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."
Close to insanity
Beyond the realms I've been
At darkest places
I'm crying
"The dragon flies"
Something savage
Is yearning for me
I'm waiting afraid for the night
What will be
I've lost myself
A few days ago
It's touching my soul
And a vision of past dreams comes true
Welcome to dying
I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Look to the mirror it shows what I am
Welcome to dying
This town must burn now
Welcome to dying
Can't You see the dragon's seed bears in me
The one who's been before
Many times I terrorized this town
Many times and here I start again
Now I'm stronger and so cold
Cold as ice
Returning is my destiny
Now I feel it's growing up in me
Now I feel it's burning deep in me
I'm not what I was before
Could I stop this dream
I'm a stranger to myself
And I cannot control
Welcome to dying
I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Look to the mirror it shows what I am
Welcome to dying
Can't you see the dragon's seed bears in me
Welcome to dying
The dragon's breath I don't let it out
I'm a savage
It's too late for me
The other side's taking control and I know
There's one way I can walk alone
Or the dragon will fly
And a growing fear's all that I feel
Welcome to dying
I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Look to the mirror it shows what I am
Welcome to dying
Can't you see the dragon's seed bears in me
Welcome to dying
The dragon's breath I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Can't you see the dragon's seed bears in me
Spread my wings and fly away
I spread my wings and fly away
I spread my wings and fly away
Beyond the realms I've been
At darkest places
I'm crying
"The dragon flies"
Something savage
Is yearning for me
I'm waiting afraid for the night
What will be
I've lost myself
A few days ago
It's touching my soul
And a vision of past dreams comes true
Welcome to dying
I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Look to the mirror it shows what I am
Welcome to dying
This town must burn now
Welcome to dying
Can't You see the dragon's seed bears in me
The one who's been before
Many times I terrorized this town
Many times and here I start again
Now I'm stronger and so cold
Cold as ice
Returning is my destiny
Now I feel it's growing up in me
Now I feel it's burning deep in me
I'm not what I was before
Could I stop this dream
I'm a stranger to myself
And I cannot control
Welcome to dying
I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Look to the mirror it shows what I am
Welcome to dying
Can't you see the dragon's seed bears in me
Welcome to dying
The dragon's breath I don't let it out
I'm a savage
It's too late for me
The other side's taking control and I know
There's one way I can walk alone
Or the dragon will fly
And a growing fear's all that I feel
Welcome to dying
I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Look to the mirror it shows what I am
Welcome to dying
Can't you see the dragon's seed bears in me
Welcome to dying
The dragon's breath I don't let it out
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Welcome to dying
Can't you see the dragon's seed bears in me
Spread my wings and fly away
I spread my wings and fly away
I spread my wings and fly away
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Vampires i think
This is about a German folk story in which a man gradually turns into a dragon and takes revenge on the people of a city that did him wrong.
A similar story (likely based on this one) takes place in Mark Rogers' Zorachus series.
Heydrich: It does remind me somewhat of "Little Dragon" Vlad the Impaler, but the above explanation was the one given by one of the band members. Possibly the folk story was inspired by him?
yeah,maybe the nottorious vlad cepesh was the inspiration
I once visited a site that claimed that it is about the book "Dark Sun" by Troi Denning. I've never heard of it, so I can't tell if it's true
@IQ Jupiter is the Dark Sun in our solar system.
It is quite similar to Lawrence Watt Evans' "The Obsidian Chronicles".
A kick-ass BG song, this one got me hooked on BG in the first place...
looks like Smaug.. from a human thought perspective... a dragon rage nature ... instinct , destruction... flying above Valle, rage, destruction under him... fire and ashes
Valle "Welcome to dying"
Many Blind guardians songs are tolkien based.