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."
Roll down the windows
Don't shift in your seat
I don't care if the wind blows
I don't care about the heat
All those John Woo showdowns
Don't prepare you for this
A little bit Face-Off
A little Killer's Kiss
Stop, look, listen hard
This is why a band hires a bodyguard
Fear draws 'em, don't let it show
Driver, there's a bee trapped in the limo
When a bug plays chicken
Feathers fly
If the driver's allergic
One sting, we die
A real buzz-killer
Wouldn't have missed
I'm just making him meaner
With every flick of my Gucci-wielding wrist
Stop, look, listen hard
This is why a band hires a bodyguard
Fear draws 'em, don't let it show
Driver, there's a mad bee in the limo
John Woo, John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
Stop, look, listen hard
This is why I needed a library card
Fear finds 'em knocking about
Driver, there's a metaphor trying to get out
John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
Don't shift in your seat
I don't care if the wind blows
I don't care about the heat
All those John Woo showdowns
Don't prepare you for this
A little bit Face-Off
A little Killer's Kiss
Stop, look, listen hard
This is why a band hires a bodyguard
Fear draws 'em, don't let it show
Driver, there's a bee trapped in the limo
When a bug plays chicken
Feathers fly
If the driver's allergic
One sting, we die
A real buzz-killer
Wouldn't have missed
I'm just making him meaner
With every flick of my Gucci-wielding wrist
Stop, look, listen hard
This is why a band hires a bodyguard
Fear draws 'em, don't let it show
Driver, there's a mad bee in the limo
John Woo, John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
Stop, look, listen hard
This is why I needed a library card
Fear finds 'em knocking about
Driver, there's a metaphor trying to get out
John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
John Woo
John Woo, John Woo
Lyrics submitted by oascout394
John Woo Lyrics as written by Steve Taylor Peter Furler
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's not that obvious, but if you look into it, you see the "metaphor trying to get out."
The bee is sin. Open the window even a little bit and it can come in. And once it's in, it can destroy so easily, and all your best efforts are in vain.
And of course, the bodyguard is the guy holding the bug spray, Jesus Christ.
Pretty good interpretation. I wasn't able to figure it out. I love the song though. Their last two albums were not as funny but the ones before that were imfamous for their comedic lyrics. Thrive has a great mix of comedy and serious songs. John Woo is amoung the best!
I wasn't too sure about what the song meant so I asked my mom for her thoughts. She Thought that the song was talking about jehovah's Witnesses (John Woo> J.W.) I don't mean to offend any Jehovah's Witnesses that read this... My mom says that the way they draw people in is through fear ("fear finds 'em knocking about"). Also, most of them are trained to give certain responses to any debates you may have, making things bad for you as a christian (...I'm just making him meaner with every flick of my Gucci-wielding wrist) and the more they knock your ideas down, the more discouraging it becomes for you... it could be a real-faith killer.
I honestly don't see either interpretation. No offense or anything. I think I'm going to shoot Steve Taylor a note asking him about it.
I think you guys are thinking too hard about this. A song does not have to have a "secret meaning." Of course, I realise the lyric "metaphore trying to get out" makes it seem like it does have one. (believe me, I've racked my brains over this song) I believe this song is literal. A band member was probably in a car when a bee came and freaked him out almost to a crash. The John Woo aspect of the song just describes the scene of a grown man violently trying to kill this bee.(as all on John Woo's movies are extremely violent.