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."
Oh, with strangers to impress so near
Old friends don't realize I'm here
I wish two drinks were always in me
I'd pretend I had the perfect ear
Take me to the water
Make me understand that I was wrong
For me, tomorrow is my first day
So please, don't tempt me in the wrong way
It's almost after midnight
I can see the city lights, we're here
Change your mind tonight
You belong to the city now
And you're closer now, I know
You belong on the radio
Well, I swear I'll give it back tomorrow
But for now, I think that I'll just borrow
All the chords from that song
And all the words from that other song
I heard yesterday
Change your mind tonight
You belong to the city now
And you're closer now, I know
You belong on the radio
I will not disturb you
I was just returning you the compliment
Old friends don't realize I'm here
I wish two drinks were always in me
I'd pretend I had the perfect ear
Take me to the water
Make me understand that I was wrong
For me, tomorrow is my first day
So please, don't tempt me in the wrong way
It's almost after midnight
I can see the city lights, we're here
Change your mind tonight
You belong to the city now
And you're closer now, I know
You belong on the radio
Well, I swear I'll give it back tomorrow
But for now, I think that I'll just borrow
All the chords from that song
And all the words from that other song
I heard yesterday
Change your mind tonight
You belong to the city now
And you're closer now, I know
You belong on the radio
I will not disturb you
I was just returning you the compliment
Lyrics submitted by electricityscape, edited by Bskiffington
Electricityscape Lyrics as written by Julian Casablancas
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
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.
Unlike all of you I don't personally think this song is about a girl or relationship. Indeed, to me it deals with his alcoholism : "I wish two drinks where always in me I'd pretend I had the perfect day" IE : He needs to be drunk, or at least to have some alcohol in his blood to be having a good time
And now he wants to stop this bad habit, getting away from alcohol and starting a new life sober and clean : "For me tomorrow is my first day So please don't tempt me in the wrong way I swear I'll give it back tomorrow"
So it's hard from him not to drink again, and begin a new life. Indeed, everything in the city constantly strikes him to drink, he constantly refers to the city, with all it includes : bars, nightclubs .. And thus it's difficult not to plunge again.
And, for most people, being famous only deals with lights and being in front of cameras and happiness whereas it has nothing to do with that : "Oh with strangers to impress so near Old friends don't realize I'm here" Indeed he suggest a darker life ( alcohol, maybe drugs) that was brought up by fame. He must constantly produce, make new songs, a tough rhythm : "for now I think that I'll just borrow All the chords from that song And all the words from that other song I heard Yesterday"
I believe he's actually talking to himself in the song : "Change your mind tonight You belong to the city now and you're closer now, I know You belong on the radio" Meaning he cannot now get away from he's life, it's where he must be, sort of destiny and he cannot escape from it : ELECTRICITY-SCAPE : Electricity being the city ; he cannot escape from the city, from fame, from alcohol, from his new way of life
sweet intro.
baptisim? WHAT? definately not. tomorrow is his first day of LIVING, when this person is present it makes him wanna live, and he likes her, so its his first day of happiness, tommorrow, meaning, in the future, whenever the girl cums around. he doesnt want his desire to be smashed, and be let down if this chic doesnt wanna be with him, "tempt me in the wrong way" they had electricity. take me to the water, cleanse him, maybe he didnt realize his true feelings until it was too late, i dont know
the collision of the "rock and roll dream" with "real life"
i will not disturb you hotel signs, incoming city lights after long road trips, the loss of old time friends replaced with pressures to deliver new material to critical strangers.
let the water cleanse me: the truth is, the soul i used to share with friends is now hoored throughout the city. i cant speak to you, my voice is lost in the radio static
Great sounding song, just chill and let it unfold before you. Damn fine work, lads.
Take me to the water Make me in the sky But I was wrong
Are these lyrics correct? Sounds like "take me to the water, make me understand that I was wrong" to me.
Great song, anyway, one of the sleepers on this album.
@caitsith01 I completely agree
these lyrics are TOTALLY wrong, anyway, hes obviously wants this girl, um bad, and "she belongs on the radio" meaning a form of communication, hes waitin for the day they shall be faced, and hopes she doesnt reject him
Fixed lyrics.
Fixed lyrics.
"Take me to the water Make me understand That I was wrong
For me tomorrow is my first day So please don't tempt me in the wrong way"
sounds liek a baptisim?