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."
Well, you could walk like a stranger head back into here
Bringing gifts while you act so sincere
Bringing gifts for a boy who's five years
Looking for rocks and training wheels
I don't remember you from any of those books
Ashes to ashes and six feet under, face down in a box
Where did you ever learn to treat me like that
You don't seem to have any of that family stuff
You know the hardwood floors and all that penniless rough
Your bad luck follows you like a heart attack
Twist your fingers, soon as break your back
I don't remember you from any of those books
Ashes to ashes and six feet under, face down in a box
Where did you ever learn to treat me like that that that
It's coming from another with a mother who's just like yours
Givin' you headaches and all those mental scores
Give a little, have a little, take some for yourself
Like the needy and the greedy always seem by themselves
Well, you must be, have to be one of these
Hidin' in the shade under your family tree
Think I met you once in a liquor store
No think I saw you hanging by the stage door
Handing out programs to the family theater
Devised a role so you don't mistreat her
Take it wild, take it fast
You never gave yourself a chance
I don't remember you from any of those books
Ashes to ashes and six feet under, face down in a box
Where did you ever learn to treat me like that, that, that, that
Bringing gifts while you act so sincere
Bringing gifts for a boy who's five years
Looking for rocks and training wheels
I don't remember you from any of those books
Ashes to ashes and six feet under, face down in a box
Where did you ever learn to treat me like that
You don't seem to have any of that family stuff
You know the hardwood floors and all that penniless rough
Your bad luck follows you like a heart attack
Twist your fingers, soon as break your back
I don't remember you from any of those books
Ashes to ashes and six feet under, face down in a box
Where did you ever learn to treat me like that that that
It's coming from another with a mother who's just like yours
Givin' you headaches and all those mental scores
Give a little, have a little, take some for yourself
Like the needy and the greedy always seem by themselves
Well, you must be, have to be one of these
Hidin' in the shade under your family tree
Think I met you once in a liquor store
No think I saw you hanging by the stage door
Handing out programs to the family theater
Devised a role so you don't mistreat her
Take it wild, take it fast
You never gave yourself a chance
I don't remember you from any of those books
Ashes to ashes and six feet under, face down in a box
Where did you ever learn to treat me like that, that, that, that
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Zombie
Cranberries, The
Cranberries, The
"Zombie" is about the ethno-political conflict in Ireland. This is obvious if you know anything of the singer (Dolores O'Riordan)'s Irish heritage and understood the "1916" Easter Rising reference.
"Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence caused such silence
Who are we mistaken
-
Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over"
Laments the Warrington bomb attacks in which two children were fatally injured on March 23rd, 1993. Twelve year old Tim Parry was taken off life support with permission from his mother after five days in the hospital, virtually braindead.
"But you see it's not me
It's not my family"
References how people who are not directly involved with the violence feel about it. They are "zombies" without sympathy who refuse to take action while others suffer.
System
Mel And Kim
Mel And Kim
Just listening for the 784,654th time....and it's just perfect in every way. Just incredible. The only reason it was remade was to scoop up a boatload of money from a more modern and accepting audience. But it is a completely different song than the other one that sounds slapped together in a few takes without a thought for the meaning.
This song captivates me still, after 50+ years. Takes me to the deep South and the poverty of some who lived thru truly hard times. And the powerful spirit of a poor young girl being abandoned to her future with only a red dress and her wits to keep her alive.
She not only stayed alive, she turned her hard beginnings around, became self sufficient, successful and someone with respect for herself. She didn't let the naysayers and judgers stop her. She's the one sitting in the drivers seat at the end.
So, not a song about a poor girl, but a song of hope and how you can rise up no matter how far down you started.
There is a huge difference between a singer who simply belts out a song that is on a page in front of them, and someone who can convey an entire experience with their voice. Telling not just a story with words, but taking you inside it and making you feel like you are there, with their interpretation.