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."
Why you wanna disrespect my love?
Why you wanna go against my heart and soul?
Don't you realize the love I'm giving you?
Don't you wanna love me too?
Do you wanna what? So now you question my love?
Who took you in and your son, who treat 'em like he was blood?
All day you buggin' out, sayin' I'm playin' behind your back
Being a bitch, callin' the cops, drop charges to take me back
What is it? 'Cause I'm stayin', I can't live without you
If I can't have you, no one will, don't make me prove it to you
So what I catch a mood swing here and there, that's just rough time
Discipline is what a man about, woman you tryin' to undermine?
And mine is like a size 12 foot for you security
Tell me, haven't I came through to provide well for this family?
Bullshit! And I can't stand you, ma told me you'd fuck my life
Up and downsize any good that I've done to big yourself
Don't you dare get in my face
Can't have a peace inside this house, always invading my space
But I'm the one who's catchin' the case for gettin' stupid
And smackin' you all excited when you started it in the first place
Her love, his hate
His words, her fate (what you do to me)
No escape
His anger, her tears
His abuse, her child, his excuse
What a waste
Hey dad why you walkin' all wobbly and lookin' sloppy?
You never nice, always screamin' and cursin' at mommy
From verbal to physical, fightin' into a break up
I notice you beefin' from the second moment you wake up
Oh I get it, us men have to prove that we are stronger
Put our foot down, man of the house, we last longer
I wanna be just like you and always keep my fist up
By your age I'll be twice as mean if I practice with my sister
'Cause I put vics in her eyes, that's what she gets for darin' me
And if what you're doing is right then why is it scarin' me
I guess I'll understand a little better when I get older
The more abuse I see and learn the more I'll get bolder
And by my first girl I'll be higher and should be wiser
I always wondered why the neighbor called you a womanizer
But I know now, men rule and it is what it is
Don't worry, I'll make you proud and pass it down to my kids
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Don't you think that you could be the one to hold me?
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Recognize what's here for you
Something clicked, she no longer wanted to hear she was no good
No more jokes about her overweight and that she just never could
She had to stop livin in doubt, stop livin' in fear
Stop feelin' inferior, wishin' he would just disappear
For years her words had taken away her self-esteem,
Killed most of her motivation and shattered all of her dreams
And yo, the name calling in public or behind closed doors
Everything from "stupid bitch" to "you filthy whore"
He made her believe a successful life was nothing next to slim
And that she wouldn't be worth spit without him
Finally realizing it was him that would never amount to shit
And he would bring her down with him just to feel someone legit
He felt threatened by her passion so he took action
And verbally tore it down to a fraction, intimidating her reaction
Gathering her belongings with pity she felt
Knowin' he'd be livin' out the rest of his days always hatin' himself
Why you wanna disrespect my love?
Why you wanna go against my heart and soul?
Don't you realize the love I'm giving you?
Don't you wanna love me too?
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Don't you think that you could be the one to hold me?
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Recognize what's here for you
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Don't you think that you could be the one to hold me?
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Recognize what's here for you
"Listen carefully. Get the fuck out of here or I'll kick your ass!!"
Why you wanna go against my heart and soul?
Don't you realize the love I'm giving you?
Don't you wanna love me too?
Do you wanna what? So now you question my love?
Who took you in and your son, who treat 'em like he was blood?
All day you buggin' out, sayin' I'm playin' behind your back
Being a bitch, callin' the cops, drop charges to take me back
What is it? 'Cause I'm stayin', I can't live without you
If I can't have you, no one will, don't make me prove it to you
So what I catch a mood swing here and there, that's just rough time
Discipline is what a man about, woman you tryin' to undermine?
And mine is like a size 12 foot for you security
Tell me, haven't I came through to provide well for this family?
Bullshit! And I can't stand you, ma told me you'd fuck my life
Up and downsize any good that I've done to big yourself
Don't you dare get in my face
Can't have a peace inside this house, always invading my space
But I'm the one who's catchin' the case for gettin' stupid
And smackin' you all excited when you started it in the first place
Her love, his hate
His words, her fate (what you do to me)
No escape
His anger, her tears
His abuse, her child, his excuse
What a waste
Hey dad why you walkin' all wobbly and lookin' sloppy?
You never nice, always screamin' and cursin' at mommy
From verbal to physical, fightin' into a break up
I notice you beefin' from the second moment you wake up
Oh I get it, us men have to prove that we are stronger
Put our foot down, man of the house, we last longer
I wanna be just like you and always keep my fist up
By your age I'll be twice as mean if I practice with my sister
'Cause I put vics in her eyes, that's what she gets for darin' me
And if what you're doing is right then why is it scarin' me
I guess I'll understand a little better when I get older
The more abuse I see and learn the more I'll get bolder
And by my first girl I'll be higher and should be wiser
I always wondered why the neighbor called you a womanizer
But I know now, men rule and it is what it is
Don't worry, I'll make you proud and pass it down to my kids
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Don't you think that you could be the one to hold me?
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Recognize what's here for you
Something clicked, she no longer wanted to hear she was no good
No more jokes about her overweight and that she just never could
She had to stop livin in doubt, stop livin' in fear
Stop feelin' inferior, wishin' he would just disappear
For years her words had taken away her self-esteem,
Killed most of her motivation and shattered all of her dreams
And yo, the name calling in public or behind closed doors
Everything from "stupid bitch" to "you filthy whore"
He made her believe a successful life was nothing next to slim
And that she wouldn't be worth spit without him
Finally realizing it was him that would never amount to shit
And he would bring her down with him just to feel someone legit
He felt threatened by her passion so he took action
And verbally tore it down to a fraction, intimidating her reaction
Gathering her belongings with pity she felt
Knowin' he'd be livin' out the rest of his days always hatin' himself
Why you wanna disrespect my love?
Why you wanna go against my heart and soul?
Don't you realize the love I'm giving you?
Don't you wanna love me too?
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Don't you think that you could be the one to hold me?
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Recognize what's here for you
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Don't you think that you could be the one to hold me?
Don't you think that I could be your one and only?
Recognize what's here for you
"Listen carefully. Get the fuck out of here or I'll kick your ass!!"
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
His Hate, Her Love Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore 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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.