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."
There's a clock timing the world as it turns
There's a man marking the candle as it burns
Keeping track of every minute that remains
Still we hope somehow
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna turn out fine
There's a light shining beyond the southern cross
Burning bright for everyone of us who's lost
More than faith more than a reason to go on
Rise on up knowing
You're gonna win the fight
It's gonna turn out fine
You gotta hope it'll be alright
Come on and hope it'll turn out fine
Yeah, hope it'll be alright, please
When the night turns to the deepest shade of black
At that point there is no reason to turn back
High above angels are falling from the sky
Lift your heart knowing
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna turn out fine
You gotta hope it'll be alright
Come on and hope it'll turn out fine
Yeah, hope it'll be alright, please
You gotta hope, ya gonna win the fight
Come on 'n hope with all your might
Yeah hope it's gonna be alright, please
Millions of people alone in the dark
Awaiting a moment of hope
Please
You gotta hope (Whenever times get tough) it'll be alright
Come on and hope (And when the road is rough) it'll turn out fine
Yeah, hope (Just when you've had enough) it'll be alright, please
You gotta hope (Whenever times get tough) you're gonna win the fight
Come on and hope (And when the road is rough) with all your might
Yeah, hope (Just when you've had enough) it's gonna be alright, please
You gotta hope (Whenever times get tough) it'll be alright
Come on and hope (And when the road is rough) it'll turn out fine
Yeah, hope (Just when you've had enough) it'll be alright, please
You gotta hope, you're gonna win the fight
There's a man marking the candle as it burns
Keeping track of every minute that remains
Still we hope somehow
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna turn out fine
There's a light shining beyond the southern cross
Burning bright for everyone of us who's lost
More than faith more than a reason to go on
Rise on up knowing
You're gonna win the fight
It's gonna turn out fine
You gotta hope it'll be alright
Come on and hope it'll turn out fine
Yeah, hope it'll be alright, please
When the night turns to the deepest shade of black
At that point there is no reason to turn back
High above angels are falling from the sky
Lift your heart knowing
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna turn out fine
You gotta hope it'll be alright
Come on and hope it'll turn out fine
Yeah, hope it'll be alright, please
You gotta hope, ya gonna win the fight
Come on 'n hope with all your might
Yeah hope it's gonna be alright, please
Millions of people alone in the dark
Awaiting a moment of hope
Please
You gotta hope (Whenever times get tough) it'll be alright
Come on and hope (And when the road is rough) it'll turn out fine
Yeah, hope (Just when you've had enough) it'll be alright, please
You gotta hope (Whenever times get tough) you're gonna win the fight
Come on and hope (And when the road is rough) with all your might
Yeah, hope (Just when you've had enough) it's gonna be alright, please
You gotta hope (Whenever times get tough) it'll be alright
Come on and hope (And when the road is rough) it'll turn out fine
Yeah, hope (Just when you've had enough) it'll be alright, please
You gotta hope, you're gonna win the fight
Lyrics submitted by Ice
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
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
This is one of my favorite songs of all times. Why, because I believe