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."
Sun is coming up slowly,
I didn't read it in your star-sign or mine.
God knows we're not holy,
in decisions we make,
and how we spend our time.
But I got faster and faster,
and you got harder to please,
and you got harder to find.
And our prayers were answered,
when we wrote these songs,
and we lost our minds.
And all our most brilliant friends are doubting themselves.
And we're scared about the world,
the atmosphere, our bodies, and our health.
So just dance with me
move your body round this time machine
start it again.
I want you to celebrate,
the fact our bodies can recreate
new versions of ourselves.
We won't need help.
Something's making me nervous,
running through my body,
can't remember why.
We thought we had all the answers,
we got the stomach to learn,
but haven't got the time.
Your body looks good tonight
I wonder if you'd care,
if I was still in your shirt.
The way we were when we first met,
before your mind filled with air and mine with dirt.
And all our most brilliant friends are doubting themselves.
And we're scared about the world,
the atmosphere, our bodies, and our health.
So just dance with me
move your body round this time machine
start it again.
I want you to celebrate,
the fact our bodies can recreate
new versions of ourselves.
We won't need help.
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go!
You know that it's gonna take time don't you?
you know that you never were right.
But the fact is you're good,
yeah, we know that you're nice.
But we don't get a world and we don't get a life,
where all our most brilliant friends are doubting themselves.
And we're scared about the world,
the atmosphere, our bodies, and our health.
So just dance with me
move your body round this time machine
start it again.
I want you to celebrate,
the fact our bodies can recreate
new versions of ourselves.
We won't need help.
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go!
I didn't read it in your star-sign or mine.
God knows we're not holy,
in decisions we make,
and how we spend our time.
But I got faster and faster,
and you got harder to please,
and you got harder to find.
And our prayers were answered,
when we wrote these songs,
and we lost our minds.
And all our most brilliant friends are doubting themselves.
And we're scared about the world,
the atmosphere, our bodies, and our health.
So just dance with me
move your body round this time machine
start it again.
I want you to celebrate,
the fact our bodies can recreate
new versions of ourselves.
We won't need help.
Something's making me nervous,
running through my body,
can't remember why.
We thought we had all the answers,
we got the stomach to learn,
but haven't got the time.
Your body looks good tonight
I wonder if you'd care,
if I was still in your shirt.
The way we were when we first met,
before your mind filled with air and mine with dirt.
And all our most brilliant friends are doubting themselves.
And we're scared about the world,
the atmosphere, our bodies, and our health.
So just dance with me
move your body round this time machine
start it again.
I want you to celebrate,
the fact our bodies can recreate
new versions of ourselves.
We won't need help.
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go!
You know that it's gonna take time don't you?
you know that you never were right.
But the fact is you're good,
yeah, we know that you're nice.
But we don't get a world and we don't get a life,
where all our most brilliant friends are doubting themselves.
And we're scared about the world,
the atmosphere, our bodies, and our health.
So just dance with me
move your body round this time machine
start it again.
I want you to celebrate,
the fact our bodies can recreate
new versions of ourselves.
We won't need help.
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go
Hey hey, look at him go!
Lyrics submitted by bunnymitford
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Here's my personal interpretation of the song, the way I see it:
The first song I'm not too sure on, but on face value I think that it's about the unnecessary taboo that society places on sex and indulgence, making it something to be feared instead of enjoyed.
The second part of this song is different entirely (lyrics posted in the comment above mine). I think it's a recount of Rebecca's history when she went back to be with someone that was no good for her or that she's not meant to be with.
<i>If dreams come true Then you and I would make a two And if I had one more I'd dream that I stayed on your floor And while my parents were alive They'd say "Rebecca, now's the time To play the next card to your chest"</i>
Here it seems like she wishes to make peace with this person who she is clearly dwelling over. She points out that the advice she often gets is to just follow her heart.
<i>You thought about me and you said go I thought about that and I said no You couldn't understand why a girl like me Thinks the way I do But I can't stand a boy Who thinks things through like you</i>
It's not just her who has an issue. The guy in question tends to overthink things too, and they're both confused about what action to take in their relationship (although moreso Rebecca, as she's the one that said no to him but thinks she has her reasons).
<i>Let's go back to the beginning Of the nights that I've been regretting Let's go back to the beginning Of the nights I've been regretting</i>
This repetitive chorus indicates that she wishes she could go back to when there was no drama - possibly before she got into this relationship in the first place, or before she got back together with this guy after they broke up - I'm not sure.
<i>Now with you I always thought We'd live behind a front door Right now you don't think that You can live anymore And I'll call and call and call and call And call and call and call Anyone on the phone So tonight I'm not alone</i>
She thought she'd build a life with this guy. Due to his anxious nature, he's feeling empty. She is also feeling empty, and makes attempts to get over it by being social as a means of avoiding being lonesome.
<i>And you say baby you lied in your song It takes all my courage not to sing along And now my beating heart belongs to my drum</i>
I think this little bridgey-bit here just shows how she uses her songs as an outlet for this frustration. This may be inaccurate, but I think he may think she misinterpreted him when putting him into her songs as a character.
<i>I met a boy who grew up in the mountains He really loved God and got me thinking about things Like appreciating everyone that I can call a friend Seeing life as a group of tests to see through to the end But I'm a quitter, I don't think he knew That I'm still thinking about you I'm a quitter and I'm ashamed He said he'd come back for my brain</i>
This show how she has tried to get over this guy by meeting new people. And although others have had a positive impact on her life, they haven't fixed her problem as her ex is still on her mind. She gives up trying with new people because it isn't helping.
<i>I just wanted to see that new Tim Burton movie Or hang around with Laura, Jane, and Suzie And I definitely want to be a rapper But I'm just a northern girl from where nothing really happens And the bones inside my shins are crumbling The bones inside my shins are crumbling The bones inside my shins are crumbling The bones inside my shins are crumbling The bones inside my shins are crumbling It's from all the crunking I've been doing </i>
I think this last verse solidifies the fact that she did go back to her ex (except for maybe in the chorus of 'going backto the beginning', if my analysis is correct there). She had finally made some headway into getting her lfie back by hanging out with her friends, being fine with everything. She had got her priorities in order, her aspirations were set out in front of her. As she goes back to him, she tries to justify her actions by saying that her aspirations would never get her anyway - after all, she's from a nothing little town. She eventually caves to this guy, and forces it upon the listeners by repeating 'the bones inside my shins are crumbling.' And as for that crunking line - I've no idea.