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."
Someone had to tell you,
Might as well it be me.
You've been fooling no-one,
If you only could see.
Do you understand?
You've got quite a problem,
Lost your job you know why
But you can't admit,
So full of it you might die.
Do you understand?
Just keep your head in the sand.
Teenage alcoholic
Grew too old to be fun.
Just another loser
Ain't no use to no-one.
You can't understand.
Give yourself excuses,
Just as boozers all do.
Why invent a reason ?
No-one sees it like you
Do you understand?
You've got your head in the sand
(Have another. And another, and another)
Everything is hopeless,
Drink to cope - it don't help.
What's it take to make you
Wide awake to yourself ?
Your head's in the
(Buried deep below)
Your head's in the
(You don't wanna know)
Your head's in the
(You've got feet of clay)
Your head's in the
(Drink your tears away)
Might as well it be me.
You've been fooling no-one,
If you only could see.
Do you understand?
You've got quite a problem,
Lost your job you know why
But you can't admit,
So full of it you might die.
Do you understand?
Just keep your head in the sand.
Teenage alcoholic
Grew too old to be fun.
Just another loser
Ain't no use to no-one.
You can't understand.
Give yourself excuses,
Just as boozers all do.
Why invent a reason ?
No-one sees it like you
Do you understand?
You've got your head in the sand
(Have another. And another, and another)
Everything is hopeless,
Drink to cope - it don't help.
What's it take to make you
Wide awake to yourself ?
Your head's in the
(Buried deep below)
Your head's in the
(You don't wanna know)
Your head's in the
(You've got feet of clay)
Your head's in the
(Drink your tears away)
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
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
a rather sad song about an alcoholic who won't accept that he is one, he has his "head in the sand" like an ostrich hiding, awesomely up beat though and great guitar, mint song GO THE GURUS!