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."
Your defenses were on high
Your walls built deep inside
Yeah I'm a selfish bastard
But at least I'm not alone
My intentions never change
What I want still stays the same
And I know what I should do
Its time to set myself on fire
Was it a dream?
Was it a dream?
Is this the only evidence that proves
A photograph of you and I
Your reflection I've erased
Like a thousand burned out yesterdays
Believe me when I say goodbye forever
Is for good
Was it a dream?
Was it a dream?
Is this the only evidence that proves
A photograph of you and I
(a photograph of you and I)
Was it a dream?
Was it a dream?
Is this the only evidence that proves
A photograph of you and I
(A photograph of you and I)
Was it a dream?
Was it a dream?
Is this the only evidence that proves
A photograph of you and I
A photograph of you and I
A photograph of you and I
Your walls built deep inside
Yeah I'm a selfish bastard
But at least I'm not alone
My intentions never change
What I want still stays the same
And I know what I should do
Its time to set myself on fire
Was it a dream?
Was it a dream?
Is this the only evidence that proves
A photograph of you and I
Your reflection I've erased
Like a thousand burned out yesterdays
Believe me when I say goodbye forever
Is for good
Was it a dream?
Was it a dream?
Is this the only evidence that proves
A photograph of you and I
(a photograph of you and I)
Was it a dream?
Was it a dream?
Is this the only evidence that proves
A photograph of you and I
(A photograph of you and I)
Was it a dream?
Was it a dream?
Is this the only evidence that proves
A photograph of you and I
A photograph of you and I
A photograph of you and I
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
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
As much as I think you all have good insight toward this song, I happen to know none of you are correct. I heard a live version of this song where Jared introduced it, and he said he wrote this song while in Africa, and it talks about the beauty that he saw, while also seeing the failure of humanity with everything going on around there. A pretty powerful piece, and definitely one of my favorite 30 stm songs.
I get the feeling a relationship is ending, of course. But I think he liked the relationship, loved it even. I think maybe she changed or stopped loving him, ending the relationship. He still loves her, but can't stand not being with her. He has to kill a part of himself off (And I know what I should do/Its time to set myself on fire). Even though he knows it has to be over, he still wishes it was alive, he was so happy in the relationship that he wonders if it was real or not, if maybe it was a dream. But it can't be, because he has the photograph of them together.
protect me even though i don't deserve it and i don't like you, but i can't forget you, was it real or a dream?
to me this song is about being with someone and knowing that things are completely over. like he doesnt want her anymore...but he's wondering if being with her was a dream you know proving that there really was a connection there...but he doesnt want her anymore..and hes saying that when he says its over and goodbye is forever he's meaning the realtionship is over..hes erased her from his mind completely just knowing he did that he's wondering "was it a dream is this the only evidence that proves a photograph of you and i"
such a beauitful song
It sounds a bit ... Ordinary.. but, in my opinion, it's about a breaking up with someone.. sometimes you are so in a relationship, so in love with someone that when it all ends and everithing fall apart, all you can do is asking yourself if all you've had with that person was real or it was just a beautifull dream, and the only thing that can help you realize that it was real is rely yourself on little things that remain photographs, gifts memories and so on.. good song , one of my favorites ever
Ohhh! I
Everyone sayys the relationship is ending but I say its already over....he thinks about it....and he realizes everything he loved was over, everything was a fake, so thats why he asks if everything was a dream cause the only evidence he has of what happened is a photograph....no feelings, nothing else!! You should comment more since this is an awesome song!
this is about a relationship that has ended and he tried so hard to forget everything that now when he thinks about the relationship he can't remember if it ever really happened at all... and the only reason he knows that it had to have been real is because he has a picture to prove it... that's what i get from it... this could be included in the soundtrack of my life... cuz i definitly relate to this song
this is about a relationship that has ended and he tried so hard to forget everything that now when he thinks about the relationship he can't remember if it ever really happened at all... and the only reason he knows that it had to have been real is because he has a picture to prove it... that's what i get from it... this could be included in the soundtrack of my life... cuz i definitly relate to this song
do any of u ppl realize the lyrics are wrong one critical part is missing......
30 SECONDS TO MARS LYRICS
"Was It A Dream?"
Your defenses were on high Your walls built deep inside Yeah I'm a selfish bastard But at least I'm not alone My intentions never change What I wanted stays the same And I know what I should do it's time to set myself on fire Was it a dream? Was it a dream? Is this the only evidence that proves it A photograph of you and I Your reflection I've erased Like a thousand burned out yesterdays Believe me when I say goodbye forever Is for good Was it a dream? Was it a dream? Is this the only evidence that proves it A photograph of you and I Was it a dream? Was it a dream? Is this the only evidence that proves it A photograph of you and I (A photograph of you and I) Was it a dream? Was it a dream? Is this the only evidence that proves it A photograph of you and I A photograph of you and I A photograph of you and I... in love...