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."
Come they told me (ba rum bu bu bum)
A new born king to see (ba rum bu bu bum)
Our finest gifts we bring (ba rum bu bu bum)
To set before the king (ba rum bu bu bum)
Rum bu bu bum, rum bu bu bum
So to honor him (ba rum bu bu bum)
When we come
Little baby (ba rum bu bu bum)
I am a poor boy too (ba rum bu bu bum)
I have no gift to bring (ba rum bu bu bum)
That's fit to give a king (ba rum bu bu bum)
Rum bu bu bum, rum bu bu bum
Shall I play for you (ba rum bu bu bum)
On my drum
Then he nodded (ba rum bu bu bum)
The ox and lamb kept time (ba rum bu bu bum)
I played my drum for him (ba rum bu bu bum)
I played my best for him (ba rum bu bu bum)
Rum bu bu bum, rum bu bu bum
Then he smiled at me (ba rum bu bu bum)
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
A new born king to see (ba rum bu bu bum)
Our finest gifts we bring (ba rum bu bu bum)
To set before the king (ba rum bu bu bum)
Rum bu bu bum, rum bu bu bum
So to honor him (ba rum bu bu bum)
When we come
Little baby (ba rum bu bu bum)
I am a poor boy too (ba rum bu bu bum)
I have no gift to bring (ba rum bu bu bum)
That's fit to give a king (ba rum bu bu bum)
Rum bu bu bum, rum bu bu bum
Shall I play for you (ba rum bu bu bum)
On my drum
Then he nodded (ba rum bu bu bum)
The ox and lamb kept time (ba rum bu bu bum)
I played my drum for him (ba rum bu bu bum)
I played my best for him (ba rum bu bu bum)
Rum bu bu bum, rum bu bu bum
Then he smiled at me (ba rum bu bu bum)
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Little Drummer Boy Lyrics as written by Henry Onorati Harry Simeone
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, INTERNATIONAL KORWIN CORP, Sentric Music, Anthem Entertainment
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