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."
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) I want child support
She get boyfriend checks, but I stay in court
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) she be ridin' caddy
And she always lookin' for sugar daddies
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he be always broke
And he ain't no good nothin', but a joke
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he just love to have it
He be cheatin' on me that's why I can't stand em'
Man this freak has got me stressin' in the court I must confessin'
Playas try to get that checkin' hoopa hickeys on yo' neckin'
In that jail I can't be stayin' and my G's you can't be cakin'
Child support can burn like torch when you get behind yo' payment
Here they go you send em' letters then they wanna come and get ya
Probably shoulda used a Jimmy probably shoulda neva' met her
Why you wanna try and impress me?
Always lyin' tryna' caress me
All these so-called ballas want me boy I'm styled you know I'm sexy
I'm LaChat you see I'm swole got you waitin' at a tole
Betta' come break me off a fee keep yo' girl on yo' bankroll
See me switchin' blowin' out kisses dudes don't know what they be missin'
I'm the type of girl you need keep some cookin' in the kitchen
Bake yo' biscuits up from scratch get you sprung off my cat
But you betta take care yo' kids, Juvenile Court is where it's at (Where it's at?)
Yeanknow, cheese is missin' yean show
And that freak you shackin' wit' she too nice, I'm mean though
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) I want child support
She get boyfriend checks, but I stay in court
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) she be ridin' caddy
And she always lookin' for sugar daddies
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he be always broke
And he ain't no good nothin', but a joke
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he just love to have it
He be cheatin' on me that's why I can't stand em'
It's DJ P and brothas be out we just tryin' to be dawgs
But it's OK ain't no hoe gon' stop the way that we walk
We kickin' dis off in them dose' and when it's on they gon' run
And please believe when we come we gon' come like a nut cum
Down and dirty in these streets, rough and rugged on these freaks
Ridin' Cady Automatic man we got to keep that heat
Keep that heat for them streets 'cause man these streets be watchin' me
Memphis, Tenn. kick the chains and playas gotta kick the crease
The Vision 2 Juvenile Court is where they had yo' boy
Monthly payments I gotta pay, but I keep comin' short
Now that I'm payin' child support and these courts got me runnin' man
Spendin' nights with these other freaks house and all my dawgs man
Warrants for yo' boy arrest got me sweatin' from the stress
Gettin' drunk and high all night bout' to drive me to that white
Man if these boys want me they gon' really have to find me
Messin' off with these scallywag hoes, they so grimey
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) I want child support
She get boyfriend checks, but I stay in court
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) she be ridin' caddy
And she always lookin' for sugar daddies
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he be always broke
And he ain't no good nothin', but a joke
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he just love to have it
He be cheatin' on me that's why I can't stand em' (Why you playin'?)
Boy yo' baby need some shoes, boy yo' baby need some clothes
Need to try and pay yo' fees, why you out hurr playin' these hoes?
Ain't no more for me and you, but this what they gotta do
With the seed we have conceived don't you know he's part of you?
I don't wanna hurr yo' mess talk to me bout' givin' checks
Put a judge up in my business what I want is what I get
Shoulda known it from the jump all that talk was just a front
Now you payin' for that lyin' see yo' ass in court next month
Pay you cheese I'll give you quarters I'll just wait for court to order
Mexico is where you'll find me somewhere round' the fuckin' border
Hangin' with the finest women, walkin' wit' a gansta limpin'
Drinkin' on a case of DP, goody green you know we wit' it
I done hustled worth a job and broke some back there wasn't no stoppin'
You dun did the clubbin' hoppin' and them pills you kept on poppin'
Now I see why you be freakin' now I know why you be geekin'
If you wanna give me reason catch me in that playa season
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) I want child support
She get boyfriend checks, but I stay in court
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) she be ridin' caddy
And she always lookin' for sugar daddies
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he be always broke
And he ain't no good nothin', but a joke
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he just love to have it
He be cheatin' on me that's why I can't stand em'
She get boyfriend checks, but I stay in court
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) she be ridin' caddy
And she always lookin' for sugar daddies
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he be always broke
And he ain't no good nothin', but a joke
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he just love to have it
He be cheatin' on me that's why I can't stand em'
Man this freak has got me stressin' in the court I must confessin'
Playas try to get that checkin' hoopa hickeys on yo' neckin'
In that jail I can't be stayin' and my G's you can't be cakin'
Child support can burn like torch when you get behind yo' payment
Here they go you send em' letters then they wanna come and get ya
Probably shoulda used a Jimmy probably shoulda neva' met her
Why you wanna try and impress me?
