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."
Barefoot in the bed of your truck
On a blanket lookin' up
Half a moon peekin' down at us
From underneath the clouds
Teenage kids sneakin' out again
Heard the thunder rollin' in
We were fallin' the moment when
It all came pourin' down
The Georgia Rain on the Jasper County clay
Couldn't wash away what I felt for you that day
Just you and me down an old dirt road
Nothin' in our way
Except for the Georgia Rain
The cottonfields remember when
A flash of lightnin' drove us in
We were soaked down to the skin
By the time we climbed inside
And I don't remember what was poundin' more
The heart in my chest
Or the hood of that Ford
As the sky fell in and the storm clouds poured
Worlds way outside
The Georgia Rain on the Jasper County clay
Couldn't wash away all the love we made
Just you and me down that old dirt road
No one saw a thing
Except for the Georgia Rain
The screen door flappin' in the wind
Same old house I grew up in
Can't believe I'm back again
After all these years away
You fixed your daddy's house up nice
Saw it yesterday while I drove by
Looks like you've made yourself a real good life
What else can I say?
The Georgia Rain on the Jasper County clay
Couldn't wash away the way I loved you to this day
The old dirt road's paved over now
Nothin' here's the same
Except for
The Georgia Rain
Couldn't wash away the way I loved you to this day
Just you and me down the red dirt road
Nothin' in our way
Except for the Georgia Rain
On a blanket lookin' up
Half a moon peekin' down at us
From underneath the clouds
Teenage kids sneakin' out again
Heard the thunder rollin' in
We were fallin' the moment when
It all came pourin' down
The Georgia Rain on the Jasper County clay
Couldn't wash away what I felt for you that day
Just you and me down an old dirt road
Nothin' in our way
Except for the Georgia Rain
The cottonfields remember when
A flash of lightnin' drove us in
We were soaked down to the skin
By the time we climbed inside
And I don't remember what was poundin' more
The heart in my chest
Or the hood of that Ford
As the sky fell in and the storm clouds poured
Worlds way outside
The Georgia Rain on the Jasper County clay
Couldn't wash away all the love we made
Just you and me down that old dirt road
No one saw a thing
Except for the Georgia Rain
The screen door flappin' in the wind
Same old house I grew up in
Can't believe I'm back again
After all these years away
You fixed your daddy's house up nice
Saw it yesterday while I drove by
Looks like you've made yourself a real good life
What else can I say?
The Georgia Rain on the Jasper County clay
Couldn't wash away the way I loved you to this day
The old dirt road's paved over now
Nothin' here's the same
Except for
The Georgia Rain
Couldn't wash away the way I loved you to this day
Just you and me down the red dirt road
Nothin' in our way
Except for the Georgia Rain
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Much love from one Georgia girl to another
this song is so pretty.
beautiful lyrics.
i still love this song after about three years hah
i still love this song after about three years hah
i find this song oddly similar to Strawberry Wine.
I relate this song and Strawberry Wine, too.