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."
Let me tell ya about a place I know
And it don't take much dough
Where you can really do your thing
Got a "men only" sign outside
Come in, take a look at your mind
You'd be surprised at what you find
Screaming guitars and
Strobe lights gettin' down
People come in there
From all parts of town
Move, move, move to the beat of the jungle groove
I said, move, move, move to the beat of the jungle groove
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Stranded in the jungle, and I got no place to hide
The jungle is so dangerous, there's evil in their minds
Witch doctors are cannibals, the rhythm drives you insane
Medicine man has something to take away the pain
Move, so move, so move to the beat of the jungle groove
I said, move, move, move to the beat of the jungle groove
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
I'm a lover, not a fighter
Teacher, not a preacher
Singer, not a swinger
So move to the beat, c'mon!
Move, so move, so move to the beat of the jungle groove
I said, move, move, move to the beat of the jungle groove
Jungle beat chacha, jungle beat chacha
Jungle beat chacha, jungle beat chacha
Put on your mask, pick up your spear
A ring in your nose, a diamond in your ear
Jungle beat chacha, jungle beat chacha
Jungle beat chacha, jungle beat chacha
And it don't take much dough
Where you can really do your thing
Got a "men only" sign outside
Come in, take a look at your mind
You'd be surprised at what you find
Screaming guitars and
Strobe lights gettin' down
People come in there
From all parts of town
Move, move, move to the beat of the jungle groove
I said, move, move, move to the beat of the jungle groove
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Stranded in the jungle, and I got no place to hide
The jungle is so dangerous, there's evil in their minds
Witch doctors are cannibals, the rhythm drives you insane
Medicine man has something to take away the pain
Move, so move, so move to the beat of the jungle groove
I said, move, move, move to the beat of the jungle groove
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
Psychedelic Shack, that's where it's at
I'm a lover, not a fighter
Teacher, not a preacher
Singer, not a swinger
So move to the beat, c'mon!
Move, so move, so move to the beat of the jungle groove
I said, move, move, move to the beat of the jungle groove
Jungle beat chacha, jungle beat chacha
Jungle beat chacha, jungle beat chacha
Put on your mask, pick up your spear
A ring in your nose, a diamond in your ear
Jungle beat chacha, jungle beat chacha
Jungle beat chacha, jungle beat chacha
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Psychedelic Shack Lyrics as written by Norman Whitfield Barrett Strong
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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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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