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."
Girl I see you crying
Tears rolling down your face
You're sick of him lying
Need someone to take his place
I can give you whatcha ask for
I can give you whatcha need
I'm down with anything you're down for
Baby you can count on me
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
You'll never have to be sad
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
You say that you're lonely
Need someone to hold you tight
You're faithful to him only
But he never treat you right, no
I'll be there when you call me
I'll be right there by your side
And whenever you're crying
I'll be there tonight oh I
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
You'll never have to be sad baby
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
And girl you need to know that
Only a fool would let you leave
Cause all the things you need are right here with me
(Friendship, friendship, trust, trust, commitment)
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
You'll never have to be sad baby
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
(The one thing that matters is your happiness,
and I want to be the one that makes you happy.
Let me be the one, I'll give you whatcha need)
Tears rolling down your face
You're sick of him lying
Need someone to take his place
I can give you whatcha ask for
I can give you whatcha need
I'm down with anything you're down for
Baby you can count on me
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
You'll never have to be sad
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
You say that you're lonely
Need someone to hold you tight
You're faithful to him only
But he never treat you right, no
I'll be there when you call me
I'll be right there by your side
And whenever you're crying
I'll be there tonight oh I
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
You'll never have to be sad baby
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
And girl you need to know that
Only a fool would let you leave
Cause all the things you need are right here with me
(Friendship, friendship, trust, trust, commitment)
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
You'll never have to be sad baby
Whatcha need is someone that cares for you
Whatcha need is someone to see you through
Good times and bad
(The one thing that matters is your happiness,
and I want to be the one that makes you happy.
Let me be the one, I'll give you whatcha need)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Whatcha Need Lyrics as written by Ken Fambro Donnie Boynton
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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
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.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
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.