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."
It was that night at nowhere, I saw you standing there
Darlin' you were hungry for life, a prisoner in this land
What is it about this city, that brings us all to life
Ten millions souls vibrating
They're shimmering in the night
You mustn't think of staying
The price is more than you'd think
It's giving up the sweetest part of you
For this heartless prize
When does a vision of heaven become a living hell
Ten million souls vibrating, they're acting it out for real
Where do all the lonely people go
When they want some lovin'
Where do all the lonely people hide, when they feel like cryin'
It was that night at nowhere, a cold glass in your hand
Darlin' you were angry with life, a prisoner in this land
When does a vision of heaven become a living hell
Ten million souls vibrating, they're acting it out for real
Where do all the lonely people go
When they want some lovin'
Where do all the lonely people hide, when they feel like cryin'
Where do all the lonely people go
In this crowded city
Where do all the lonely people hide, there's no sanctuary
Nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide
Nowhere a handshake, nowhere a smile
Won't you talk with me
Spend some time and give me life
When does a vision of heaven become a living hell
Ten million souls vibrating
They're shimmering in the night
Where do all the lonely people go, when they want some lovin'
Where do all the lonely people hide, when they feel like cryin'
Where do all the lonely people go
In this crowded city
Where do all the lonely people hide, there's no sanctuary
A vision of heaven
A vision of heaven, in this crowded city
A vision of heaven
A vision of heaven, there's no sanctuary
A vision of heaven
A vision of heaven, in this crowded city
A vision of heaven
A vision of heaven, there's no sanctuary
Darlin' you were hungry for life, a prisoner in this land
What is it about this city, that brings us all to life
Ten millions souls vibrating
They're shimmering in the night
You mustn't think of staying
The price is more than you'd think
It's giving up the sweetest part of you
For this heartless prize
When does a vision of heaven become a living hell
Ten million souls vibrating, they're acting it out for real
Where do all the lonely people go
When they want some lovin'
Where do all the lonely people hide, when they feel like cryin'
It was that night at nowhere, a cold glass in your hand
Darlin' you were angry with life, a prisoner in this land
When does a vision of heaven become a living hell
Ten million souls vibrating, they're acting it out for real
Where do all the lonely people go
When they want some lovin'
Where do all the lonely people hide, when they feel like cryin'
Where do all the lonely people go
In this crowded city
Where do all the lonely people hide, there's no sanctuary
Nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide
Nowhere a handshake, nowhere a smile
Won't you talk with me
Spend some time and give me life
When does a vision of heaven become a living hell
Ten million souls vibrating
They're shimmering in the night
Where do all the lonely people go, when they want some lovin'
Where do all the lonely people hide, when they feel like cryin'
Where do all the lonely people go
In this crowded city
Where do all the lonely people hide, there's no sanctuary
A vision of heaven
A vision of heaven, in this crowded city
A vision of heaven
A vision of heaven, there's no sanctuary
A vision of heaven
A vision of heaven, in this crowded city
A vision of heaven
A vision of heaven, there's no sanctuary
Lyrics submitted by justthisguyyaknow
City Song [Live] Lyrics as written by Howard Jones
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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