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."
Would you be my girlfriend?
Would you be my girlfriend?
Would you be my girlfriend?
You know I like you, right?
But would you be my girlfriend? (Listen)
I don't know why you care (why you thinking 'bout him, mama?)
He doesn't even know you're there, no, no (he ain't even paying attention)
'Cause he don't love your eyes (nah)
And he don't love your smile (nah)
Girl, you know that ain't fair (c'mon)
The middle of the night (mm)
Is he gonna be by your side? (No, no)
Or will he run and hide?
You don't know 'cause things ain't clear
And baby, when you cry
Is he gonna stand by your side?
Does the man even know you're alive?
I got an idea
Why don't you be my girlfriend?
I'll treat you good (I'll treat you good, girl)
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
'Cause if you were my girlfriend
I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Does he know what you feel? (Does he know what you feel?)
Are you sure that it's real? Yeah (are you sure?)
Does he ease your mind (nah)
Or does he break your stride? (C'mon)
Did you know that love could be a shield? Yeah
The middle of the night (oh)
Is he gonna be by your side? (No, no)
Or will he run and hide?
You don't know 'cause things ain't clear
And baby, when you cry (oh, oh)
Is he gonna stand by your side? (No, no)
Does the man even know you're alive?
I got an idea, oh (listen)
Why don't you be my girlfriend? (Yeah, yeah)
I'll treat you good (I'll treat you good, girl)
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
Baby, 'cause if you were my girlfriend
I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(Yeah)
Ever since I saw your face
Nothing in my life has been the same
I walk around just saying your name
Without you, my world would end, yeah
I've searched around this whole damn place
And everything says you were meant to be
My girlfriend, oh (hey, girl)
Why don't you be my girlfriend? (Yeah, hey)
I'll treat you good
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
(I know you hear your friends when they say you should)
'Cause if you were my girlfriend (my girlfriend)
I'd be your shining star (be your shining star, yeah)
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(My baby, baby, yeah)
(You make my heart sing)
Girl, you should be
My girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (it's destiny)
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (my girlfriend)
My girlfriend
Would you be my girlfriend?
Would you be my girlfriend?
You know I like you, right?
But would you be my girlfriend? (Listen)
I don't know why you care (why you thinking 'bout him, mama?)
He doesn't even know you're there, no, no (he ain't even paying attention)
'Cause he don't love your eyes (nah)
And he don't love your smile (nah)
Girl, you know that ain't fair (c'mon)
The middle of the night (mm)
Is he gonna be by your side? (No, no)
Or will he run and hide?
You don't know 'cause things ain't clear
And baby, when you cry
Is he gonna stand by your side?
Does the man even know you're alive?
I got an idea
Why don't you be my girlfriend?
I'll treat you good (I'll treat you good, girl)
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
'Cause if you were my girlfriend
I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Does he know what you feel? (Does he know what you feel?)
Are you sure that it's real? Yeah (are you sure?)
Does he ease your mind (nah)
Or does he break your stride? (C'mon)
Did you know that love could be a shield? Yeah
The middle of the night (oh)
Is he gonna be by your side? (No, no)
Or will he run and hide?
You don't know 'cause things ain't clear
And baby, when you cry (oh, oh)
Is he gonna stand by your side? (No, no)
Does the man even know you're alive?
I got an idea, oh (listen)
Why don't you be my girlfriend? (Yeah, yeah)
I'll treat you good (I'll treat you good, girl)
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
Baby, 'cause if you were my girlfriend
I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(Yeah)
Ever since I saw your face
Nothing in my life has been the same
I walk around just saying your name
Without you, my world would end, yeah
I've searched around this whole damn place
And everything says you were meant to be
My girlfriend, oh (hey, girl)
Why don't you be my girlfriend? (Yeah, hey)
I'll treat you good
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
(I know you hear your friends when they say you should)
'Cause if you were my girlfriend (my girlfriend)
I'd be your shining star (be your shining star, yeah)
The one to show you where you are
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(You make my heart sing)
(My baby, baby, yeah)
(You make my heart sing)
Girl, you should be
My girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (it's destiny)
Girl, you should be my girlfriend (my girlfriend)
My girlfriend
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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,
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i really dont fuckin care about what the fuck this song is about. its patheitc, it sucks it is so dam gay it makes me puke. for any one who likes this song, go beat yourself with a stick, then shove it up your ass, then go listen to some decent punk music. or at least sum one who uses instraments.