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."
We said, "There's nothing wrong."
We put our strong face on.
And go right through it.
Please say it can't be done.
Cuz that's just fuel for me to just prove this yeah, you'll see.
Cuz that's just fuel for me to just do this, yeah, you'll see.
We have so much energy that you can't see.
We'll blow right through it.
Please say you can't help me.
Cuz that's just fuel for me to just prove this, yeah, you'll see.
Cuz that's just fuel for me to just do this, yeah, you'll see.
I'm gonna make it through, you'll see.
I swear I'll prove you wrong.
You haven't seen the last of me.
I am way too strong.
It's not impossible, you'll see.
You've never been inside my head:
Ten billion burning suns and belief in a strength that can raise the dead.
It's the warmth when you're next to me.
It's the bright white light of a fevered dream.
It's the storm in your eyes.
It's in the roots of the tree:
The underestimated power of the forces of the unseen.
We put our strong face on.
And go right through it.
Please say it can't be done.
Cuz that's just fuel for me to just prove this yeah, you'll see.
Cuz that's just fuel for me to just do this, yeah, you'll see.
We have so much energy that you can't see.
We'll blow right through it.
Please say you can't help me.
Cuz that's just fuel for me to just prove this, yeah, you'll see.
Cuz that's just fuel for me to just do this, yeah, you'll see.
I'm gonna make it through, you'll see.
I swear I'll prove you wrong.
You haven't seen the last of me.
I am way too strong.
It's not impossible, you'll see.
You've never been inside my head:
Ten billion burning suns and belief in a strength that can raise the dead.
It's the warmth when you're next to me.
It's the bright white light of a fevered dream.
It's the storm in your eyes.
It's in the roots of the tree:
The underestimated power of the forces of the unseen.
Lyrics submitted by digitallove42
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
a song of power. i love it. viva la new album.
Sounds pretty much a very manic episode in the beginning. And for some reason, I love the line "It's the bright white light of the fevered dream", though fever dreams always terrify me haha.
After listening to this album around a dozen times through, I think this is my favorite song. The whole album is really something else but this song in particular really resonated with me. It's a powerful song about believing in yourself and facing your fears. And proving whoever thought you were weak, I just love it.