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 got no clean clothes and my window's down
Oh, when the Fall winds blow I'm gonna leave this town
I had an old man doctor with a strong right hand
Oh when he closed that shop up he left the locks all bent
Now, no matter where I go, I'm always being told
Baby, come on and take my hand tonight
What do you got to keep you hanging round?
When the tide is rising
And the moon is bright
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
Had a job out west painting background scenes
Oh, when I'd cash my check, I'd crash the slot machines
I met a game show quiz man and his boyfriend too
Oh, but his cards said nothing, when I looked for you
Now, I've got to feel again your heartbeat on my skin
Baby, come on and take my hand tonight
What do you got to keep you hanging round?
When the tide is rising
And the stars are bright
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
At night when I'm trying to sleep
I see your trail of lace blowing in slow motion
I try but I can't touch your face
I hold it next to me and I wake up, oh no
And I know one day you'll walk my way just smiling as you say
Baby, come on and take my hand tonight
What do you got to keep me hanging round?
When the tide is rising
And the moon is bright
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
Oh, when the Fall winds blow I'm gonna leave this town
I had an old man doctor with a strong right hand
Oh when he closed that shop up he left the locks all bent
Now, no matter where I go, I'm always being told
Baby, come on and take my hand tonight
What do you got to keep you hanging round?
When the tide is rising
And the moon is bright
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
Had a job out west painting background scenes
Oh, when I'd cash my check, I'd crash the slot machines
I met a game show quiz man and his boyfriend too
Oh, but his cards said nothing, when I looked for you
Now, I've got to feel again your heartbeat on my skin
Baby, come on and take my hand tonight
What do you got to keep you hanging round?
When the tide is rising
And the stars are bright
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
At night when I'm trying to sleep
I see your trail of lace blowing in slow motion
I try but I can't touch your face
I hold it next to me and I wake up, oh no
And I know one day you'll walk my way just smiling as you say
Baby, come on and take my hand tonight
What do you got to keep me hanging round?
When the tide is rising
And the moon is bright
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
We can turn that wheel of fortune around
Lyrics submitted by minicuotas, edited by octosquid
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