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."
Maybe it's too late
But this feelin' is runnin' through my soul
I think I learned what love is, but I'm afraid I let it go
Maybe it's too late
Maybe you've already changed your mind
Turned lovin' into leavin'
And I'm on the outside
You can take these words to bed with you
And hold on to them at night
They can erase the emptiness
And make everything alright
But your laughter and your tenderness
Will never disappear
No matter where you are tonight
A part of you is here with me
Here with me
I don't know where you are
All I know is I need you to be
Here with me
I know it's not too late
to turn around and get it straight
It's my fate to have you here with me
I can hear your voice
Promising your love will never die
I can feel your golden skin on mine
Beneath the desert sky
So how can it be true
How can you just turn and let me go
Let the story of your life with mine
Forever go untold
I can take these words to bed with me
And hold on to them at night
They can erase the emptiness
And make everything alright
Cause your laughter and your tenderness
Will never disappear
No matter where you are tonight
A part of you is here with me
[Chorus]
[Repeat Chorus]
Here with me (are you here with me)
I don't know where you are (don't know where)
All I know is, I need you to be, ohohwhoa
Here with me
I know it's not too late (know it's not too late)
To turn around and get it straight
Here with me...
But this feelin' is runnin' through my soul
I think I learned what love is, but I'm afraid I let it go
Maybe it's too late
Maybe you've already changed your mind
Turned lovin' into leavin'
And I'm on the outside
You can take these words to bed with you
And hold on to them at night
They can erase the emptiness
And make everything alright
But your laughter and your tenderness
Will never disappear
No matter where you are tonight
A part of you is here with me
Here with me
I don't know where you are
All I know is I need you to be
Here with me
I know it's not too late
to turn around and get it straight
It's my fate to have you here with me
I can hear your voice
Promising your love will never die
I can feel your golden skin on mine
Beneath the desert sky
So how can it be true
How can you just turn and let me go
Let the story of your life with mine
Forever go untold
I can take these words to bed with me
And hold on to them at night
They can erase the emptiness
And make everything alright
Cause your laughter and your tenderness
Will never disappear
No matter where you are tonight
A part of you is here with me
[Chorus]
[Repeat Chorus]
Here with me (are you here with me)
I don't know where you are (don't know where)
All I know is, I need you to be, ohohwhoa
Here with me
I know it's not too late (know it's not too late)
To turn around and get it straight
Here with me...
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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.
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He keeps thinking about this girl he used to know, she is gone but he keeps thinking about her, so she is with him mentally, and he hopes he can get back with her.