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."
You say you love me
But I know it's a lie
Cause when you loved me
My river ran dry
Is someone tempting
Someone on stand by
I handle looks
But never touch
You are mine
I thought you'd never ever ever
Wanna see see me like this
See see me like this no no
Now I'm all teary'd up paranoid as ever, yup!
Now put your hands up
I'm about to shoot love
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
Now put your hands up
I'm about to shoot love
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
Your love is sickly
Emotional rides
A troubled heart
A messy mind
That's bleeding mine
That's why
I thought you'd never ever ever
Wanna see see me like this
See see me like this no no
Now I'm all teary'd up paranoid as ever
Now put your hands up
I'm about to shoot love
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
Now put your hands up
I'm about to shoot love
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
If I was brave, I'd cut you off
You don't think too fast
You would never last
Something drastic has to change
I'm begging of you
Now put your hands up
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
Yeah eh eh ay
No you never wanna see me like this
You never wanna see me like this
But I know it's a lie
Cause when you loved me
My river ran dry
Is someone tempting
Someone on stand by
I handle looks
But never touch
You are mine
I thought you'd never ever ever
Wanna see see me like this
See see me like this no no
Now I'm all teary'd up paranoid as ever, yup!
Now put your hands up
I'm about to shoot love
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
Now put your hands up
I'm about to shoot love
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
Your love is sickly
Emotional rides
A troubled heart
A messy mind
That's bleeding mine
That's why
I thought you'd never ever ever
Wanna see see me like this
See see me like this no no
Now I'm all teary'd up paranoid as ever
Now put your hands up
I'm about to shoot love
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
Now put your hands up
I'm about to shoot love
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
If I was brave, I'd cut you off
You don't think too fast
You would never last
Something drastic has to change
I'm begging of you
Now put your hands up
And I'ma pray that you will give it up
Pray that you will give it up
You never wanna see me like this
Yeah eh eh ay
No you never wanna see me like this
You never wanna see me like this
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