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."
IF I DIDN'T LOVE YOU
WRITERS TINA ARENA, PAM RESWICK, STEVE WERFEL
So good When it's good I wanna spend my whole life lovin' you
But I'm tired And you don't know how close I've come to leaving you
You try my patience And you race me to the wire It takes every ounce of my will and desire
If I didn't love you If I didn't love you like crazy If I didn't love you baby As much as I do
I'd just walk out the door I couldn't take it anymore I wouldn't put up with what you put me through
If I didn't love you
It's hard But you won't give up 'till you Push me to the wall But I know You're the only one who'll be there for me
When I call (oh yes you will) I can't help believing That it's worth it somehow Cause I've worked too damn hard
To wanna give up now
If I didn't love you If I didn't love you like crazy If I didn't love you baby As much as I do
I'd just walk out the door I couldn't take it anymore I wouldn't put up with what you put me through
If I didn't love you If I didn't love you Nah, If I didn't If I didn't love you like I do
When you love someone Nothings black or white When the riptide runs There's no wrong or right
I'll sail with you but I'll refuse to drown So don't you take me down, down Take me down down Don't you take me down, down, down
If I didn't love you If I didn't love you I'd walk out that door I don't need it anymore
Need to put up with what you put me through If I didn't love you If I didn't love you If I didn't love you
If I didn't love you like I do I'd walk out that door I'm not comin' back no more No more
WRITERS TINA ARENA, PAM RESWICK, STEVE WERFEL
So good When it's good I wanna spend my whole life lovin' you
But I'm tired And you don't know how close I've come to leaving you
You try my patience And you race me to the wire It takes every ounce of my will and desire
If I didn't love you If I didn't love you like crazy If I didn't love you baby As much as I do
I'd just walk out the door I couldn't take it anymore I wouldn't put up with what you put me through
If I didn't love you
It's hard But you won't give up 'till you Push me to the wall But I know You're the only one who'll be there for me
When I call (oh yes you will) I can't help believing That it's worth it somehow Cause I've worked too damn hard
To wanna give up now
If I didn't love you If I didn't love you like crazy If I didn't love you baby As much as I do
I'd just walk out the door I couldn't take it anymore I wouldn't put up with what you put me through
If I didn't love you If I didn't love you Nah, If I didn't If I didn't love you like I do
When you love someone Nothings black or white When the riptide runs There's no wrong or right
I'll sail with you but I'll refuse to drown So don't you take me down, down Take me down down Don't you take me down, down, down
If I didn't love you If I didn't love you I'd walk out that door I don't need it anymore
Need to put up with what you put me through If I didn't love you If I didn't love you If I didn't love you
If I didn't love you like I do I'd walk out that door I'm not comin' back no more No more
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
If I Didn't Love You Lyrics as written by Pamela P. Reswick Filippina Lydia Arena
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 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
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.