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."
Per & Marie:
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Marie:
You wear them so well, those innocent eyes
You're puttin' on a wonderful disguise
I want you so bad. I'm pushing my luck
It feels like being hit by a truck
This is no place special. Don't know why I came
If someone has a minute, won't you explain
Per:
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Singing
Marie:
na nana nana na
na nana nana na
Marie:
Being with you, dealing with fire
Oh won't you come around (come out)
come out (today) and play
(I want you so bad)
Answer my calls
Let's spend the night within these walls
This is no place special.
Nothing for the sane (Nothing for the sane)
If someone's got minute, do please explain
Per:
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Singing
Marie:
na nana nana na
na nana nana na
Per:
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me. Tell me
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me
Per & Marie:
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Singing
Marie:
na nana nana na
na nana nana na
What am I gonna to do
Per:
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain?
Marie:
The centre of my heart
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Per:
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Marie:
What am I gonna do now?
Per & Marie:
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Marie:
You wear them so well, those innocent eyes
You're puttin' on a wonderful disguise
I want you so bad. I'm pushing my luck
It feels like being hit by a truck
This is no place special. Don't know why I came
If someone has a minute, won't you explain
Per:
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Singing
Marie:
na nana nana na
na nana nana na
Marie:
Being with you, dealing with fire
Oh won't you come around (come out)
come out (today) and play
(I want you so bad)
Answer my calls
Let's spend the night within these walls
This is no place special.
Nothing for the sane (Nothing for the sane)
If someone's got minute, do please explain
Per:
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Singing
Marie:
na nana nana na
na nana nana na
Per:
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me. Tell me
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain? Tell me
Per & Marie:
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Singing
Marie:
na nana nana na
na nana nana na
What am I gonna to do
Per:
What am I gonna do when I get a little excited,
a little in pain?
Marie:
The centre of my heart
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Per:
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Marie:
What am I gonna do now?
Per & Marie:
What am I gonna say when I find the centre of my heart
is a suburb to the brain?
Lyrics submitted by vandalized
The Centre of the Heart Lyrics as written by Gessle
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hmm... the centre of the heart is the suburb to the brain... her heart and her brain are telling her two different things? I'm not sure, but I love that line that goes 'you wear them so well, those innocent eyes. You're putting on a wonderful disguise.' I'm just not entirely sure how to interpert the song.
I think this song is an expression of the conflict between one's rational thoughts and one's emotions. The brain is a person's logical decision-making mechanism, but the heart is in a 'suburb' - it's telling her to do something that's not rational to her brain. But of course she really wants to 'follow her heart' - so what's she going to do? Write a song, of course, sing some 'na na na's. :)
You wear them so well, those innocent eyes You're putting on a wonderful disguise.
I want you so bad, I'm pushing my luck It feels like being hit by a truck.
This is no place special, don't know why I came If someone has a minute, won't you explain?
i think the song tells that though she dont love or need him,but she finds him irresistible and wants to have sex with this person, hence the line 'What am I gonna do when I get a little excited a little in vain? Tell me,'