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."
Turn the pages
In this old book.
Feels familiar,
Might be worth a second look.
Wrapping up dope
In a paper bag.
Talking to yourself.
Taking a drag.
(What does it matter the things you say.
You'll never hear it anyway.)
Gotta get past
The negative things.
Lawyers and business,
You get what you bring.
(No one's sorry you did it yourself.
It's time to relax now and then give it hell.)
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Didn't bet on the Dodgers
To beat the Giants
And David came up
And now you gotta pay up.
(You didn't count on that.)
Jeez, half the money's gone
and the month is still young.
What're you going to do now?
(You gotta trust someone.
Someone you trust.)
Can't go to your brother
'Cause that money's all gone.
Can't go to your friends.
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Yeah...
Made out like a bandit
For all of these years
What're you looking for?
One more big score?
(What're you trying to prove?)
Try to get closer,
But not too close.
Try to get through.
But not be through.
No one can touch you now.
I can touch you now.
You're invisible.
You've got too many secrets.
(Bob Dylan said that.
Or something like that.)
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Yeah...
In this old book.
Feels familiar,
Might be worth a second look.
Wrapping up dope
In a paper bag.
Talking to yourself.
Taking a drag.
(What does it matter the things you say.
You'll never hear it anyway.)
Gotta get past
The negative things.
Lawyers and business,
You get what you bring.
(No one's sorry you did it yourself.
It's time to relax now and then give it hell.)
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Didn't bet on the Dodgers
To beat the Giants
And David came up
And now you gotta pay up.
(You didn't count on that.)
Jeez, half the money's gone
and the month is still young.
What're you going to do now?
(You gotta trust someone.
Someone you trust.)
Can't go to your brother
'Cause that money's all gone.
Can't go to your friends.
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Yeah...
Made out like a bandit
For all of these years
What're you looking for?
One more big score?
(What're you trying to prove?)
Try to get closer,
But not too close.
Try to get through.
But not be through.
No one can touch you now.
I can touch you now.
You're invisible.
You've got too many secrets.
(Bob Dylan said that.
Or something like that.)
Someday...you'll find
What you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Someday...you'll find
Everything you're looking for.
Yeah...
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I Love It When He Says "You're Invisible, You've Got Too Many Secrets. Bob Dylan Said That. Something Like That."
Funny As Hell!
What Bob Dylan Actually Said Is: "You're Invisible Now, You've Got Secrets To Conceal!" It's From His Song "Like A Rolling Stone"
But Anyways, I Love Bob And Neil, And "Like A Rolling Stone" Is My Favorite Song Of Bobs, And This Is My Favorite Song Of Neils. As I've Seen It's Been A Lot Of Peoples' Who've Commented Above. You All Have Good Taste! (and bobdylaniscool, you probably have GREAT taste!)
You're right that he's referring to Like a Rolling Stone. But what Dylan actually sang was: <i>"You're invisible now, you got <b>no</b> secrets to conceal."</i><br /> <br /> And he's also giving a nod to Dylan's Talking World War III Blues:<br /> <br /> <i>"Half of the people can be part right all of the time,<br /> And some of the people can be all right part of the time,<br /> But all of the people can't be all right all of the time.<br /> I think Abraham Lincoln said that.<br /> 'I'll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours.'<br /> I said that."</i><br /> <br /> Neil Young was very open about how much he owed to Dylan. And Dylan's thrown the odd reference to Young into his later songs.
Really nice references to Dylan's work, azkm. It is fascinating to witness two artists acknowledging and playing off each other's work.