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."
It's Saturday night and my daddy's up late
Pickin' with my Uncle Bill
The neighbors don't mind 'cause they have a good time
Sippin' on my pappy's still
Old brother Dan's got a fiddle in his hand
Momma's on the mandolin
When the music is right and the band gets tight
You ought-a see 'em pick and grin
And everybody starts movin'
To the sound of the guitar strums
And everybody starts groovin'
To the beat of the rhythm and drums
So come along and let yourself really go
While the feeling is good
Just sip that wine, have a really good time
And listen to a country song
Old Sheriff Brown he never comes around
Knocking on the old back door
As a matter of fact you can find him in the act
Pickin on the old banjo
Second cousin Jack sneaks up from the back
Tries to get to sister Sue
Well she throws him on the ground without turning around
'Cause she knows a lotta jujitsu
Pickin' with my Uncle Bill
The neighbors don't mind 'cause they have a good time
Sippin' on my pappy's still
Old brother Dan's got a fiddle in his hand
Momma's on the mandolin
When the music is right and the band gets tight
You ought-a see 'em pick and grin
And everybody starts movin'
To the sound of the guitar strums
And everybody starts groovin'
To the beat of the rhythm and drums
So come along and let yourself really go
While the feeling is good
Just sip that wine, have a really good time
And listen to a country song
Old Sheriff Brown he never comes around
Knocking on the old back door
As a matter of fact you can find him in the act
Pickin on the old banjo
Second cousin Jack sneaks up from the back
Tries to get to sister Sue
Well she throws him on the ground without turning around
'Cause she knows a lotta jujitsu
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Listen to a Country Song Lyrics as written by Jim Messina Alan Garth
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, CTM Publishing
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
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
"Old Sheriff Brown, he never comes around knockin on the old back door. As a matter of fact you can find him out back, pickin on his ole banjo. Second cousin Jack sneaks up from the back. Tryin to get at Sister Sue. Well she tossed him on the ground, without turnin around, because she knows a lot of jujitsu!"
Scotty
As a special treat to L&M fans.... The instrumental song on the live album is titled "Just Before the News" and was the opening theme music to "The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite" Hence the song name! Scotty
"I told my woman that I'd only be gone for a couple of days. I had a friend who was in need of a guitar picker in the worst ways! (In the worst ways!) Well I kissed that woman goodbye, and she yelled out as I drove by... Don't you let me catch you stayin in a Holiday Hotel! Well I bought myself a ticket on the LA Express I was destined for Modesto. When I met my Navy buddy he said I need you! And I said fine friend! Well he told me that he had a surprize, but what I didn't know I finally surmised. I was standin there holdin a key to a Holiday Hotel!
((interlude))
I was awakened in the mornin, by the ringin of the phone, it was the hotel operator I got a message from my friend who'd checked out he said I'll see you later, bye bye now! He ran out before he'd paid me my bread I remembered what my baby had said Don't you let me catch you stayin in a Holiday Hotel! Don't you let me catch you stayin in a Holiday Hotel!"
Scotty
The missing line with the "????" is "out by the creek in the woods" Scotty