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."
Yeah
Get back get back
Back chat back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Oh yeah! See what you've done to me
Back chat, back chat
It's driving me insane
Survival to the end
Knock you down, you come again
Talk back, talk back
You've got me on the wrack
Twisting ev'ry word I say
Wind me up and get your way
Fat chance I have of making a romance
If I'm ever goin' to win
Have to get the last word in
Take it from there
Twisting ev'ry word I say, Huh!
Wind me up and let me play
Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat, back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Come on now
Wake up, stand up
And drag yourself on out
Get down, get ready
Scream and shout
Back off me, be cool
And learn to change your ways
'Cause you're talking in your sleep
And you're walking in a daze
Don't push your luck
I'm ready to attack
'Cause when I'm trying to talk to you
All you do is just talk back
You stand so tall you don't frighten me at all
Don't talk back, don't talk back
Don't talk back just leave me alone
Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat, back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Yes you do
Yes you do baby
Come on back chat, back chat
Back chat, back chat
Back chat, back chat
Go for it, go for it, go for it baby
Back chat, back chat
You're giving me the runaround
Criticizing (oh yeah), analyzing (oh yeah)
Yeah merci beaucoup
Get on down
Get back get back
Back chat back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Oh yeah! See what you've done to me
Back chat, back chat
It's driving me insane
Survival to the end
Knock you down, you come again
Talk back, talk back
You've got me on the wrack
Twisting ev'ry word I say
Wind me up and get your way
Fat chance I have of making a romance
If I'm ever goin' to win
Have to get the last word in
Take it from there
Twisting ev'ry word I say, Huh!
Wind me up and let me play
Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat, back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Come on now
Wake up, stand up
And drag yourself on out
Get down, get ready
Scream and shout
Back off me, be cool
And learn to change your ways
'Cause you're talking in your sleep
And you're walking in a daze
Don't push your luck
I'm ready to attack
'Cause when I'm trying to talk to you
All you do is just talk back
You stand so tall you don't frighten me at all
Don't talk back, don't talk back
Don't talk back just leave me alone
Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat, back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Yes you do
Yes you do baby
Come on back chat, back chat
Back chat, back chat
Back chat, back chat
Go for it, go for it, go for it baby
Back chat, back chat
You're giving me the runaround
Criticizing (oh yeah), analyzing (oh yeah)
Yeah merci beaucoup
Get on down
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"OK! this is a song by John! Its called back chat, back chat, back chat!!"
Love live at the bowl version of this!!!