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."
Well there was a time when life caught you by surprise.
What you see going by is a shadow.
You've got to live in front of your eyes.
In a typical way we stray, checking back with the past.
In a typical day we'll stay to see what's gonna last.
But I didn't mind at all.
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
Well there was a place we'd chase through the woods in my juvenile days.
What a typical waste of space, what a wonderful place to stay.
But I could have cried but I just left my soul to fly.
And I could have chilled at will, but I didn't know how to die.
But I didn't mind at all.
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
No, I've been woken, and I have been broken.
But this time it's gonna change
For,
I've been lazy, and I been crazy.
Has been stolen,
But from,
From this day on I swear to you true.
From this day on I swear to you.
Well there was at time when I could have flown out of the room.
Yet I didn't care just where I was going after noon.
Though I didn't know and I chose to live my life so fair.
And I could have died, but I chose to live here instead
But I didn't mind at all.
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I've been woken, and I have been broken
But this time its gonna change
For, I've been lazy and I have been crazy
But this time it's not hazy at all
Cause I've been,
I've been chose my heart has been stolen
But from,
From this day on, I swear to you true.
From this day on, I swear to you true.
I say now way back when you and all your friends
Had some good times we should do this again we'd say
Hey, hey, hey we should do this again, we'd say.
But in the mean meanwhile, I'll just walk the mile.
I won't look back won't forget your smile
Oh no, hey hey hey we should do this again, we'd say.
But I swear to you true.
From this day on I swear to you true I swear I do I.
No.
I won't give you back.
No.
Won't give you back.
No.
Won't give you back.
No.
Can't give you back.
No.
I won't give you back my baby.
Said I can't give you back.
No.
Said I won't give you back.
No.
I swear to you true.
From this day on I swear to you true.
I swear.
I do, I.
God, I do.
My baby, I swear to you true.
I swear, I do.
What you see going by is a shadow.
You've got to live in front of your eyes.
In a typical way we stray, checking back with the past.
In a typical day we'll stay to see what's gonna last.
But I didn't mind at all.
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
Well there was a place we'd chase through the woods in my juvenile days.
What a typical waste of space, what a wonderful place to stay.
But I could have cried but I just left my soul to fly.
And I could have chilled at will, but I didn't know how to die.
But I didn't mind at all.
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
No, I've been woken, and I have been broken.
But this time it's gonna change
For,
I've been lazy, and I been crazy.
Has been stolen,
But from,
From this day on I swear to you true.
From this day on I swear to you.
Well there was at time when I could have flown out of the room.
Yet I didn't care just where I was going after noon.
Though I didn't know and I chose to live my life so fair.
And I could have died, but I chose to live here instead
But I didn't mind at all.
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I didn't mind at all
I've been woken, and I have been broken
But this time its gonna change
For, I've been lazy and I have been crazy
But this time it's not hazy at all
Cause I've been,
I've been chose my heart has been stolen
But from,
From this day on, I swear to you true.
From this day on, I swear to you true.
I say now way back when you and all your friends
Had some good times we should do this again we'd say
Hey, hey, hey we should do this again, we'd say.
But in the mean meanwhile, I'll just walk the mile.
I won't look back won't forget your smile
Oh no, hey hey hey we should do this again, we'd say.
But I swear to you true.
From this day on I swear to you true I swear I do I.
No.
I won't give you back.
No.
Won't give you back.
No.
Won't give you back.
No.
Can't give you back.
No.
I won't give you back my baby.
Said I can't give you back.
No.
Said I won't give you back.
No.
I swear to you true.
From this day on I swear to you true.
I swear.
I do, I.
God, I do.
My baby, I swear to you true.
I swear, I do.
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
urcrazeeman i have to say i really dont think youre right. im a pretty big oar fan and ive never heard of marc (the lead singer) being an addict. i think that what most everyone said is right on. i think this song is about enjoying life and the friends that surround you. some of the lyrics are really poetic and metaphorical but i think that's the gist. great song