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."
My high priest is folded neatly, back in your box, oh Lord
Call the song he sang so sweetly, back in your box, oh Lord
Found myself astride a tiger, lifting my head, just like you said
Drown me now in doubt of ire, get me to bed, oh Lord
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Angels and idols, spiraling wild, windin' your necks, oh Lord
Landed gentry, ride on behind me, windin' your necks, oh Lord
Smokey progress, back room changes, let me back in, put back the pin
'Cause now I found those sought out pages, can't read the text, oh Lord
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
In the house, where they grew you
There were secrets and mistakes
That the eyes that see through you
Would give anything to erase
But picture they're counting your fingers
Waiting for the focus of your eyes
No no, don't point fingers
Fingers are for pointing at the sky
No no, don't point fingers
Fingers are for pointing at the sky
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Call the song he sang so sweetly, back in your box, oh Lord
Found myself astride a tiger, lifting my head, just like you said
Drown me now in doubt of ire, get me to bed, oh Lord
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Angels and idols, spiraling wild, windin' your necks, oh Lord
Landed gentry, ride on behind me, windin' your necks, oh Lord
Smokey progress, back room changes, let me back in, put back the pin
'Cause now I found those sought out pages, can't read the text, oh Lord
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
In the house, where they grew you
There were secrets and mistakes
That the eyes that see through you
Would give anything to erase
But picture they're counting your fingers
Waiting for the focus of your eyes
No no, don't point fingers
Fingers are for pointing at the sky
No no, don't point fingers
Fingers are for pointing at the sky
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Lay my bones in cobblestones
Lay my bones in neat little rows
Lyrics submitted by fakeplastictrees23, edited by BobTheRhino
Neat Little Rows Lyrics as written by Guy Edward John Garvey Craig Lee Potter
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Great song! :)