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."
"I think it's funny how, the toughest criminals and thugs
and whatever,when they on their deathbed, you know like the day before
they fry in the electric chair all a sudden they wanna get religious,
I heard like 9 out of 10 inmates on deathrow are all...ultra religious,
that's because they know they're about to die and meet what's ever after death,
it's funny, nobody want's to turn to God until it's too late,
until it's time for you to fuckin' die."
Agony, pain, suffering, pain pain
Pain, pain, chains, devices and torture thangs
Is this hell, well, might as well be
It's what's next to that shit, I live life filthy
every bitch in the gutter, then we rob her mudda'
Find the shudda', then shoot bowa' for each other
I paint it all on the people around me
It's because of them God never found me right?
Before I hit the ground when I caught 3 in the chest
I should'a guessed my time was over, should'a worn a fuckin' vest
But I wasn't thinkin' straight, caught up in the thug life
Once the king on the streets, now i'm askin' God to take my life
To the pearly gates so I can rest peacefully
But he wasn't helpin' me, why is he foresakin' me?
To eternity of hell after rottin' away
And if it wasn't for the Lotus, i'd still be there today
Call upon your God's, Pray for them to help you
Call upon your God's, religion has left you
Now the final hour, cross the final line
Life will end, but there is no end to time
Call upon your God's, Nice of them to help you
Call upon your God's, religion has left you
Now the final hour, cross the final line
Life will end, but there is no end to time
Skin separates from bone, seperate from bone
One hot flash of metal, now your on this earth alone
Layin' face down in your own blood with nowhere to turn
Everything, from your fingertips to toes burn
He set's sin deep, open up your eye's
The cold clutch of death's hand, could care less about your lies
Hell's chariot comes to carry you away
You finally realized, it's to late to pray
Help Me Out!!
I can't understand the way you think or what your talkin' about
I see you sittin' perfect circles, wit' deciples of Satan
I got my shotgun cocked, news papers and revilations
Every bullet is a story, they keep it glorified
The media's been talkin', and now they got's to die
Son a Sam, Sam a Son, walkin' wit' my shotgun
Wicked work will be done, fuck it catch a hot one
Call upon your God's, Nice of them to help you
Call upon your God's, religion has left you
Now the final hour, cross the final line
Life will end, but there is no end to time
Call upon your God's, Pray for them to help you
Call upon your God's, religion has left you
Now the final hour, cross the final line
Life will end, but there is no end to ti
There aint no end in time, you hear me heathen, bitch boy?
Bite your devil tongue before I stab you with this pitchfork
All that shit you talk about, my God is a shame
Cryin' in pain, callin' his name
Your such a hypocrit, a low-down, inconsidrate
Piece of shit, and you aint worth an ounce a spit
Blasphemous dissin' my Lord, the Concrow
Where's the tough guy, that told my Lord to go and fuck himself bitch?
All of my life, and times, all of my crimes
It got me lookin' for the sign that God's alive
Cuz' there's got to be, more to this life than knifes
And cold lines, the violent crimes
I've realized, that they lied, cuz' God's alive, he's inside of me
There aint gone' be no afterlife where their judgin' me
I aint scared of death, I aint scared of life
When I die, i'm gone' smile, bring it on, it's a good thing to die
Chorus
"Help me out, I can't understand the way you think or what your talkin' about" x4
and whatever,when they on their deathbed, you know like the day before
they fry in the electric chair all a sudden they wanna get religious,
I heard like 9 out of 10 inmates on deathrow are all...ultra religious,
that's because they know they're about to die and meet what's ever after death,
it's funny, nobody want's to turn to God until it's too late,
until it's time for you to fuckin' die."
Agony, pain, suffering, pain pain
Pain, pain, chains, devices and torture thangs
Is this hell, well, might as well be
It's what's next to that shit, I live life filthy
every bitch in the gutter, then we rob her mudda'
Find the shudda', then shoot bowa' for each other
I paint it all on the people around me
It's because of them God never found me right?
Before I hit the ground when I caught 3 in the chest
I should'a guessed my time was over, should'a worn a fuckin' vest
But I wasn't thinkin' straight, caught up in the thug life
Once the king on the streets, now i'm askin' God to take my life
To the pearly gates so I can rest peacefully
But he wasn't helpin' me, why is he foresakin' me?
To eternity of hell after rottin' away
And if it wasn't for the Lotus, i'd still be there today
Call upon your God's, Pray for them to help you
Call upon your God's, religion has left you
Now the final hour, cross the final line
Life will end, but there is no end to time
Call upon your God's, Nice of them to help you
Call upon your God's, religion has left you
Now the final hour, cross the final line
Life will end, but there is no end to time
Skin separates from bone, seperate from bone
One hot flash of metal, now your on this earth alone
Layin' face down in your own blood with nowhere to turn
Everything, from your fingertips to toes burn
He set's sin deep, open up your eye's
The cold clutch of death's hand, could care less about your lies
Hell's chariot comes to carry you away
You finally realized, it's to late to pray
Help Me Out!!
I can't understand the way you think or what your talkin' about
I see you sittin' perfect circles, wit' deciples of Satan
I got my shotgun cocked, news papers and revilations
Every bullet is a story, they keep it glorified
The media's been talkin', and now they got's to die
Son a Sam, Sam a Son, walkin' wit' my shotgun
Wicked work will be done, fuck it catch a hot one
Call upon your God's, Nice of them to help you
Call upon your God's, religion has left you
Now the final hour, cross the final line
Life will end, but there is no end to time
Call upon your God's, Pray for them to help you
Call upon your God's, religion has left you
Now the final hour, cross the final line
Life will end, but there is no end to ti
There aint no end in time, you hear me heathen, bitch boy?
Bite your devil tongue before I stab you with this pitchfork
All that shit you talk about, my God is a shame
Cryin' in pain, callin' his name
Your such a hypocrit, a low-down, inconsidrate
Piece of shit, and you aint worth an ounce a spit
Blasphemous dissin' my Lord, the Concrow
Where's the tough guy, that told my Lord to go and fuck himself bitch?
All of my life, and times, all of my crimes
It got me lookin' for the sign that God's alive
Cuz' there's got to be, more to this life than knifes
And cold lines, the violent crimes
I've realized, that they lied, cuz' God's alive, he's inside of me
There aint gone' be no afterlife where their judgin' me
I aint scared of death, I aint scared of life
When I die, i'm gone' smile, bring it on, it's a good thing to die
Chorus
"Help me out, I can't understand the way you think or what your talkin' about" x4
Lyrics submitted by DLRuFiOICPGC_SaLTY
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
If you listen to the beginning of the song, it's talking about how criminals are even afraid of what's going to meet them after death. the lotus is telling you to call upon your gods and repent.