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."
Fatima is 21
And around here – when your 21
u gotta start thinking about getting a man
getting a son – getting it done
just like her mom when she was 21
but even though Fatima's not ready for it
she not gonna say some
she feels she gotta do this for the parents
cuz they've been on her for the last 5 years
a lotta men from motherland
came up here hoping she say yeah
but she ain't down
wants somebody that can make her feel alive
chill every time she wanna cry
the one in a million type of guy
but her mom keeps telling her
"compromise, this ain't no fairy tale my child
do not waste your time
u'll regret u didn't say yes to this guy"
everyday is the same
like a battlefield
she gets the blame
bringing shame on the family name
just cuz the streets be babbling
like a Bedouin in a dessert storm
she lays low from all their songs
try to make 'em understand
but it's like talking to the wall
her desire's burning to change her ill state
it's strange - for the first time
in a long time – she sees the light in the end
Chorus:
she brings the pain within your brain
y'all don't really wanna understand her thang
boo be really strong enough to maintain
thru your bullshit
it ain't nothing but pain
but she knows in the name of Fatimas hand
she don't go wrong
in the name of Fatimas hand
she will move on
hey hoping everything will be alright!!!
Majid:
I see tears in everybody's eyes
But I don't understand why
Mama standing in the kitchen
preparing dinner while she cries
as the pain spreads inside
cuz something that's going on
denial of my first question
second time got no respond
to lose some one that had always been there
She always had my back
And she always did care
So with these lines right here
I wanna explain how much I love u
No matter what u do I will forever stay true
Until this day
Can't nobody tear us apart
10 years is past
But u are still living in my heart
truly no poetry can explain how much I miss ya
No matter where u are U will always be my sister
Chorus...
Con la mano de Fatima
sobre su alma encantadora
su camino es protegido
no importa cual escoga
y ella fue escogida
para verla y admirarla
en sus ojos tiene un algo
impecable es su retrato
y cada vez que pasa
lo duro se ablándese
la noche se agrándese
lo malo desvanece
no la olvidaran, la esperaran
al otro lado de esta vida
su amor alumbrara, su voz les cantara
en las memorias hay momentos de pasión
afecto y comprensión, retratos y recuerdos
dando vuelta en las fantasías
su aura es alegría
lleva la mano de Fatima
And around here – when your 21
u gotta start thinking about getting a man
getting a son – getting it done
just like her mom when she was 21
but even though Fatima's not ready for it
she not gonna say some
she feels she gotta do this for the parents
cuz they've been on her for the last 5 years
a lotta men from motherland
came up here hoping she say yeah
but she ain't down
wants somebody that can make her feel alive
chill every time she wanna cry
the one in a million type of guy
but her mom keeps telling her
"compromise, this ain't no fairy tale my child
do not waste your time
u'll regret u didn't say yes to this guy"
everyday is the same
like a battlefield
she gets the blame
bringing shame on the family name
just cuz the streets be babbling
like a Bedouin in a dessert storm
she lays low from all their songs
try to make 'em understand
but it's like talking to the wall
her desire's burning to change her ill state
it's strange - for the first time
in a long time – she sees the light in the end
Chorus:
she brings the pain within your brain
y'all don't really wanna understand her thang
boo be really strong enough to maintain
thru your bullshit
it ain't nothing but pain
but she knows in the name of Fatimas hand
she don't go wrong
in the name of Fatimas hand
she will move on
hey hoping everything will be alright!!!
Majid:
I see tears in everybody's eyes
But I don't understand why
Mama standing in the kitchen
preparing dinner while she cries
as the pain spreads inside
cuz something that's going on
denial of my first question
second time got no respond
to lose some one that had always been there
She always had my back
And she always did care
So with these lines right here
I wanna explain how much I love u
No matter what u do I will forever stay true
Until this day
Can't nobody tear us apart
10 years is past
But u are still living in my heart
truly no poetry can explain how much I miss ya
No matter where u are U will always be my sister
Chorus...
Con la mano de Fatima
sobre su alma encantadora
su camino es protegido
no importa cual escoga
y ella fue escogida
para verla y admirarla
en sus ojos tiene un algo
impecable es su retrato
y cada vez que pasa
lo duro se ablándese
la noche se agrándese
lo malo desvanece
no la olvidaran, la esperaran
al otro lado de esta vida
su amor alumbrara, su voz les cantara
en las memorias hay momentos de pasión
afecto y comprensión, retratos y recuerdos
dando vuelta en las fantasías
su aura es alegría
lleva la mano de Fatima
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