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."
In the mid-day heat I gave a sigh
Cruisin' through the garden district, I was out of my mind
The Star of India's in my hotel room
In a briefcase combination: 3, 2, 1 (which only I know)
And I've just seen my mentor, Dr. No
"California Sun" is on the radio, let's go
I just wanna reach the radio star
It's a satellite off Venus and it ain't too far
I was shooting up in my hotel room
When the phone started ringing - oh no
It was Dr. No, he gave the password
He said, 'Hey, man, haven't you heard? and I said 'No'
'The world's been invaded by alien life forms
Meet me at the airport, we've got to get out - let's go
I ran to the window and looked out, there were dead people lying all over the streets.
Within two minutes I had all my stuff together.
I jumped in my car and was speeding down the highway past all the deserted cars.
In five minutes I was at the airport but there at the gates I saw what I suppose was one of these 'alien life forms'.
I pulled my bazooka out of its bag in the back of the car and blew it to hell.
As arrange Dr. No was waiting for me in the terminal.
We got in his private jet plane and took off, two hours later landing in Zaire, where we met up with Fu Manchu, Hannibal Lecter, the Hooded Claw and all the rest of the gang.
We boarded the rocket and soon we were shooting off for the stars and as we approached the space station I looked down and observed the earth, the US air force being annihilated and swarms of nuclear weapons soaring through the stratosphere destroying the earth - and I swear to God I laughed.
Cruisin' through the garden district, I was out of my mind
The Star of India's in my hotel room
In a briefcase combination: 3, 2, 1 (which only I know)
And I've just seen my mentor, Dr. No
"California Sun" is on the radio, let's go
I just wanna reach the radio star
It's a satellite off Venus and it ain't too far
I was shooting up in my hotel room
When the phone started ringing - oh no
It was Dr. No, he gave the password
He said, 'Hey, man, haven't you heard? and I said 'No'
'The world's been invaded by alien life forms
Meet me at the airport, we've got to get out - let's go
I ran to the window and looked out, there were dead people lying all over the streets.
Within two minutes I had all my stuff together.
I jumped in my car and was speeding down the highway past all the deserted cars.
In five minutes I was at the airport but there at the gates I saw what I suppose was one of these 'alien life forms'.
I pulled my bazooka out of its bag in the back of the car and blew it to hell.
As arrange Dr. No was waiting for me in the terminal.
We got in his private jet plane and took off, two hours later landing in Zaire, where we met up with Fu Manchu, Hannibal Lecter, the Hooded Claw and all the rest of the gang.
We boarded the rocket and soon we were shooting off for the stars and as we approached the space station I looked down and observed the earth, the US air force being annihilated and swarms of nuclear weapons soaring through the stratosphere destroying the earth - and I swear to God I laughed.
Lyrics submitted by Ice
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
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While the obvious connections with suicide or alcoholism could be drawn easily, more subtly this song could be about someone who views the world through a negative lens constantly and how as much as the writer tries to show the beauty in the world, this person refuses to see it. It's one or another between the rope and the bottle. There is no good option for this person. They can't see it. Skiba sings it in a kind of exasperated way like He's tired of hearing this negative view constantly and just allowing that person to continue feeling the way they feel knowing he can't do anything about it. You can hear it when he says maybe you're a vampire.
Another Love
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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.