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."
You've never met before
But still she greets you like a long lost rock and roll
She's definitely one of those
Where you go wherever she goes
Oh my body and my mind
Both start talking at the exact same time
Try'na think of ways to make her mine
But difficult to find
It's not what I need
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
And she said, "Oh, well I knew this will sound cold
But I really have to go
Oh, it's not that I'm not free
There's nowhere I need to be
It's just your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me"
It's not what I need
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
And she said, "baby, I can never leave you"
How can I believe you when you can't believe your luck
No point sticking to the plan when it's going slow
It's more a hunger than a thirst
You'll break it out the second time
Before you know about the first
Looks well-equipped to leave you in the lurch
But you'll let her do her worst
And it's not hard to tell
It's obvious the other angels faces fell
When she told them that she had to go
Swap her wings and overcoat for something colorful
Bad news
It's not what I need
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
Your love's not what I need
But still she greets you like a long lost rock and roll
She's definitely one of those
Where you go wherever she goes
Oh my body and my mind
Both start talking at the exact same time
Try'na think of ways to make her mine
But difficult to find
It's not what I need
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
And she said, "Oh, well I knew this will sound cold
But I really have to go
Oh, it's not that I'm not free
There's nowhere I need to be
It's just your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me"
It's not what I need
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
And she said, "baby, I can never leave you"
How can I believe you when you can't believe your luck
No point sticking to the plan when it's going slow
It's more a hunger than a thirst
You'll break it out the second time
Before you know about the first
Looks well-equipped to leave you in the lurch
But you'll let her do her worst
And it's not hard to tell
It's obvious the other angels faces fell
When she told them that she had to go
Swap her wings and overcoat for something colorful
Bad news
It's not what I need
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
No, your love's not what I need
So don't give it to me
Your love's not what I need
Lyrics submitted by gemmalouise89, edited by ng123, KinkyDox
Evil Twin Lyrics as written by Alex Turner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
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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,
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Great song. Heard it for the first time today via Facebook. Love the band, too.