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."
And when the strings are pulled again, the puppets dance like mortal men
Who carved in stone our future and our past
Shall we read the blood stained pages and take counsel with the sages
And hear the chanting of a mind's collapse
In my name, I will bring you from the cradle to the grave
In my name, I will bring you from the cradle to the grave
From points unknown in senseless daze, watching as the fools parade
The tower bells are pounding like a drum
Glance back at a new world brave, the cradle has become the grave
And people praise the God they've stolen from
In my name, I will bring you from the cradle to the grave
In my name, I will bring you from the cradle to the grave
In this world we have false leaders, wearing the mask of the deceiver
They're seeking out the non-believers, and in these masks you'll never see us
You kill the anger, kill the pain, only empty souls remain
God forgive them, will they ever learn...
Kings and pawns, emperors and fools, no man sleeps on this night
Bend my words into a twisted truth, no one gets out without a fight...
In this world we have false leaders, wearing the mask of the deceiver
They're seeking out the non-believers, and in these masks you'll never see us, you'll never see us!... you'll never see us
You kill the anger, kill the pain, only empty souls remain
God forgive them, will they ever learn?
Who carved in stone our future and our past
Shall we read the blood stained pages and take counsel with the sages
And hear the chanting of a mind's collapse
In my name, I will bring you from the cradle to the grave
In my name, I will bring you from the cradle to the grave
From points unknown in senseless daze, watching as the fools parade
The tower bells are pounding like a drum
Glance back at a new world brave, the cradle has become the grave
And people praise the God they've stolen from
In my name, I will bring you from the cradle to the grave
In my name, I will bring you from the cradle to the grave
In this world we have false leaders, wearing the mask of the deceiver
They're seeking out the non-believers, and in these masks you'll never see us
You kill the anger, kill the pain, only empty souls remain
God forgive them, will they ever learn...
Kings and pawns, emperors and fools, no man sleeps on this night
Bend my words into a twisted truth, no one gets out without a fight...
In this world we have false leaders, wearing the mask of the deceiver
They're seeking out the non-believers, and in these masks you'll never see us, you'll never see us!... you'll never see us
You kill the anger, kill the pain, only empty souls remain
God forgive them, will they ever learn?
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by Kingofstilport
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Mountain Song
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The song talks of manipulation, deception, and the struggle for freedom in a world that's controlled by masters who dance humanity along on pulled strings. it explores the universal struggle for freedom, and how we must fight against it, challenging those in power and questioning their deceptive practices. It also references that a world of peace and freedom once existed but has been corrupted, symbolized in the track title by the cradle, representing innocence and hope, transforming into a grave, symbolizing the death of individual expression and liberty.