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."
Big white mansion
Top of the road
Latest fashion
Happy, don't you know?
Here I am in New York, yeah
See the girl bold and fair ("Yo, Anita!") {Martin sample}
What's in your backpack today?
Will it take my blues away?
That's OK, "you gotta run"
Huh, check it, I don't need you to have some fun
Comin' from the land of snow
I guess I'm kinda used to cold
But one day I'll have a big white mansion
At the top of the road
I'm gonna wear the latest fashion
I'm gonna be happy, don't you know?
I could use a new guitar
Sing a tune at Chazz' bar
Maybe meet a debutante
Be a toy, do what she want (Tell me what you want to do?)
9 o'clock, see John K.
"But you don't rock, come another day" (When?)
Come another day
Spirit so low reachin' up for ground (Reachin' up for ground)
One day I'm gonna make it in this lonely town
Then I'll live in a big white mansion
At the top of the road
I'm gonna wear the latest fashion
Then I'll be happy, don't you know?
Hey there, what's your name? (What's your name, cutie?)
And can you tell me how to play the game? ("I am a winner") (Listen 2 this)
Do I really have to cut my hair? (No)
Now, that's a cross I could never bear (How 'bout them publishing rights?)
Sell my publishing? What a laugh! (Ha ha)
I don't know Bo, but I do know math (I do know math)
Back to Minneapolis, there you go
You can't find your house underneath the snow
Cause you're livin' in a big white mansion (Oh yes)
At the top of the road
You're wearin' the latest fashion
Tryin' to be happy, don't you know? (Tryin' to be happy, happy)
Big white, big white mansion (Big white mansion)
At the top of the road
You and me wearin' Versace, Gucci (Latest fashion)
Hoochies, they all want to do me (Happy, don't you know?)
But am I really happy?
Big white mansion
Yeah, maybe one day
("Yo, Anita!") {Martin sample}
("Yo, check out that ass!")
Top of the road
Latest fashion
Happy, don't you know?
Here I am in New York, yeah
See the girl bold and fair ("Yo, Anita!") {Martin sample}
What's in your backpack today?
Will it take my blues away?
That's OK, "you gotta run"
Huh, check it, I don't need you to have some fun
Comin' from the land of snow
I guess I'm kinda used to cold
But one day I'll have a big white mansion
At the top of the road
I'm gonna wear the latest fashion
I'm gonna be happy, don't you know?
I could use a new guitar
Sing a tune at Chazz' bar
Maybe meet a debutante
Be a toy, do what she want (Tell me what you want to do?)
9 o'clock, see John K.
"But you don't rock, come another day" (When?)
Come another day
Spirit so low reachin' up for ground (Reachin' up for ground)
One day I'm gonna make it in this lonely town
Then I'll live in a big white mansion
At the top of the road
I'm gonna wear the latest fashion
Then I'll be happy, don't you know?
Hey there, what's your name? (What's your name, cutie?)
And can you tell me how to play the game? ("I am a winner") (Listen 2 this)
Do I really have to cut my hair? (No)
Now, that's a cross I could never bear (How 'bout them publishing rights?)
Sell my publishing? What a laugh! (Ha ha)
I don't know Bo, but I do know math (I do know math)
Back to Minneapolis, there you go
You can't find your house underneath the snow
Cause you're livin' in a big white mansion (Oh yes)
At the top of the road
You're wearin' the latest fashion
Tryin' to be happy, don't you know? (Tryin' to be happy, happy)
Big white, big white mansion (Big white mansion)
At the top of the road
You and me wearin' Versace, Gucci (Latest fashion)
Hoochies, they all want to do me (Happy, don't you know?)
But am I really happy?
Big white mansion
Yeah, maybe one day
("Yo, Anita!") {Martin sample}
("Yo, check out that ass!")
Lyrics submitted by Gothy_Bura
White Mansion Lyrics as written by Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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