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."
Something about the wrinkle in your forehead tells me there's a fit about to get thrown
If we get the van out of the ditch before morning ain't nobody got to know what I done
And I never hear a single word you say when you tell me not to have my fun
It's the same old shit that I ain't gonna take off anyone.
And I don't need to be forgiven by them people in the neighborhood
When we first hooked up, you looked me in the eye
And said Paw, we just ain't no good.
We were heathens in their eyes at the time, I guess I am just a Heathen still
And I never have repented from the wrongs that they say I have done
I done what I feel.
It was a difficult delivery, now it's growing up mean and strong
When you tell me that it's getting just a little bit tight, ain't the first time I been outgrown
And I'm gonna push a little harder
She ain't revved till the rods are thrown
I'll walk away
And I don't need to be forsaken by you or anybody else
And I never had a shortage of people trying to warn me about the dangers I pose to myself.
Heathens.
These times can take their toll sometimes and I know you feel the same way too
It gets so hard to keep between the ditches
When the roads wind the way they do.
If we get the van out of the ditch before morning ain't nobody got to know what I done
And I never hear a single word you say when you tell me not to have my fun
It's the same old shit that I ain't gonna take off anyone.
And I don't need to be forgiven by them people in the neighborhood
When we first hooked up, you looked me in the eye
And said Paw, we just ain't no good.
We were heathens in their eyes at the time, I guess I am just a Heathen still
And I never have repented from the wrongs that they say I have done
I done what I feel.
It was a difficult delivery, now it's growing up mean and strong
When you tell me that it's getting just a little bit tight, ain't the first time I been outgrown
And I'm gonna push a little harder
She ain't revved till the rods are thrown
I'll walk away
And I don't need to be forsaken by you or anybody else
And I never had a shortage of people trying to warn me about the dangers I pose to myself.
Heathens.
These times can take their toll sometimes and I know you feel the same way too
It gets so hard to keep between the ditches
When the roads wind the way they do.
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I agree and disagree with onafriday. There is plenty of meaning to interpret in this song. Yes, the main theme is about having trouble growing up, but also being able to live our lives the way we choose, no matter how reckless our behavior. This song is mainly about a couple in which the narrator likes to get rowdy drunk and then drive, despite the condescending looks from their snobby neighbors. The narrator doesn't care to change for what seems out of spite, which is a common theme in many DBT songs. A reference is made to delivering a baby. This is usually a turning point in most mens' lives when they realize they have to grow up because now they are responsible for another life. I love the last few lines about keepin' it between the ditches and the bends in the road. The bends in the road obviously being a representation for life's tribulations and/or stages. We have a saying in the south upon parting from a night of drinking, "keep it between the ditches."
Now i feel like this is the type of song this site was created for... personally i don't feel like there is much to interpret, but the meaning is very hard to have an opion about... but i suppose forced to choose, i feel love is love, and even though i would be disgusted to follow these two people paths, i feel it is their own lives to live... their lives to live without interference and judgement
awesome song-- about refusing to grow up and the consequences
"She ain't revved til the rods are thrown and I walk away."
My personal favorite line Patterson has ever put down. Perfectly encapsulates the idea that you can't really know how much you can get until you can't get any more.
For some reason I've always imagined this song was about an incestuous relationship between a father and daughter. Subtle cues like "When we first hooked up, you looked me in the eye/And said, "Paw, we just ain't no good" gave me that impression, I think. But after reading the lyrics again I think my interpretation might be a bit far fetched.