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."
I am the maelstrom's deafening song
The ether through which the fallen descend
I am the frightful dance of the flames
The pain of creation and violent end
I am the sculptor of wreckage and ruin
The creator and destroyer of all
Where is the sacrifice unto my shrine?
Where is the blood I took for my wine?
Now I sleep in nether darkness
Dream with wolves in cold betrayal
Breathe in storms and turn the seasons
Through this curse of mortal treason
Who dares disturb my slumber
Ages and eons of sleep without number
The spell is broken my fury unleashed
The Dragon is summoned,
the mark of the beast
Who is this sprig off a fallen tree
Thus is a creature created by me
Manifest is this deathly vision
I give you life to carry a mission
Speak in tongues of spheres in blackness
Cross the stars with dark recitals
Turn the wheels of catasrophis
Fly! My spear, your name is vengeance!
The ether through which the fallen descend
I am the frightful dance of the flames
The pain of creation and violent end
I am the sculptor of wreckage and ruin
The creator and destroyer of all
Where is the sacrifice unto my shrine?
Where is the blood I took for my wine?
Now I sleep in nether darkness
Dream with wolves in cold betrayal
Breathe in storms and turn the seasons
Through this curse of mortal treason
Who dares disturb my slumber
Ages and eons of sleep without number
The spell is broken my fury unleashed
The Dragon is summoned,
the mark of the beast
Who is this sprig off a fallen tree
Thus is a creature created by me
Manifest is this deathly vision
I give you life to carry a mission
Speak in tongues of spheres in blackness
Cross the stars with dark recitals
Turn the wheels of catasrophis
Fly! My spear, your name is vengeance!
Lyrics submitted by JackH83
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