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."
When you turn away and lock all your doors
When it's getting out of hand, how am I to understand
And then you may think there's no turning back
Running low on self esteem
falling back into your dream
There's this endless hole in the wishing well
Wish you were somebody else
but too afraid to ask for help
Would you play a part in the scheme of things
And I will depend on you, if you show me how to do
We are the troopers, pick up the losers
and turn into a better day
Pick up the sceptics, the non believers
and turn into a brighter day
And the winner smiles and she takes it all
And you are lonely and afraid,
but she doesn't look your way
And they know the drill, taking you apart
And the world that you have known
is a world without a heart
We are the troopers, pick up the losers
and turn into a better day
Pick up the sceptics, the non believers
and turn into a brighter day
Who can tell the price of learning,
steppin out and turn the key
slow and steady fire burning,
feeding on it's elf esteem.
We are the troopers, pick up the losers
and turn into a better day
Pick up the sceptics, the non believers
and turn into a brighter day
When it's getting out of hand, how am I to understand
And then you may think there's no turning back
Running low on self esteem
falling back into your dream
There's this endless hole in the wishing well
Wish you were somebody else
but too afraid to ask for help
Would you play a part in the scheme of things
And I will depend on you, if you show me how to do
We are the troopers, pick up the losers
and turn into a better day
Pick up the sceptics, the non believers
and turn into a brighter day
And the winner smiles and she takes it all
And you are lonely and afraid,
but she doesn't look your way
And they know the drill, taking you apart
And the world that you have known
is a world without a heart
We are the troopers, pick up the losers
and turn into a better day
Pick up the sceptics, the non believers
and turn into a brighter day
Who can tell the price of learning,
steppin out and turn the key
slow and steady fire burning,
feeding on it's elf esteem.
We are the troopers, pick up the losers
and turn into a better day
Pick up the sceptics, the non believers
and turn into a brighter day
Lyrics submitted by Metropolis
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,
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.