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."
I live my life in chains
Got my hands in chains
And I can't sticks with the cards that I got
With a deal like this
I must insist a girls got more to do
Then be the way you think a woman should
I'm taking it into my hands
In this mans land I can
Understand why I'm taking command
I've had enough of stuff
And now it's time to think about
Me, me yeah
And you can easily gamble your life away
Second after second
And day by day
You play the game or you walk away
It's a new turn on a blue day
And a cool deal of life for me
And it's all good
I know that the spades
Are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs
Are weapons of war
I know that diamonds
Mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
I've always played it safe nothings ever safe
Give me the courage to back my own convictions
Every decision I make
I pay it back and more
Now turn the cards and let them fall to me
I don't need to play on with the hand that they have given me
I give it back
'Cause it's not the way it has to be
And you can easily gamble your life away
Second after second
And day by day
You play the game or you walk away
It's a new turn on a blue day
And a cool deal of life for me
And it's all good
I know that the spades
Are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs
Are weapons of war
I know that diamonds
Mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
That's not the shape
The shape of my heart
My heart
That's not the shape of my heart
And you can easily gamble your life away
Second after second
And day by day
You play the game or you walk away
It's a new turn on a blue day
And a cool deal of life for me
And it's all good
And you can easily gamble your life away
Second after second
And day by day
You play the game or you walk away
It's a new turn on a blue day
And a cool deal of life for me
And it's all good
I know that the spades
Are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs
Are weapons of war
I know that diamonds
Mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
I know that the spades
Are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs
Are weapons of war
I know that diamonds
Mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
Got my hands in chains
And I can't sticks with the cards that I got
With a deal like this
I must insist a girls got more to do
Then be the way you think a woman should
I'm taking it into my hands
In this mans land I can
Understand why I'm taking command
I've had enough of stuff
And now it's time to think about
Me, me yeah
And you can easily gamble your life away
Second after second
And day by day
You play the game or you walk away
It's a new turn on a blue day
And a cool deal of life for me
And it's all good
I know that the spades
Are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs
Are weapons of war
I know that diamonds
Mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
I've always played it safe nothings ever safe
Give me the courage to back my own convictions
Every decision I make
I pay it back and more
Now turn the cards and let them fall to me
I don't need to play on with the hand that they have given me
I give it back
'Cause it's not the way it has to be
And you can easily gamble your life away
Second after second
And day by day
You play the game or you walk away
It's a new turn on a blue day
And a cool deal of life for me
And it's all good
I know that the spades
Are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs
Are weapons of war
I know that diamonds
Mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
That's not the shape
The shape of my heart
My heart
That's not the shape of my heart
And you can easily gamble your life away
Second after second
And day by day
You play the game or you walk away
It's a new turn on a blue day
And a cool deal of life for me
And it's all good
And you can easily gamble your life away
Second after second
And day by day
You play the game or you walk away
It's a new turn on a blue day
And a cool deal of life for me
And it's all good
I know that the spades
Are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs
Are weapons of war
I know that diamonds
Mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
I know that the spades
Are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs
Are weapons of war
I know that diamonds
Mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
Lyrics submitted by paper.flowers
Shape Lyrics as written by Heidi Range Craigie Dodds
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I can't believe no one has commented. This is one of my favourite songs even though I have a few hundred. I think she's using cards as a metaphor for who she isn't. As in she's not violent and she doesn't have to follow a life dealt by some one else (possible a typical female role).
I've always played it safe nothing's ever safe Give me the courage to back my own convictions Every decision I make I pay it back and more Now turn the cards and let them fall to me I don't need to play on with the hand that they have given me I'll give it back cos it's not the way it has to be
initial thoughts wer just that she was in a relationship where she needed to brave enough to stand up to her partner (who maybe isnt treating her right?). the cards hes given her, i.e the way he treats her. shes sick of it, and finishes with him because knows it doesnt have to be that way. she deserves and know theres someone better for her. first verse is about women trying to be mens ideals, living in a mans world.
I think this song is also about following your heart instead of just using your mind.