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."
Yesterday I and today I
Yesterday I and today I
Alright, alright I ain't getting out of bed today
9 to 5 to survive, there's gotta be a better way
Waking up early to punch in the clock
How I'm lookin' grown man with my lunch in a box
But my kids need socks and shoes,
I'm walking through the office (boss yelling)
Who you talking to don't you know on the streets I would've
Never mind, the past is the past I gotta leave it behind
But man back on the block I was a bonafide hustler
Spot popping off until the police rushed us
Handcuffed us I though I was gone
Could've cried thinking now I'd miss my son being born
But I was blessed, beat the case now I'm trying to reform
But this white folks make it so hard to move on
You gotta jump through hoops, anger management groups
But the fact I'm still standin' here today is proof that
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, they said I couldn't make it
And today I feelin brand new, I got nothing to lose, I'm bout to make moves
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, I fought until I made it
And today I feelin brand new, I got nothing to lose, get out my way move
On to the next, it was all about sex
When I first met my little baby girl annette
She was standing at the bus stop, sucking on a lollipop
Eyes collard green lean thicker than a pork chop
(stop) cause I don't eat swine
But this girl was so divine, that I had to make her mine
Called upon her a few times, she thought I was funny
Fell for it like a dummy, it was all for the money
(j-eah) growing up in the hood,
You would think I'd understand, but I never understood
Why she rarely came around when my dough wasn't good
Now you can call it puppy love, cause I got dogged out
Now in all my notebooks, I got her name crossed out
But she lost out, I just lost profit
When she left me in the cold, heart broke like my pockets and
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, they said I couldn't make it
And today I feelin' brand new, I got nothing to lose, I'm bout to make moves
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, I fought until I made it
And today I feelin' brand new, I got nothing to lose, get out my way move
You know the days when you just got the blues
All stressed and depressed from just watching the news
No matter what good you do, it seems you always get screwed
Got you caught up in your feelings, now you off in a mood
Shake that attitude and do what you can
Set a couple goals, follow through with your plans
Time wait for no man, and tomorrows not promised
So if she's still alive shoot a call to your momma
Cause the fighting and the drama, its just not worth it
Nobodies perfect ain't none of us worthless
We all got a place and we all got a purpose
Now I'm not taking y?all to Sunday service
But you clap your hands as you stand up and work it
Like you grand momma used to do that fan down at worship
Spread it, pop it, and wave it in my face
Put your hands around your waist,
Let me rock it to the bass like
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, they said I couldn't make it
And today I feelin' brand new, I got nothing to lose, I'm bout to make moves
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, I fought until I made it
And today I feelin' brand new, I got nothing to lose, get out my way move
Yesterday I and today I
Alright, alright I ain't getting out of bed today
9 to 5 to survive, there's gotta be a better way
Waking up early to punch in the clock
How I'm lookin' grown man with my lunch in a box
But my kids need socks and shoes,
I'm walking through the office (boss yelling)
Who you talking to don't you know on the streets I would've
Never mind, the past is the past I gotta leave it behind
But man back on the block I was a bonafide hustler
Spot popping off until the police rushed us
Handcuffed us I though I was gone
Could've cried thinking now I'd miss my son being born
But I was blessed, beat the case now I'm trying to reform
But this white folks make it so hard to move on
You gotta jump through hoops, anger management groups
But the fact I'm still standin' here today is proof that
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, they said I couldn't make it
And today I feelin brand new, I got nothing to lose, I'm bout to make moves
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, I fought until I made it
And today I feelin brand new, I got nothing to lose, get out my way move
On to the next, it was all about sex
When I first met my little baby girl annette
She was standing at the bus stop, sucking on a lollipop
Eyes collard green lean thicker than a pork chop
(stop) cause I don't eat swine
But this girl was so divine, that I had to make her mine
Called upon her a few times, she thought I was funny
Fell for it like a dummy, it was all for the money
(j-eah) growing up in the hood,
You would think I'd understand, but I never understood
Why she rarely came around when my dough wasn't good
Now you can call it puppy love, cause I got dogged out
Now in all my notebooks, I got her name crossed out
But she lost out, I just lost profit
When she left me in the cold, heart broke like my pockets and
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, they said I couldn't make it
And today I feelin' brand new, I got nothing to lose, I'm bout to make moves
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, I fought until I made it
And today I feelin' brand new, I got nothing to lose, get out my way move
You know the days when you just got the blues
All stressed and depressed from just watching the news
No matter what good you do, it seems you always get screwed
Got you caught up in your feelings, now you off in a mood
Shake that attitude and do what you can
Set a couple goals, follow through with your plans
Time wait for no man, and tomorrows not promised
So if she's still alive shoot a call to your momma
Cause the fighting and the drama, its just not worth it
Nobodies perfect ain't none of us worthless
We all got a place and we all got a purpose
Now I'm not taking y?all to Sunday service
But you clap your hands as you stand up and work it
Like you grand momma used to do that fan down at worship
Spread it, pop it, and wave it in my face
Put your hands around your waist,
Let me rock it to the bass like
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, they said I couldn't make it
And today I feelin' brand new, I got nothing to lose, I'm bout to make moves
Yesterday I felt the most hated, I thought I couldn't take it, I fought until I made it
And today I feelin' brand new, I got nothing to lose, get out my way move
Lyrics submitted by MARS is purple
Yesterday & Today Lyrics as written by Patrick Douthit Nick Carter
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
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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.
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Plastic Bag
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sTR8 dOPE