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."
When you're down and they're counting
When your secrets all found out
When your troubles take to mounting
When the map you have leads you to doubt
When there's no information
And the compass turns, yeah to nowhere you know well
Just let your soul be your pilot
Let your soul guide you
He'll guide you well
When the doctor failed to heal you
When no medicine chest can make you well
When no counsel leads to comfort (leads to comfort)
When there are no more lies they can tell
No more useless information and the compass spins
The compass spins between heaven and hell
Just let your soul be your pilot
Let your soul guide you
He'll guide you well
And your eyes turn towards the window pane
To the lights upon the hill
The distance seems so strange to you now
And the dark room seems so still
Let your pain be my sorrow
Let your tears be my tears too
Let your courage be my model
That the north you find will still be true
Oh, when there's no more information
And the compass turns, the compass turns
To nowhere that you know well
Let your soul be your pilot
Let your soul guide you
Let your soul guide you
Let your soul guide you upon your way
(Let your soul guide you)
Let your soul
When your down, let it come to you
Let your soul guide you
Let your soul guide you
Be your guidance, yeah
When your secret all found out
Let your soul guide you
Let your soul
When there's no
Affirmation, let your soul, let your soul
When your secrets all found out
When your troubles take to mounting
When the map you have leads you to doubt
When there's no information
And the compass turns, yeah to nowhere you know well
Just let your soul be your pilot
Let your soul guide you
He'll guide you well
When the doctor failed to heal you
When no medicine chest can make you well
When no counsel leads to comfort (leads to comfort)
When there are no more lies they can tell
No more useless information and the compass spins
The compass spins between heaven and hell
Just let your soul be your pilot
Let your soul guide you
He'll guide you well
And your eyes turn towards the window pane
To the lights upon the hill
The distance seems so strange to you now
And the dark room seems so still
Let your pain be my sorrow
Let your tears be my tears too
Let your courage be my model
That the north you find will still be true
Oh, when there's no more information
And the compass turns, the compass turns
To nowhere that you know well
Let your soul be your pilot
Let your soul guide you
Let your soul guide you
Let your soul guide you upon your way
(Let your soul guide you)
Let your soul
When your down, let it come to you
Let your soul guide you
Let your soul guide you
Be your guidance, yeah
When your secret all found out
Let your soul guide you
Let your soul
When there's no
Affirmation, let your soul, let your soul
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot Lyrics as written by Gordon Sumner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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