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 don't know how long it's been going on
I don't know how long colors were changing to gray
It's kinda funny that I act this way
I don't know how long you've been holding on
I don't know how long everything's been my fault
It's getting easier to take the blame
It's getting easier to try and change
Too many times I have told you that I was okay
But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself
I'm not claiming that I know everything
No, I'm not because you made me this way
I don't know how long I can justify it
I'm tired of making up reasons, you're not on my side
And I would never talk to her that way
No, I would never talk to her that way
Too many times I have told you that I was okay
But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself
I'm not claiming that I know everything
No, I'm not because you made me this way
Too many times I have told you that I was okay
But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself
I'm not claiming that I know everything
No, I'm not, oh
Too many times I have told you that I was okay
But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself
I'm not claiming that I know everything
No, I'm not because you made me this way
You made me this way
I don't know how long it's been going on
I don't know how long colors were changing to gray
It's kinda funny that I act this way
I don't know how long you've been holding on
I don't know how long everything's been my fault
It's getting easier to take the blame
It's getting easier to try and change
Too many times I have told you that I was okay
But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself
I'm not claiming that I know everything
No, I'm not because you made me this way
I don't know how long I can justify it
I'm tired of making up reasons, you're not on my side
And I would never talk to her that way
No, I would never talk to her that way
Too many times I have told you that I was okay
But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself
I'm not claiming that I know everything
No, I'm not because you made me this way
Too many times I have told you that I was okay
But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself
I'm not claiming that I know everything
No, I'm not, oh
Too many times I have told you that I was okay
But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself
I'm not claiming that I know everything
No, I'm not because you made me this way
You made me this way
I don't know how long it's been going on
Lyrics submitted by dontwasteyoursong
This Way Lyrics as written by Michelle Branch
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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No comments yet? I love this song, the lyrics are amazing. It's a little more country that a lot of her old stuff, but I love it anyway.
Im loving it too, I am so excited for the new album. I love her solo work and cant wait for her to get back to it. I prefer her sound when she first came out but I dont mind the country sound at all. I cant decide if this is about an affair of sorts or if its about a relationship where she has taken the blame for everything and is finally realizing that all the problems are really not her fault.
It's a great song. I'm absolutely in love with it. The lyrics posted here aren't correct though - I'm trying to figure out how to edit them now. Here are the correct lyrics (as I am sure they are, anyway):
I don't know how long it's been going on I don't know how long colors were changing to grey It's kind of funny that I act this way
I don't know how long you've been holding on I don't know how long everything's been my fault It's getting easier to take the blame It's getting easier to try and change
Too many times I have told you that I was okay But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself I'm not claiming that I know everything No I'm not, because you made me this way
I don't know how long I can justify I'm tired of making up reasons you're not on my side And I would never talk to her that way No I would never talk to her that way
Too many times I have told you that I was okay But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself I'm not claiming that I know everything No I'm not, because you made me this way
Too many times I have told you that I was okay But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself I'm not claiming that I know everything No I'm not, oh
Too many times I have told you that I was okay But I'm finally feeling like I can explain myself I'm not claiming that I know everything No I'm not, because you made me this way You made me this way
I don't know how long it's been going on
My take on it is that it could be about someone in her family, like her father, though I'm not sure what her relationship is like with her family. Also about her coming into her own as an adult and realizing there may be some things she can take the blame for, other things she can explain in a more mature perspective now, but other things she can't due to how she was conditioned / nurtured as a child ("I'm not claiming I know everything because you made me this way.") Also it sounds like she had some bitterness from the past because the person didn't seem like they were on her side, and also she didn't like how the person talked to 'her' (whom I am going to assume to be her mother in this case). I don't know... could be a stretch.
Good song. :)