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."
You can be what you wanted to be and leave the way you’ve been behind
You can see what you wanted to see was always there but you were blind
I know a place to be safe from the people you hate
I know a place but make haste for the hour has grown late
You can be what you wanted to be and leave the way you’ve been behind
What you wanted to see was always there but you were blind
And I know you’ll agree that it gives you just a little bit of style
But it don’t come for free so give the man a smile
Let the dope take control of your soul
Let the rock machine roll
Let it open your eyes until your hopes soar so high
Let the rock machine roll
‘Til you’re tired and cold
‘Til your last stitch is sold
Let the rock machine roll
You can make the love you wanted to make and know a life lived for bliss
You can take what you wanted to take its hidden just behind this little kiss
You can be what you wanted to be and leave the way you’ve been behind
What you wanted to see was always there but you were blind
And I know you’ll agree that it gives you just a little bit of style
But it don’t come for free so give the man a smile
Let the dope take control of your soul
Let the rock machine roll
Let it open your eyes until your hopes soar so high
Let the rock machine roll
‘Til you’re tired and cold
‘Til your last stitch is sold
Let the rock machine
Roll like an avalanche
Fast like a juggernaut
High like a stone tumbling down from the mountaintop
Roll like an ambulance
Fast like a juggernaut
Don’t let the pressure drop
Don’t let the pleasure stop
No
So high
So high
So high
You’re getting number
Number and a little more corrupt
You’re getting number
Number and a little more corrupt
You’ve got the number
Pick up the phone and call the number up
You’re going up now
Going up now to breathe
You can be what you wanted to be and leave the way you’ve been behind
What you wanted to see was always there but you were blind
But it don’t come for free so do your best to give the man a little smile
And I know you’ll agree
Well come on and get
High like an astronaut
Fast like a juggernaut
Roll like a stone tumbling down from the mountaintop
Fast like an ambulance
High like an astronaut
Don’t let the pressure drop
Don’t let the pleasure stop
No
Let the rock machine roll
Let the rock machine roll
Let the rock machine roll
You can see what you wanted to see was always there but you were blind
I know a place to be safe from the people you hate
I know a place but make haste for the hour has grown late
You can be what you wanted to be and leave the way you’ve been behind
What you wanted to see was always there but you were blind
And I know you’ll agree that it gives you just a little bit of style
But it don’t come for free so give the man a smile
Let the dope take control of your soul
Let the rock machine roll
Let it open your eyes until your hopes soar so high
Let the rock machine roll
‘Til you’re tired and cold
‘Til your last stitch is sold
Let the rock machine roll
You can make the love you wanted to make and know a life lived for bliss
You can take what you wanted to take its hidden just behind this little kiss
You can be what you wanted to be and leave the way you’ve been behind
What you wanted to see was always there but you were blind
And I know you’ll agree that it gives you just a little bit of style
But it don’t come for free so give the man a smile
Let the dope take control of your soul
Let the rock machine roll
Let it open your eyes until your hopes soar so high
Let the rock machine roll
‘Til you’re tired and cold
‘Til your last stitch is sold
Let the rock machine
Roll like an avalanche
Fast like a juggernaut
High like a stone tumbling down from the mountaintop
Roll like an ambulance
Fast like a juggernaut
Don’t let the pressure drop
Don’t let the pleasure stop
No
So high
So high
So high
You’re getting number
Number and a little more corrupt
You’re getting number
Number and a little more corrupt
You’ve got the number
Pick up the phone and call the number up
You’re going up now
Going up now to breathe
You can be what you wanted to be and leave the way you’ve been behind
What you wanted to see was always there but you were blind
But it don’t come for free so do your best to give the man a little smile
And I know you’ll agree
Well come on and get
High like an astronaut
Fast like a juggernaut
Roll like a stone tumbling down from the mountaintop
Fast like an ambulance
High like an astronaut
Don’t let the pressure drop
Don’t let the pleasure stop
No
Let the rock machine roll
Let the rock machine roll
Let the rock machine roll
Lyrics submitted by minette
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Mountain Song
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I think this song is about how Rock is going to take over Pop/Rap music garbage that is popular today, and how all the Rock bands out there can do it. Its almost like a Call To Arms to all the Rock Bands. It Sucks Copyright broke up, this song was good
Copyright broke up?! Awwww damn. Maybe they'll make a new band again. I mean, the lead singer's been in enough...