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."
[Hook]
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
[Verse 1]
All dem' birdies that flock, flocking with the kamikaze
See me chilling hill side on our crouched apple bottoms
I'm that shepherd that flock like I'm fucking with the commas
I'm that shepherd that flock like I'm fucking with the commas
Fish and bread, I be looking to the heavens for my money
Fish and bread, I be walking on the water with dem' hunnies
Baby girl, giving head in the water with my money
GPS, you gon' find me in the middle of an island
Tribal heads all around me but I'm fucking with that money
Tribal heads all around me but they loving up my honeys
Walking back on the water in the come down of an era
Walking back in my fish nets and the Gods call it business
[Hook]
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
[Verse 2]
It's a game to you, God
All this time tryna teach a lesson to me, God, huh?
I ain't insane to you, God
I'm just tryna be that, oh my God, he different than the God's God
I don't mind it when I'm shepherd, God
Shepherd of my flock, but I'm witness to the dark God
I don't mind it when I'm shepherd, God
Bow a knee to you, but I'm also kind of you, God
Can you bring me back those sheep, God?
Wolf ate one or two, but I'm tryna get to you, God
I'ma make my flock my money, God
Everything I do, I'ma put it back to you, God
You know I came up from the hunnies, God
First I lived to screw, now I'm tryna get to you, God
Make my come up 'bout my flock, God
All that I can prove that I'm really only you, God
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
[Verse 1]
All dem' birdies that flock, flocking with the kamikaze
See me chilling hill side on our crouched apple bottoms
I'm that shepherd that flock like I'm fucking with the commas
I'm that shepherd that flock like I'm fucking with the commas
Fish and bread, I be looking to the heavens for my money
Fish and bread, I be walking on the water with dem' hunnies
Baby girl, giving head in the water with my money
GPS, you gon' find me in the middle of an island
Tribal heads all around me but I'm fucking with that money
Tribal heads all around me but they loving up my honeys
Walking back on the water in the come down of an era
Walking back in my fish nets and the Gods call it business
[Hook]
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
I'm the shepherd of my flock, fuck the rest
She my whole team, watch me fuck the rest
[Verse 2]
It's a game to you, God
All this time tryna teach a lesson to me, God, huh?
I ain't insane to you, God
I'm just tryna be that, oh my God, he different than the God's God
I don't mind it when I'm shepherd, God
Shepherd of my flock, but I'm witness to the dark God
I don't mind it when I'm shepherd, God
Bow a knee to you, but I'm also kind of you, God
Can you bring me back those sheep, God?
Wolf ate one or two, but I'm tryna get to you, God
I'ma make my flock my money, God
Everything I do, I'ma put it back to you, God
You know I came up from the hunnies, God
First I lived to screw, now I'm tryna get to you, God
Make my come up 'bout my flock, God
All that I can prove that I'm really only you, God
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Shepherd Lyrics as written by Genesis Mohanraj
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
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