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'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
Become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Can't you see that you're smothering me?
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
Become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
And I know I may end up failing too
But I know you were just like me with someone disappointed in you
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
Become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
Become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
Can't you see that you're smothering me?
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
Become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
And I know I may end up failing too
But I know you were just like me with someone disappointed in you
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
Become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Lyrics submitted by ruben, edited by Booyahhayoob, LpBeast4live, dylan10989
Numb Lyrics as written by Chester Charles Bennington Brad Delson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I absolutely love this song. i had heard this thousands of times before but it wasn't until recently that i listened to it and the meaning hit me dead on. basically, it's about a kid whose parents seem to be expecting too much out of him. they want him to grow up as good as they were if not, better. when it says "caught in the undertow" that means that the kid doesn't want "the pressure of walking in your shoes", but he doesn't know how to tell them in fear of disappointing them. i understand that completely. my mom was a solid A student and has been through college twice. my dad was valedictorian in his high school. they want me to be just like they are, organized, straight A's, no late work. but it's too much pressure. and when i tell them they seem disappointed and threaten to take things away.
when it says "I can't feel you there" it means that the kid feels as though the parents aren't as the kid remembers them. they used to be so positive and supportive and now they just want things done the way they want them done. they want to take control and relive their high school or college life through their kids. so they think they can control all of their kids decisions. the kid is feeling like he doesn't know them anymore.
when it says "Every step that I take is another mistake to you" it means the kid feels like every thing he does seems like another mistake or problem that the parents disapprove of. this song applies to my life in many ways but this one is the one that sticks in my brain the most. and i'm sure that there are millions out there that feel this same way. and if you're a parent, look at this song and ask yourself, "could my child even possibly feel this way?'.and keep this song in mind next time you contradict your child.