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."
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Say we want a revolution
We better get on right away
Well you get on your feet
Into the street
Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
A million workers working for nothing
You better give 'em what they really own
We got to put you down
When we come into town
Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
I got to ask you comrades and brothers
How do you treat you own woman back home?
She got to be herself
So she can free herself
Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Now, now, now, now, now
Oh well, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Yeah, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Power to the people
Power to the people
Oh well, power to the people
Power to the people (power to the people, right on)
Oh well, power to the people
Power to the people
Oh well
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Say we want a revolution
We better get on right away
Well you get on your feet
Into the street
Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
A million workers working for nothing
You better give 'em what they really own
We got to put you down
When we come into town
Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
I got to ask you comrades and brothers
How do you treat you own woman back home?
She got to be herself
So she can free herself
Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Now, now, now, now, now
Oh well, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Yeah, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Power to the people
Power to the people
Oh well, power to the people
Power to the people (power to the people, right on)
Oh well, power to the people
Power to the people
Oh well
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Yeah, umm, I heard the Black Eyed Peas did a cover of this. I doubt they know this is probably about socialism. I hate them so much....
revolution
Sounds like the ultimate revolution protest song. Right on.
Power to the people=Democracy!
The Black Eyed Peas did do a cover of this song, for the Amnesty International Album "Instant Karma". They did a pretty good job, the album itself is all John Lennon covers by other artists and the proceeds go to help end the conflict in Darfur.
Yes!, as stated by Catroar: Power to the people means Democracy... I doubt if a can see it some day in this lifetime... ...and I am cuban, and live in Cuba, by the way...
An excellent song, needless to say, thanks, John, we need you now more than ever.
This is probably my least favourite song on the album. Not lyrically, just musically, it's a bit boring.
Power to the people means democracy. The lines 'How do you treat you own woman back home She got to be herself So she can free herself' really remind me of John and Yoko's song 'Woman is the Nigger of the World.'
Black Eyed Peas are smarter then they get credit for, and probably smarter than they let on themselves. I'm not really a fan, but i think they get judged on their fan base's intelligence more often than their own.
Anywaaaay, you're right- this is a song about a socialist revolt. "Capitalism is organized crime", etc. etc.