Always lyin' tryna' caress me
All these so-called ballas want me boy I'm styled you know I'm sexy
I'm LaChat you see I'm swole got you waitin' at a tole
Betta' come break me off a fee keep yo' girl on yo' bankroll
See me switchin' blowin' out kisses dudes don't know what they be missin'
I'm the type of girl you need keep some cookin' in the kitchen
Bake yo' biscuits up from scratch get you sprung off my cat
But you betta take care yo' kids, Juvenile Court is where it's at (Where it's at?)
Yeanknow, cheese is missin' yean show
And that freak you shackin' wit' she too nice, I'm mean though
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) I want child support
She get boyfriend checks, but I stay in court
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) she be ridin' caddy
And she always lookin' for sugar daddies
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he be always broke
And he ain't no good nothin', but a joke
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he just love to have it
He be cheatin' on me that's why I can't stand em'
It's DJ P and brothas be out we just tryin' to be dawgs
But it's OK ain't no hoe gon' stop the way that we walk
We kickin' dis off in them dose' and when it's on they gon' run
And please believe when we come we gon' come like a nut cum
Down and dirty in these streets, rough and rugged on these freaks
Ridin' Cady Automatic man we got to keep that heat
Keep that heat for them streets 'cause man these streets be watchin' me
Memphis, Tenn. kick the chains and playas gotta kick the crease
The Vision 2 Juvenile Court is where they had yo' boy
Monthly payments I gotta pay, but I keep comin' short
Now that I'm payin' child support and these courts got me runnin' man
Spendin' nights with these other freaks house and all my dawgs man
Warrants for yo' boy arrest got me sweatin' from the stress
Gettin' drunk and high all night bout' to drive me to that white
Man if these boys want me they gon' really have to find me
Messin' off with these scallywag hoes, they so grimey
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) I want child support
She get boyfriend checks, but I stay in court
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) she be ridin' caddy
And she always lookin' for sugar daddies
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he be always broke
And he ain't no good nothin', but a joke
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he just love to have it
He be cheatin' on me that's why I can't stand em' (Why you playin'?)
Boy yo' baby need some shoes, boy yo' baby need some clothes
Need to try and pay yo' fees, why you out hurr playin' these hoes?
Ain't no more for me and you, but this what they gotta do
With the seed we have conceived don't you know he's part of you?
I don't wanna hurr yo' mess talk to me bout' givin' checks
Put a judge up in my business what I want is what I get
Shoulda known it from the jump all that talk was just a front
Now you payin' for that lyin' see yo' ass in court next month
Pay you cheese I'll give you quarters I'll just wait for court to order
Mexico is where you'll find me somewhere round' the fuckin' border
Hangin' with the finest women, walkin' wit' a gansta limpin'
Drinkin' on a case of DP, goody green you know we wit' it
I done hustled worth a job and broke some back there wasn't no stoppin'
You dun did the clubbin' hoppin' and them pills you kept on poppin'
Now I see why you be freakin' now I know why you be geekin'
If you wanna give me reason catch me in that playa season
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) I want child support
She get boyfriend checks, but I stay in court
It's my baby mama (Yeanknow) she be ridin' caddy
And she always lookin' for sugar daddies
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he be always broke
And he ain't no good nothin', but a joke
It's my baby daddy (Yeanknow) he just love to have it
He be cheatin' on me that's why I can't stand em'
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
this song is hilarious
I concur.
yee know.