew life was a rubber band
The harder that you pull the more it snaps back the more it hurts
[Chorus]
Sweetness did you believe in this
They got you good they got you
No matter what transpires no one can take you higher
So don't take out your frustrations on your body that junk will make you sorry
Am taking my last stand
And to think they almost got me too
Don't confuse bad for rebirth
You'll mess around feeling like love is a curse
But you gotta make a change before you lose control
Am not saying I know what and what not to do
You're all torn up from inside out
And I've had mistakes in my bed once or twice
And put in my closet till I finally come to it
And I've realized I always knew what I had to
Sweetness did you believe in this
They got you good they got you
No matter what transpires no one can take you higher
So don't take out your frustrations on your body that junk will make you sorry
Am taking my last stand
And to think they almost got me too
The time is upon us
Be who you want to be
Be who you want to be
Keep moving forward don't live in the corner
Be who you want to be
Judges will judge you and the quacks in the corner
Keep giving them there save
I'll be who I want to be
And to think what you want to need
[Chorus]
And to think they almost got me
And to think they almost got me too
And a big mistake you didn't know you made
See if you can take it back
You thought this is what it seemed
Fate doesn't care about plans
You never knew life was a rubber band
The harder that you pull the more it snaps back the more it hurts
[Chorus]
Sweetness did you believe in this
They got you good they got you
No matter what transpires no one can take you higher
So don't take out your frustrations on your body that junk will make you sorry
Am taking my last stand
And to think they almost got me too
Don't confuse bad for rebirth
You'll mess around feeling like love is a curse
But you gotta make a change before you lose control
Am not saying I know what and what not to do
You're all torn up from inside out
And I've had mistakes in my bed once or twice
And put in my closet till I finally come to it
And I've realized I always knew what I had to
Sweetness did you believe in this
They got you good they got you
No matter what transpires no one can take you higher
So don't take out your frustrations on your body that junk will make you sorry
Am taking my last stand
And to think they almost got me too
The time is upon us
Be who you want to be
Be who you want to be
Keep moving forward don't live in the corner
Be who you want to be
Judges will judge you and the quacks in the corner
Keep giving them there save
I'll be who I want to be
And to think what you want to need
[Chorus]
And to think they almost got me
And to think they almost got me too
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