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."
Hazy hair afternoon sleeper, I found you.
Meet the, Meet the, Meet the Reaper.
Golden hair sister suprise,
Sweet sunrise defeats you.
Look at the sun, see what it is.
How many lives do you think you can live?
Hazy hair afternoon sleeper, It's for you.
Meet the, Meet the, Meet the Reaper.
Golden hair sister suprise,
Sweet sunrise defeats you.
Look at these eyes, see what they are.
I am in charge of you.
When its visions turned off, turn me around.
Put me in the ground.
Look at the sun, see what it is.
How many lives do you think you can live?
When its visions turned off, turn me around.
Take it from mouth.
Look at the stars, see what they are.
How many live do you think you can live?
How bright is the brightest light in your life.
All I can ever see.
When white is as white as white can ever be,
Make it mean. Make it Darker.
Meet the, Meet the, Meet the Reaper.
Golden hair sister suprise,
Sweet sunrise defeats you.
Look at the sun, see what it is.
How many lives do you think you can live?
Hazy hair afternoon sleeper, It's for you.
Meet the, Meet the, Meet the Reaper.
Golden hair sister suprise,
Sweet sunrise defeats you.
Look at these eyes, see what they are.
I am in charge of you.
When its visions turned off, turn me around.
Put me in the ground.
Look at the sun, see what it is.
How many lives do you think you can live?
When its visions turned off, turn me around.
Take it from mouth.
Look at the stars, see what they are.
How many live do you think you can live?
How bright is the brightest light in your life.
All I can ever see.
When white is as white as white can ever be,
Make it mean. Make it Darker.
Lyrics submitted by patchrick
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this song is a gem.