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."
How could you think
Your work is done?
My skull is soft
My mouth a gun
I gambled my youth
And gathered my pride
To launch in a lantern
On the river where Jeff Buckley died
I did the strongest thing
I did the strongest thing
You can't feel past the ring
So you won't hear a word I sing
I'm not your son
More like a sunset
I'm not homeless
Just haven't been home yet
It's not as strange that you weren't around
As it is that you think you were
I had half a world
You left a wolf in a house of girls
And when you wonder who I was
You'll ask the god who separates us
Your smile, your words, your laugh
Have cut my face in half
Your phone call is cancer
Salt on my slug heart
You put shame in my wiring
And spliced absence with art
Deep pockets for the new
But for the old family you're broke
You not so holy ghost
Busted on both coasts
You played the over-eager Abraham
You sacrificed your son before commanded
Your blind enthusiasm turns my faith to atheism
You have no idea what I need and have no need to ask
The god you believe in wouldn't let your indifference pass
But you, everything surrenders for you
Everything's "surrender" for you, everything surrendered
Your work is done?
My skull is soft
My mouth a gun
I gambled my youth
And gathered my pride
To launch in a lantern
On the river where Jeff Buckley died
I did the strongest thing
I did the strongest thing
You can't feel past the ring
So you won't hear a word I sing
I'm not your son
More like a sunset
I'm not homeless
Just haven't been home yet
It's not as strange that you weren't around
As it is that you think you were
I had half a world
You left a wolf in a house of girls
And when you wonder who I was
You'll ask the god who separates us
Your smile, your words, your laugh
Have cut my face in half
Your phone call is cancer
Salt on my slug heart
You put shame in my wiring
And spliced absence with art
Deep pockets for the new
But for the old family you're broke
You not so holy ghost
Busted on both coasts
You played the over-eager Abraham
You sacrificed your son before commanded
Your blind enthusiasm turns my faith to atheism
You have no idea what I need and have no need to ask
The god you believe in wouldn't let your indifference pass
But you, everything surrenders for you
Everything's "surrender" for you, everything surrendered
Lyrics submitted by BleedorBreathe
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