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."
[A. A new dawn]
A PERCEPTABLE TENSION IS HOVERING ABOVE AYREON'S HOMETOWN.
SOMETHING IS AT HAND.
[B. The gathering]
THE TOWNSPEOPLE GATHER ON THE MARKET SQUARE TO JUDGE OF AYREON.
IS HE A PROPHET OR A CHARLATAN, OR EVEN WORSE: AN APPARITION MOST UNHOLY?
[C. The accusation]
THE VILLAGERS ACCUSE AYREON OF BEING THE DEVIL'S SPAWN,
BUT AYREON PERSISTS IN HIS INNOCENCE.
[VILLAGERS:]
have you seen his eyes
up in the skies
like hypnotized
and he never smiles
he never cries
have you heard his song
fierce and strong
right or wrong
should he be condemned
for he doesn't belong
[AYREON:]
what have I done
[VILLAGERS:]
you've aroused the forces of destruction
[AYREON:]
what have I done
[VILLAGERS:]
you've unleashed the rage of the gods
[AYREON:]
what have I done
[VILLAGERS:]
you've denounced the wonder of creation
[AYREON:]
what have I done
[VILLAGERS:]
you've betrayed your own,
now you have to pay
it has been foretold
in days of old
'n evil soul
will corrupt the world
to achieve his goal
he's the devil's seed
an evil breed
he's gonna make you bleed
he'll take all he needs
with uncontrolable greed
[AYREON:]
I've done nothing at all,
no nothing at all
[D. The banishment]
WITH STICKS AND TORCHES IN HAND,
THE ANGRY VILLAGERS DRIVE AYREON OUT OF THEIR DEMESNE.
[E. Oblivion]
COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED AYREON ROAMS THROUGH THE FOREST,
ONLY AN INDISTINCT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT SUSTAINS HIM.
[AYREON:]
if I have died, then this must be hell
if I'm alive, I cannot break this gruesome spell
I am seeking relief and finding none
I have fallen into oblivion
a force within dominates my tormented soul
and empowers me to regain absolute control
I shall not yield, for I am the chosen one
who shall rise from oblivion
GOOD FATE HAS GUIDED AYREON TO CAMELOT, KING ARTHUR'S CASTLE,
WHERE HE IS WELCOMED AS A WORTHY MINSTREL.
A PERCEPTABLE TENSION IS HOVERING ABOVE AYREON'S HOMETOWN.
SOMETHING IS AT HAND.
[B. The gathering]
THE TOWNSPEOPLE GATHER ON THE MARKET SQUARE TO JUDGE OF AYREON.
IS HE A PROPHET OR A CHARLATAN, OR EVEN WORSE: AN APPARITION MOST UNHOLY?
[C. The accusation]
THE VILLAGERS ACCUSE AYREON OF BEING THE DEVIL'S SPAWN,
BUT AYREON PERSISTS IN HIS INNOCENCE.
[VILLAGERS:]
have you seen his eyes
up in the skies
like hypnotized
and he never smiles
he never cries
have you heard his song
fierce and strong
right or wrong
should he be condemned
for he doesn't belong
[AYREON:]
what have I done
[VILLAGERS:]
you've aroused the forces of destruction
[AYREON:]
what have I done
[VILLAGERS:]
you've unleashed the rage of the gods
[AYREON:]
what have I done
[VILLAGERS:]
you've denounced the wonder of creation
[AYREON:]
what have I done
[VILLAGERS:]
you've betrayed your own,
now you have to pay
it has been foretold
in days of old
'n evil soul
will corrupt the world
to achieve his goal
he's the devil's seed
an evil breed
he's gonna make you bleed
he'll take all he needs
with uncontrolable greed
[AYREON:]
I've done nothing at all,
no nothing at all
[D. The banishment]
WITH STICKS AND TORCHES IN HAND,
THE ANGRY VILLAGERS DRIVE AYREON OUT OF THEIR DEMESNE.
[E. Oblivion]
COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED AYREON ROAMS THROUGH THE FOREST,
ONLY AN INDISTINCT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT SUSTAINS HIM.
[AYREON:]
if I have died, then this must be hell
if I'm alive, I cannot break this gruesome spell
I am seeking relief and finding none
I have fallen into oblivion
a force within dominates my tormented soul
and empowers me to regain absolute control
I shall not yield, for I am the chosen one
who shall rise from oblivion
GOOD FATE HAS GUIDED AYREON TO CAMELOT, KING ARTHUR'S CASTLE,
WHERE HE IS WELCOMED AS A WORTHY MINSTREL.
Lyrics submitted by ruben
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