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."
Turn around to see you
In a crowded place
I watch for the emotions
On a guarded face
Saying lead me on
Victim of a dream
And a memory
But when I try to break free
You say to me
C'mon lead me on
A matter out of time
In the reaches of space
Caught up in the patterns
In the light of a life
Walk across the bridge
To the shadows of the night
Saying lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on
Voices in the night
Chase the demons away
Looking in the mirror
It's easy to say
C'mon lead me on
The choices of a lifetime
In the dreams of a day
When the coast is gettin' clearer
I hear you say
C'mon lead me on
A matter out of time
In the look on your face
Caught up in the patterns
In the light of a life
Walk across the bridge
To the shadows of the night
Saying lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on
Talk to me of lightning
I'll hear what you say, my love
Reaching for the meaning all of the way
I can't keep believing in you and me, my love
Finding the answers that we need
Sometimes it's meant to be
Lead me on, lead me on
Turn around to see you
In a crowded place
I watch for the emotions
As they cross your face
Saying lead me on
I see you in a dream
And a memory
A captive of the light
You say to me
C'mon and lead me on
Lead me on
C'mon and lead me on
On, on and on
C'mon and lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On, on and on
Lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On, on and on
C'mon and lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
In a crowded place
I watch for the emotions
On a guarded face
Saying lead me on
Victim of a dream
And a memory
But when I try to break free
You say to me
C'mon lead me on
A matter out of time
In the reaches of space
Caught up in the patterns
In the light of a life
Walk across the bridge
To the shadows of the night
Saying lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on
Voices in the night
Chase the demons away
Looking in the mirror
It's easy to say
C'mon lead me on
The choices of a lifetime
In the dreams of a day
When the coast is gettin' clearer
I hear you say
C'mon lead me on
A matter out of time
In the look on your face
Caught up in the patterns
In the light of a life
Walk across the bridge
To the shadows of the night
Saying lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On and on
Lead me on
Talk to me of lightning
I'll hear what you say, my love
Reaching for the meaning all of the way
I can't keep believing in you and me, my love
Finding the answers that we need
Sometimes it's meant to be
Lead me on, lead me on
Turn around to see you
In a crowded place
I watch for the emotions
As they cross your face
Saying lead me on
I see you in a dream
And a memory
A captive of the light
You say to me
C'mon and lead me on
Lead me on
C'mon and lead me on
On, on and on
C'mon and lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On, on and on
Lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
On, on and on
C'mon and lead me on
Lead me on
Lead me on
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great song, once again on that awesome movie Top Gun but once again, i'm am baffled at some of the lyrics