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."
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling (Falling)
'Til I'm free falling (falling)
I live for the night
I am tryna holla
Got that ink up on my collar
Drinkin' 'til there's nada
Isn't whiskey, I don't bother
My bitches ain't no dimes, they be motherfuckin' dollars
So we stack our drinks up high, skyscrapin' 'til we taller
Ring ring, hit that up, show that universal love
If you bleed that red blood, dance until you get enough
Ring ring, hit that up, show that universal love
If you bleed that red blood, dance until you get enough
I'mma do what I want, whatever
I'mma rage 'til the dawn, all-nighter
Don't hold your breath, you know I'll sleep when I am dead
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling (Falling)
I live for the night
Free falling
I'm the Grim Reaper when I'm blaring out your speaker
Killin' off the weaker, welcome to the final feature
My head is in the clouds, you can say that I'm a dreamer,
But I bang it super loud, turn that bitch into a screamer
I'mma do what I want, whatever
I'mma rage 'til the dawn, all-nighter
Don't hold your breath
You know I'll sleep when I am dead
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling (Falling)
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling (Falling)
'Til I'm free falling (falling)
I live for the night
I am tryna holla
Got that ink up on my collar
Drinkin' 'til there's nada
Isn't whiskey, I don't bother
My bitches ain't no dimes, they be motherfuckin' dollars
So we stack our drinks up high, skyscrapin' 'til we taller
Ring ring, hit that up, show that universal love
If you bleed that red blood, dance until you get enough
Ring ring, hit that up, show that universal love
If you bleed that red blood, dance until you get enough
I'mma do what I want, whatever
I'mma rage 'til the dawn, all-nighter
Don't hold your breath, you know I'll sleep when I am dead
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling (Falling)
I live for the night
Free falling
I'm the Grim Reaper when I'm blaring out your speaker
Killin' off the weaker, welcome to the final feature
My head is in the clouds, you can say that I'm a dreamer,
But I bang it super loud, turn that bitch into a screamer
I'mma do what I want, whatever
I'mma rage 'til the dawn, all-nighter
Don't hold your breath
You know I'll sleep when I am dead
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling (Falling)
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night, I live for the lights
I live for the high 'til I'm free falling
I live for the night
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