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."
Listen up
This is the story on how we lived
The glory of what we did
It started when we were kids
With music up in our heads
She said
I've been out on the edge
Breathin' a little bit of fresh air
Big dreams, I took a chance
Held out for everything I got here
I've been feeling this life's a circus
Hanging on without a fear
Livin' on a high wire
Runnin' through a wildfire
You can't shake me, I'm not going nowhere
Walking on a tight rope
No net, high hopes
Step back, I'm gonna make it over
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
This is the story on how we lived
The glory of what we did
It started when we were kids
With music up in our heads
She said
Big top, turning round, no clowns
I'm running as I hit the ground
Front row, big show sold out
So I'm ready for the crowd roar, let's go
I've been feeling this life's a circus
Hanging on without a fear
Livin' on a high wire
Runnin' through a wildfire
You can't shake me, I'm not going nowhere
Walking on a tight rope
No net, high hopes
Step back, I'm gonna make it over
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
When it comes to the beat
Seeing that the heads are moving
Move off your seat
Achievement is what we're really doing
Freedom of speech
I'm in it just to win it
I'm springin' and I can see it
In the end that you can be it
'Cause it's patience, it's statements
Famous greatness
Movin' 'til you make it through
And maybe you can make it too
Livin' on a high wire
You can't shake me, I'm not going nowhere
Walking on a tight rope
No net, high hopes
Step back, I'm gonna make it over
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
Yeah, yeah
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
This is the story on how we lived
The glory of what we did
It started when we were kids
With music up in our heads
She said
I've been out on the edge
Breathin' a little bit of fresh air
Big dreams, I took a chance
Held out for everything I got here
I've been feeling this life's a circus
Hanging on without a fear
Livin' on a high wire
Runnin' through a wildfire
You can't shake me, I'm not going nowhere
Walking on a tight rope
No net, high hopes
Step back, I'm gonna make it over
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
This is the story on how we lived
The glory of what we did
It started when we were kids
With music up in our heads
She said
Big top, turning round, no clowns
I'm running as I hit the ground
Front row, big show sold out
So I'm ready for the crowd roar, let's go
I've been feeling this life's a circus
Hanging on without a fear
Livin' on a high wire
Runnin' through a wildfire
You can't shake me, I'm not going nowhere
Walking on a tight rope
No net, high hopes
Step back, I'm gonna make it over
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
When it comes to the beat
Seeing that the heads are moving
Move off your seat
Achievement is what we're really doing
Freedom of speech
I'm in it just to win it
I'm springin' and I can see it
In the end that you can be it
'Cause it's patience, it's statements
Famous greatness
Movin' 'til you make it through
And maybe you can make it too
Livin' on a high wire
You can't shake me, I'm not going nowhere
Walking on a tight rope
No net, high hopes
Step back, I'm gonna make it over
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
Yeah, yeah
Na na na na na na na na na
Livin' on a high wire
Lyrics submitted by heartbeatsforyou
Livin' On a High Wire Lyrics as written by Joleen L. Belle Joleen Belle
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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There are a few corrections, this is what the lyrics should read:
Listen up
This the story on how we lived The glory of what we did It started when we were kids With music up in our heads She said:
I've been, out on the edge Breathin', a little bit of fresh air Big dreams, I took a chance Held out, for everything I got here
I've been, feeling, this life's A circus, hanging on without a fear
Livin' on a high wire Runnin' through a wildfire You can't shake me, I'm not going nowhere Walking on a tight rope No net, high hopes Step back, I'm gonna make it over
Na na na-na-na na na Na na, livin' on a high wire Na na na-na-na na na Na na, livin' on a high wire
This the story on how we lived The glory of what we did It started when we were kids With music up in our heads She said:
Big top, turning around No clowns, I'm running as I hit the ground Front row, big show, is sold out So I'm ready for the crowd roar, let's go
I've been, feeling, this life's A circus, hanging on without a fear
Livin' on a high wire Runnin' through a wildfire You can't shake me, I'm not going nowhere Walking on a tight rope No net, high hopes Step back, I'm gonna make it over
Na na na-na-na na na Na na, livin' on a high wire Na na na-na-na na na Na na, livin' on a high wire
When it comes to the beat Seein' that the heads are movin' Move off your seat Achievement's what we really doin' Freedom of speech I'm in it just to win it I'm springin' and I can see it: In the end that you can be it Cuz it's patience, statements Famous, greatness Movin' till you make it through And maybe you can make it too
Livin' on a high wire (Alright) You can't shake me, I'm not going nowhere Walking on a tight rope No net, high hopes Step back, I'm gonna make it over
Na na na-na-na na na (Yeah we living on a high wire) Na na, livin' on a high wire Na na na-na-na na na (Top story, top story) Na na, livin' on a high wire, yeah yeah On top, baby Na na na-na-na na na (We lookin', we lookin', we lookin' down now) Na na, livin' on a high wire
This is a WONDERFUL and catchy song, btw! I love it!