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."
If I say I'm sorry
It's just me selling a lie (um, um um, yeah)
When you're in my arms
I feel emptier inside
I never felt so satisfied
Everything falls into place but
I think I need a little more time
And yeah I know my life has changed but
Honestly I don't know if we'll survive
A loaded smile
An empty glass
And one last dance (um yeah)
Walking hand in hand
You are all I ever want
And when you're not around dear
Don't even notice that you're gone
We are barely hanging on
Everything falls into place but I
Think I need a little more time
And yeah I know my life has changed but
Honestly I don't know if we'll survive
Makes me want you baby (makes me want you baby)
Can't you feel, can't you feel it yeah (can't you feel it yeah)
Makes me want ya baby (oh it makes me want ya)
It's a certain kind of convocation
Makes me want ya baby (makes me want you)
Can't you feel, can't you feel it yeah (Can't you feel it)
Makes me want you baby (makes me want you baby)
It's a certain kind of convocation
Everything falls into place but I
Think I need a little more time
And yeah I know my life has changed but
Honestly I don't know if we'll survive
A loaded smile
An empty glass
And one last dance
It's just me selling a lie (um, um um, yeah)
When you're in my arms
I feel emptier inside
I never felt so satisfied
Everything falls into place but
I think I need a little more time
And yeah I know my life has changed but
Honestly I don't know if we'll survive
A loaded smile
An empty glass
And one last dance (um yeah)
Walking hand in hand
You are all I ever want
And when you're not around dear
Don't even notice that you're gone
We are barely hanging on
Everything falls into place but I
Think I need a little more time
And yeah I know my life has changed but
Honestly I don't know if we'll survive
Makes me want you baby (makes me want you baby)
Can't you feel, can't you feel it yeah (can't you feel it yeah)
Makes me want ya baby (oh it makes me want ya)
It's a certain kind of convocation
Makes me want ya baby (makes me want you)
Can't you feel, can't you feel it yeah (Can't you feel it)
Makes me want you baby (makes me want you baby)
It's a certain kind of convocation
Everything falls into place but I
Think I need a little more time
And yeah I know my life has changed but
Honestly I don't know if we'll survive
A loaded smile
An empty glass
And one last dance
Lyrics submitted by adorabelle
A Loaded Smile Lyrics as written by Linda Perry
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Inevitable withdrawal?
This is ok. Not my fav.
This is ok. Not my fav.
I think this song is about being in a certain type of relationship, and I'm having a hard time finding a way to describe it... But I've been in the exact same type before.
Basically, when he's with this man, he really /wants/ him. And he /wants/ to want him when they're not next to each other. He wants to make it work. But for some reason, it only feels empty for him, and he doesn't even care all that much. The way he talks about waiting for things to fall into place and how he needs more time makes me think he used to be in another relationship and make he still has a connection with them...? I think at the end, he's calling out for the man to do something--anything--to raise a spark in him, to give him a reason to stay. Adam/The singer is helplessly apathetic.
Anyway, the loaded smile. I think he means that when he smiles at his partner, it's not really entirely truthful because of all the problems that this song lays out. He's not being that upfront with the man, and so the smile is... loaded.
I absolutly adore this song. I can relate so much to it right now. It's about really wanting to want this guy, and maybe at one point being in love with him, but things are changing and he's finding it's all empty and meaningless now. But he still want's to hang on, even knowing that they probably won't make it and he's probably only making himself misrable.
I think it's about someone who likes another someone.
i think its about the parting of an idea or attitude that used to comprise him; but he has new ideas-like seeing the world through new lenses. these new lenses he is seeing the world makes it harder to relate to his partner. he smiles out of an epiphany about himself-like an ah-ha moment. but the glass is empty-cause there is no connection in the relationship anymore. and the rest of the lyrics have to do with coping withs new way of seeing-part of it having to give up his partner for someone he can relate to.
its a really sad song.