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."
The palpitating cherry-red organ was returned to its rightful place and began to beat faster as it led our hero, counting out time, through his first romantic encounter.
I'm counting out time,
Got the whole thing down by numbers.
All those numbers!
Give me guidance!
O Lord I need that now.
The day of judgement's come,
And you can bet that I've been resting,
for this testing,
Digesting every word the experts say.
Erogenous zones I love you.
Without you, what would a poor boy do?
Found a girl I wanted to date,
Thought I'd better get it straight.
Went to buy a book before it's too late.
Don't leave nothing to fate.
I studied every line, every page in the book,
Now, I've got the real thing here, I'm gonna take a look, take a look.
This is Real!
I'm counting out time, hoping it goes like I planned it,
'cause I understand it. Look! I've found the hotspots, Figs 1-9.
Still counting out time, got my finger on the button,
"Don't say nuttin' just lie there still
And I'll get you turned on just fine."
Erogenous zones I love you.
Without you, what would a poor boy do?
Touch and go with 1-6.
Bit of trouble in zone No. 7.
Gotta remember all of my tricks.
There's heaven ahead in No. 11!
Getting crucial responses, dilation of the pupils.
"Honey get hip! It's time to unzip, to unzip, zip, zip-a-zip-a-zip.
Whipee!"
(Take it away Mr. Guitar)
I'm counting out time, reaction none to happy,
Please don't slap me,
I'm a red blooded male and the book said I could not fail.
I'm counting out time, I got unexpected distress from my mistress,
I'll get my money back from the bookstore right away.
Erongenous zones I question you
Without you, what would a poor boy do?
Without you, what would a poor boy do?
Without you, mankind handkinds through' the blues.
I'm counting out time,
Got the whole thing down by numbers.
All those numbers!
Give me guidance!
O Lord I need that now.
The day of judgement's come,
And you can bet that I've been resting,
for this testing,
Digesting every word the experts say.
Erogenous zones I love you.
Without you, what would a poor boy do?
Found a girl I wanted to date,
Thought I'd better get it straight.
Went to buy a book before it's too late.
Don't leave nothing to fate.
I studied every line, every page in the book,
Now, I've got the real thing here, I'm gonna take a look, take a look.
This is Real!
I'm counting out time, hoping it goes like I planned it,
'cause I understand it. Look! I've found the hotspots, Figs 1-9.
Still counting out time, got my finger on the button,
"Don't say nuttin' just lie there still
And I'll get you turned on just fine."
Erogenous zones I love you.
Without you, what would a poor boy do?
Touch and go with 1-6.
Bit of trouble in zone No. 7.
Gotta remember all of my tricks.
There's heaven ahead in No. 11!
Getting crucial responses, dilation of the pupils.
"Honey get hip! It's time to unzip, to unzip, zip, zip-a-zip-a-zip.
Whipee!"
(Take it away Mr. Guitar)
I'm counting out time, reaction none to happy,
Please don't slap me,
I'm a red blooded male and the book said I could not fail.
I'm counting out time, I got unexpected distress from my mistress,
I'll get my money back from the bookstore right away.
Erongenous zones I question you
Without you, what would a poor boy do?
Without you, what would a poor boy do?
Without you, mankind handkinds through' the blues.
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by orenmil
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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.
Among the most hilarious song texts ever! Peter Gabriel hit the nail on the head. ; ) You feel sympathy for our poor boy, but at the same time laugh about his desperate attempt to learn love-making from a book. : ))
I love the silly rhyming which he keeps on throwing in very consciously: resting - for this testing, button - nuttin, distress - from my mistress : D I also like the sarcastic subtone in the last stanza: "I'll get my money back from the bookstore right away".
This song makes me laugh! The lyrics tell a really funny story... however, you might not notice listening to the song. But reading the lyrics, all I can do is laugh and shake my head at the silliness... I love the last verse. You can just hear the sudden "uh-oh" shift:
I'm counting out time, reaction none too happy Please don't slap me...
I'm counting out time, I got unexpected distress from my mistress I'll get my money back from the bookstore right away...
Oops. Hehehe.
This was written by Gabriel from the Lamb - which was a concept album. He pretty much put a lot of himself and the situation's he was in at that time into Raul. The story goes - Raul want's to kop of with a rather fine young lady - he buy's a sex manual to show him what to do and is then 'Counting out time'!
"He pretty much put a lot of himself and the situation's he was in at that time into Raul."<br /> So I've heard... and I've always hoped that this never happened to him!
Nitpicky note: Rael, not Raul.
All I can say is "yup" - correct!!
Awesome song, I didn't even know it was sexual until I read the lyrics XD
I don't know if I'd call it sexual. It does address a pair of organs that are only good for one thing, but I think it has more to do with masculinity than sex (if you can consider anything on this album to be about anything at all)
Top notch song
just love the way he sings the 'move over Casanova' line, pure awesome
"Without you, mankind handkinds through' the blues."
I love this line. References mastrubation and blue balls. If you've been a male that couldn't get laid, you know exactly what this means.
The question for me here is why the title
counting outtime ? Time is valuable like money ie you can count it out ? Any ideas ?@jonarcee The title refers to counting out time in the musical or rhythmic sense. In this case, a sexual rhythm, probably as instructed by the book Rael has studied.