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."
All these people are laughing at him
And although he tries it's getting to him
And if he sees just one more grin
He won't be held responsible
The city's closing in on him
And everywhere's getting smaller and smaller
And his fingers are getting itchy now
And he won't be held responsible, so
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
No don't you freak him out
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
See his eyes,
They're bloodshot red
And bloodshot's what you're going to be
It's not the fact that he's following you
It's that he's not trying to hide it that's bothering you
The city's closing in on him
And everywhere's getting smaller and smaller
And his fingers are getting itchy now
And he won't be held responsible, so
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
No don't you freak him out
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Now he's getting really close
Can you feel his breath upon your neck
Now he's listening to your thoughts
Now's the time to be a nervous wreck
The city's closing in on him
And everywhere's getting smaller and smaller
And his fingers are getting itchy now
And he won't be held responsible, so
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
No don't freak him out
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
And although he tries it's getting to him
And if he sees just one more grin
He won't be held responsible
The city's closing in on him
And everywhere's getting smaller and smaller
And his fingers are getting itchy now
And he won't be held responsible, so
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
No don't you freak him out
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
See his eyes,
They're bloodshot red
And bloodshot's what you're going to be
It's not the fact that he's following you
It's that he's not trying to hide it that's bothering you
The city's closing in on him
And everywhere's getting smaller and smaller
And his fingers are getting itchy now
And he won't be held responsible, so
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
No don't you freak him out
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Now he's getting really close
Can you feel his breath upon your neck
Now he's listening to your thoughts
Now's the time to be a nervous wreck
The city's closing in on him
And everywhere's getting smaller and smaller
And his fingers are getting itchy now
And he won't be held responsible, so
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Don't freak him out
Before he blows his top
Don't freak him out
No don't freak him out
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Mr. Psycho
He'll blow you away
Lyrics submitted by gracelyn
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I agree with middleclasstool. I think the "and his fingers are getting itchy now" is referring to him getting trigger happy. It's a great song though. I love the guy's voice throughout this song.