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."
[Chorus:]
All my life I’ve learned
Gotta get up, stay strong. Gotta get up, get up.
I just crash and burn
Gotta get up, stay strong. Overcome, Overcome.
All my life I’ve learned
Everybody listen now
I just crash and burn
Listen to the wicked sound
{Otis}
Alla my life it’s been holy war
Since I first got half of my fuckin’ foot inside the door
I been smashed in half by all devastatin’ disasters
Been called a fag and a fraud and a fuckin’ heartless bastard
But the truth is if I didn’t have no heart
I woulda gave up in the beginning always shit gets hard
And through all the hard times me and my brother had saw
All it did was teach us the ropes and create something raw
Peep, Fall asleep but don’t let the devil creep cause when it gets hard to breath you know he’s got the farthest reach
As much knowledge as your brain can receive
and remember that God is alive inside you and me
Please, Understand it ain’t about who’s got the hardest raps
Call me the lion killa the way I slaughter cats
Bleed over these beats until I sleep in a casket
I’m doin’ pushups in blood and overcomin’ that shit
Come on
[Chorus]
{Bonez Dubb}
Yeah! Alla my life it’s been the wickedest
Sever my right ear clean so I can take in this
I keeps it real Peeps to kill And all that
Everyday I wake up crusty as fuck and pissed
Tried to shoot myself three times but I missed
‘Cause I’m protected by the force no remorse for punk hoes
My life’s crashin’ down so I get up and run Yo
No time to think with a blade stuck in ya dome
No place to hide when I’m livin’ inside your fuckin’ home
I’m fightin’ this system to death which won’t be long
They think I’m wrong for dissing the fuck outta cops up in my song
So I’m like fuck the five-oh
Say it with me Fuck the Law!
Go ahead and lock me up cause I’m about to break ya jaw
I overcome any obstacle the devil has in store
‘Cause I ain’t takin’ no bitch shit anymore
I overcome
[Chorus x2]
All my life I’ve learned
Gotta get up, stay strong. Gotta get up, get up.
I just crash and burn
Gotta get up, stay strong. Overcome, Overcome.
All my life I’ve learned
Everybody listen now
I just crash and burn
Listen to the wicked sound
{Otis}
Alla my life it’s been holy war
Since I first got half of my fuckin’ foot inside the door
I been smashed in half by all devastatin’ disasters
Been called a fag and a fraud and a fuckin’ heartless bastard
But the truth is if I didn’t have no heart
I woulda gave up in the beginning always shit gets hard
And through all the hard times me and my brother had saw
All it did was teach us the ropes and create something raw
Peep, Fall asleep but don’t let the devil creep cause when it gets hard to breath you know he’s got the farthest reach
As much knowledge as your brain can receive
and remember that God is alive inside you and me
Please, Understand it ain’t about who’s got the hardest raps
Call me the lion killa the way I slaughter cats
Bleed over these beats until I sleep in a casket
I’m doin’ pushups in blood and overcomin’ that shit
Come on
[Chorus]
{Bonez Dubb}
Yeah! Alla my life it’s been the wickedest
Sever my right ear clean so I can take in this
I keeps it real Peeps to kill And all that
Everyday I wake up crusty as fuck and pissed
Tried to shoot myself three times but I missed
‘Cause I’m protected by the force no remorse for punk hoes
My life’s crashin’ down so I get up and run Yo
No time to think with a blade stuck in ya dome
No place to hide when I’m livin’ inside your fuckin’ home
I’m fightin’ this system to death which won’t be long
They think I’m wrong for dissing the fuck outta cops up in my song
So I’m like fuck the five-oh
Say it with me Fuck the Law!
Go ahead and lock me up cause I’m about to break ya jaw
I overcome any obstacle the devil has in store
‘Cause I ain’t takin’ no bitch shit anymore
I overcome
[Chorus x2]
Lyrics submitted by whaterfjkld
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