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."
What did you think
I would do at this moment
When you're standing before me
With tears in your eyes
Tryin' to tell me that you
Found you another
And you just don't love me no more
What did you think
I would say at this moment
When I'm faced with the knowledge
That you just don't love me
Did you think I would curse you
Or say things to hurt you
'Cause you just don't love me no more
Did you think I could hate you
Or raise my hands to you
Now come on you know me too well
How could I hurt you
When darling I love you
And you know I'd never, never hurt you
What do you think
I would give at this moment
If you stay I'd subtract twenty years from my life
I'd fall down on my knees
Kiss the ground that you walk on
If I could just hold you again
And I'd fall down on my knees
I kiss the ground that you walk on baby
If I could just hold you
If I could just hold you
If I could just hold you
Again
I would do at this moment
When you're standing before me
With tears in your eyes
Tryin' to tell me that you
Found you another
And you just don't love me no more
What did you think
I would say at this moment
When I'm faced with the knowledge
That you just don't love me
Did you think I would curse you
Or say things to hurt you
'Cause you just don't love me no more
Did you think I could hate you
Or raise my hands to you
Now come on you know me too well
How could I hurt you
When darling I love you
And you know I'd never, never hurt you
What do you think
I would give at this moment
If you stay I'd subtract twenty years from my life
I'd fall down on my knees
Kiss the ground that you walk on
If I could just hold you again
And I'd fall down on my knees
I kiss the ground that you walk on baby
If I could just hold you
If I could just hold you
If I could just hold you
Again
Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21
At This Moment Lyrics as written by Billy Vera
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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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billy vera certainly has more self-control than i do...
God..this is the saddest song I have ever heard..I'm not a very emotional person, but this song gives me the chills..Beautiful.
One of the saddest songs I have ever heard! I first heard this song in "Family Ties" (starring Michael J. Fox) and I just fell in love with it! Having gone thru a few breakups myself, I can really identify with the lyrics of this song. The pain and frustation and desperation you feel at that moment, when the one you love tells you that she doesn't love you anymore, is the worst feeling in the world and it is beautyfully descriped in this melancholic and bittersweet song. Never has breaking up been more beautiful!
Fabulous song. Such an amazing accomplishment to lose someone and not freak out like most men would do. LOVE the lyrics. The live version is awesome, especially at the end when he's adlibbing and you can hear the crowd screaming. Really defines the emotion in the song.
this is one of the most heart rending songs I have ever heard. when I heard it on "family ties" I couldnt sleep. anyone that has lost someone can identify with it. Billy Vera sings it with such emotion wonderful
Timeless.
Realtionships are sometimes hard to let go, as evident in these lyrics. However, a relationship never can work if only one is in love. And she, unfortunately, wasn't in love anymore. I really can't hold any negative feelings toward her for that. It is better to end it sooner than later for the sake of the other person's feelings.
She fell for someone else, but waited to pursue the other relationship, The narrator doesn't hate her. I don't think she has actually physically cheated on him (despite the line "you have found you another") because the narrator is willing to keep her in exchange for twenty years from his life. In the heat of the moment, he most certainly meant that line literally. In another light, a solid long-term relationship can add years (and quality) to a man's life.
Another reason I don't resent her is because the narrator says she has "tears in her eyes" and is telling him in-person. Unfortunately nowadays in 2012, break-ups are commonly done via texting or Facebook.
I believe the narrator handled this heartbreaking in a mature way too. She was expecting a negative reaction to the news, but got only kindness
The narrator thinks she is back in 20 years of time. So if she would stay, he would substract 20 years of his life, also for himself to grew as a person without her.