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."
You paint a picture on the wall
Cause you've got a lot to tell me
But you don't think you could say it better oh baby
You're bringing up times I can't recall
And I'm sure they made your point
But I just can't seem to remember yeah
And I know you got the feeling
And I can't say I'm agreeing
With your topic of conversation
So just listen to the reasons
And the handset I've been giving
To the thoughts of my imagination
So come on let me see
I say baby you are amazing
I want to let you see
That you are everything and more to me
I will let you be I will I will
Cause I saw you walking down the hall
And I had a lot to tell you
But I didn't think you could say it better oh baby
You're good at making me feel so small
And I know you made your point
But I just don't want to remember yeah
And I know you've got the feeling
And I can't say I'm agreeing with your topic of conversation
So just listen to the reasons
And the hints that I've been given
To the thoughts of my imagination
So come on let me see
I say baby you are amazing
I want to let you see
That you are everything and more to me
I will let you be I will I will
Cause I'm dancing around
In your world of play
I'm taking my time to make sure you stay
I would give my life to make it okay yeah
So come on let me see
So come on let me see
I say baby you are amazing
I want to let you see
That you are everything and more to me
I will let you be I will I will
Cause you've got a lot to tell me
But you don't think you could say it better oh baby
You're bringing up times I can't recall
And I'm sure they made your point
But I just can't seem to remember yeah
And I know you got the feeling
And I can't say I'm agreeing
With your topic of conversation
So just listen to the reasons
And the handset I've been giving
To the thoughts of my imagination
So come on let me see
I say baby you are amazing
I want to let you see
That you are everything and more to me
I will let you be I will I will
Cause I saw you walking down the hall
And I had a lot to tell you
But I didn't think you could say it better oh baby
You're good at making me feel so small
And I know you made your point
But I just don't want to remember yeah
And I know you've got the feeling
And I can't say I'm agreeing with your topic of conversation
So just listen to the reasons
And the hints that I've been given
To the thoughts of my imagination
So come on let me see
I say baby you are amazing
I want to let you see
That you are everything and more to me
I will let you be I will I will
Cause I'm dancing around
In your world of play
I'm taking my time to make sure you stay
I would give my life to make it okay yeah
So come on let me see
So come on let me see
I say baby you are amazing
I want to let you see
That you are everything and more to me
I will let you be I will I will
Lyrics submitted by SweetDreams583
Amazing Lyrics as written by Mark Richardson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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,
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
ever had a guy (or girl, if you're a guy) try to convince you of exactly how special you are? and you wouldn't believe him/her.
this song is like that.
it's like he's trying to convince her of how special she is, because she's making it really hard for him. he wants to be with her, but she's being hard to get. she makes all the rules "dancing around in your world of play."
also, perhaps the reason that she won't be with him is that she's been in a really controlling relationhsip. "i will let you be."
she's freaking cool, and he just wants the chance to show her, but she's making it difficult for him. not that she's not giving him a chance, she's just hesitant. she wants to trust him, and he's letting her know she can. she's trying to convince him of why she can't be with him, but he's saying that nothing she throws at him is enough to convince him that it won't work. "you're bringing up times i can't recall and i'm sure they make your point but i just don't want to remember"