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."
She said baby our love’s just like your songs
The beat aint bad but the words are all wrong
It’s time to pack my bags, it’s time to just move on
She sang, Johnny, I’m gone, gone, gone
And she was gone
Me and Leigh met summer of ‘95
In a burgundy dress lookin’ finer than a French wine
A Cajun queen with another side
She was a schoolboy’s dream, I was out of my mind
She was lookin’ fine
She said, “You want to drive me home”
But what I didn’t know ......
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing in the streets of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing cheek to cheek in New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, it was almost like a dream (almost like a dream)
That night I made my move, man I fell hard
When I put my hands in her cookie jar
She was more than a girl, she was a cabaret star
I was a deer in the lights of a speeding car
Nothing’s what it seems
She was a Venus De Milo in her sister’s jeans
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing in the streets of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing cheek to cheek in New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, it was almost like a dream (almost like a dream)
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing in the streets of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing cheek to cheek in New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, Dancing with the Queen down Bourbon Street
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing in the streets of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, Nothing’s what it seems in New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
The beat aint bad but the words are all wrong
It’s time to pack my bags, it’s time to just move on
She sang, Johnny, I’m gone, gone, gone
And she was gone
Me and Leigh met summer of ‘95
In a burgundy dress lookin’ finer than a French wine
A Cajun queen with another side
She was a schoolboy’s dream, I was out of my mind
She was lookin’ fine
She said, “You want to drive me home”
But what I didn’t know ......
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing in the streets of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing cheek to cheek in New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, it was almost like a dream (almost like a dream)
That night I made my move, man I fell hard
When I put my hands in her cookie jar
She was more than a girl, she was a cabaret star
I was a deer in the lights of a speeding car
Nothing’s what it seems
She was a Venus De Milo in her sister’s jeans
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing in the streets of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing cheek to cheek in New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, it was almost like a dream (almost like a dream)
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing in the streets of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing cheek to cheek in New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, Dancing with the Queen down Bourbon Street
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing in the streets of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, Nothing’s what it seems in New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Ooh, ooh, I was dancing with the Queen of New Orleans
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Another Love
Tom Odell
Tom Odell
I think the meaning is pretty clear. This person got really burned in a previous relationship, and because of this is unable to love and show care in his present one, even though he so badly wants to. It's lovely song, and very sad. You can really feel how defeated and frustrated he is with himself.
System
Mel And Kim
Mel And Kim
Just listening for the 784,654th time....and it's just perfect in every way. Just incredible. The only reason it was remade was to scoop up a boatload of money from a more modern and accepting audience. But it is a completely different song than the other one that sounds slapped together in a few takes without a thought for the meaning.
This song captivates me still, after 50+ years. Takes me to the deep South and the poverty of some who lived thru truly hard times. And the powerful spirit of a poor young girl being abandoned to her future with only a red dress and her wits to keep her alive.
She not only stayed alive, she turned her hard beginnings around, became self sufficient, successful and someone with respect for herself. She didn't let the naysayers and judgers stop her. She's the one sitting in the drivers seat at the end.
So, not a song about a poor girl, but a song of hope and how you can rise up no matter how far down you started.
There is a huge difference between a singer who simply belts out a song that is on a page in front of them, and someone who can convey an entire experience with their voice. Telling not just a story with words, but taking you inside it and making you feel like you are there, with their interpretation.
With infectious melody and laid back lyrics, this one is one for the road ..
@letitrock Are you kidding? That’s abuse of the song (especially if you live in New Orleans.) This is stuff that can get you a girlfriend. The Venus de Milo is a statue of Aphrodite/Venus, I think located in Rome. Nothing like telling a girl she’s a goddess. (The “when I put my hands in her cookie jar” part is not as complimentary. I’m guessing he had to say that instead of “ass” or “breasts” for multiple reasons.)
Maybe he refers to Marie Leveau the real queen of New Orleans
the voodo queen
Jon Bon Jovi / Bon Jovi, just amazing. All their songs at first I hear the first 20 seconds and I'm like "ugh, I'm gonna hate this song" and then I hear him start singing and it's like wow, amazing lyrics and amazing song.
what a brillant intro...this e-guitar-solo is so awesome , like the rest of the song
Bon Jon Bobby