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."
We were above
You standing underneath us
We were not yet lovers
Dragons were smoked
Bumblebees were stinging us
I was soon to be crazy
Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die
'cause we're tripping Billies
We're wearing nothing
Nothing but out shadows
Shadows falling down on the beach sand
Remembering once,
Out on the beaches we wore
Pineapple grass bracelets
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
'cause we're tripping Billies
We are all sitting
Legs crossed round a fire
My yellow flame she dances
Tequila drinking oh our
Minds will wonder
To wondrous places
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die
You standing underneath us
We were not yet lovers
Dragons were smoked
Bumblebees were stinging us
I was soon to be crazy
Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die
'cause we're tripping Billies
We're wearing nothing
Nothing but out shadows
Shadows falling down on the beach sand
Remembering once,
Out on the beaches we wore
Pineapple grass bracelets
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
'cause we're tripping Billies
We are all sitting
Legs crossed round a fire
My yellow flame she dances
Tequila drinking oh our
Minds will wonder
To wondrous places
So why would you care
To get out of this place
You and me and all our friends
Such a happy human race
Eat, drink and be merry
For tomorrow we die
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
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Wow, nobody has eevn commented on DMB's leggendary party song!!?!!? This song contains a life motto used by millions, myself included "Eat Drink and Be Merry, For Tomorrow We Die" Basically, this song is about having fun, not caring about school or work the next day, living life to the fullest, because we know that tomorrow, we could die. Tomorrow, you could die, do you want to regret not doing something?
ha this song is about when dave did lsd ha he had a real messed up trip haha its a funny story it was on storytellers check it out its funny yea this song is basicly about drugs
I heard the same thing davegod...this song is really good none the less...its just got such a positive vibe...
I HEARD THIS SONG WAS A LIFE EXPERIENCE, A GIRLFRIEND OF DAVES SAID THE SONG OR STORY OR SOMETHING REMINDED HER OF TRIPPING BILLIES(BILLLIES AS IN HILL BILLIES). THE SONG IS IN MY EYES ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME "EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY" "SUCH A HAPPY HUMAN RACE"
Yeah your right except she said that the song sounded like a bunch of hillbillies tripping on acid so he named it that. Its in an interview on Fuse when he was promoting Big Whiskey.
i'm listening to this song right now and, wow, i love dave!!!!!!!!; i can't wait till 7/21 cause that's when i see him!!!!!!
Eat, drink and be merry For tomorrow we die
Words I live by everyday of my life. :)
mariel, billies is not hill billies.
now of course we know dave was born in south africa, and in south africa the slang for police is "billy"
thats the song title
(love the song btw)
Ok well yall that think you know what this song is about ..well im sorry to be rude but yall are wrong. It is when David lived in South Africa and was taking hits of acid with some cops (billies if you will). They were all around a camp fire having a great time. Thanks -Peter
OK .. Phish .. your half right. You guys all did miss the point of the song by the way, and this interpretation is taken straight from what Dave himself says before he played the song on Vh1 Storytellers. This is about the first time he took acid .. he was on a beach with friends and when he took the acid he decided he did not want to trip .. but the acid got him and he decided to just go with it. They had a blast sitting around a camp fire and the next thing he knows he is talking to the cops. This song is about all the fun he had and the fact he did not want it to end .. peace-- Henry
Mr Cig. up there, i was just trying to make the story short for the people uptop who dont know anything about the greatest man alive. Yes and we all love acid dont we.