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."
over the hills came a sudden roar, and in place of my smile it left a sore / a sore so big it engulfed my lips, and no one came to ask a kiss / and no such kiss will ever come in a pool we built to drown someone / swim with your eyes open to see what things there are to save you and me / lord save our voices from a terminal fight / has not patience come for, for those who wait / nor resolution come for, for those who hate / and a special place in my heart for, for all the late / be determined in my life, my bold my mate / im patiently waiting, but you're not there / and all the coices in my head are saying what i've loved to have said / for fear of the unkown, your true light will be shown
Lyrics submitted by dr.jacob
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Mountain Song
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