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 want to learn how to fly
I want to learn how to fly
I want to be respected
I want to get lucky
I want to get out of this dump
I just want to watch TV
I want to be loved
I want to be different
I want a brother and sister
I'd just rather be forgotten
I want to save the world
I want to be understood
I want to be rich
Man, I just want to be somebody
Julie's got the word today
She lost her job just one last pay
Life don't come easy anymore, no
Still struggling on, by herself
Got a picture of Jimmy
There on the shelf
And she looks at him and says
Why did we let it go
I know that sometimes baby
We didn't see things eye-to-eye
But I got just one question
Did we have to say goodbye, oh
Just like prisoners in paradise
Still far from heaven's door
Yeah, we had it all
But still we wanted more
Now I realize that I can't turn back
The future's here to stay, but hey
We're just children of tomorrow
Hangin' on to yesterday
Whoa, yeah
Well, Jimmy still recalls the night
When he took his guitar
And headed on out
To find the big time
Yeah, that was his dream
He gave up his past
And made it alright
But there's something missin'
In his heart tonight
Sometimes what you want
Ain't what you need
No, no
He misses drivin' down to the lake at night
Holdin' his baby in his arms so tight
Ain't it hard to find illusions
When you're livin' in a memory
Oh, just like prisoners in paradise
So close but yet so far
There will come a time
No matter who you are
When you ask yourself
Was it right or wrong
For me to turn away, but hey
We're just children of tomorrow
Hangin' on to yesterday
Whoa yeah-yeah
Prisoners in paradise
Prisoners in paradise, yeah yeah
We're just prisoners in paradise
Still far from heaven's door
Yeah, we had it all
But still we wanted more
We're just prisoners in paradise
So close but yet so far
There will come a time
No matter, no matter who you are
When you ask yourself
Was it right or wrong
For me to turn away, but hey
We're just children of tomorrow
Hangin' on to yesterday
I want to learn how to fly
I want to be respected
I want to get lucky
I want to get out of this dump
I just want to watch TV
I want to be loved
I want to be different
I want a brother and sister
I'd just rather be forgotten
I want to save the world
I want to be understood
I want to be rich
Man, I just want to be somebody
Julie's got the word today
She lost her job just one last pay
Life don't come easy anymore, no
Still struggling on, by herself
Got a picture of Jimmy
There on the shelf
And she looks at him and says
Why did we let it go
I know that sometimes baby
We didn't see things eye-to-eye
But I got just one question
Did we have to say goodbye, oh
Just like prisoners in paradise
Still far from heaven's door
Yeah, we had it all
But still we wanted more
Now I realize that I can't turn back
The future's here to stay, but hey
We're just children of tomorrow
Hangin' on to yesterday
Whoa, yeah
Well, Jimmy still recalls the night
When he took his guitar
And headed on out
To find the big time
Yeah, that was his dream
He gave up his past
And made it alright
But there's something missin'
In his heart tonight
Sometimes what you want
Ain't what you need
No, no
He misses drivin' down to the lake at night
Holdin' his baby in his arms so tight
Ain't it hard to find illusions
When you're livin' in a memory
Oh, just like prisoners in paradise
So close but yet so far
There will come a time
No matter who you are
When you ask yourself
Was it right or wrong
For me to turn away, but hey
We're just children of tomorrow
Hangin' on to yesterday
Whoa yeah-yeah
Prisoners in paradise
Prisoners in paradise, yeah yeah
We're just prisoners in paradise
Still far from heaven's door
Yeah, we had it all
But still we wanted more
We're just prisoners in paradise
So close but yet so far
There will come a time
No matter, no matter who you are
When you ask yourself
Was it right or wrong
For me to turn away, but hey
We're just children of tomorrow
Hangin' on to yesterday
Lyrics submitted by Hardcore_Icon
Prisoners in Paradise Lyrics as written by Joey Tempest
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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to me this song is about leaving something behind to persue your dreams then always wondering if you have done the right thing. looking back and wondering if you would have been better off taking the easy road. Always wanting what you dont have no mteer how much you thought you wanted it. the grass is always greener on the other side.... that sort of thing