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."
you were commander of the legion
but there was no legion, there was only command
and you led the table in decision
oh, but there was only indecision
and all hail the builder of this mansion
as its stolen lumber just splinters down
he taught us how to pick up our guns
kill everything in sigh and start back at number one
you are the darkness in comedy
you are the laughter in disease
you are the height of a tall tale
and you are as cold as the seas
you're just another sunken anchor
passed out in your lover's bed
locked out of the life you begged for
you're just another sunken anchor
you wrapped the diamond 'round her finger
she wrapped her heart and skin around you
and so bloomed the flower of good intention
but inside, you murdered the invention
you are the darkness in comedy
you are the laughter in disease
you are the height of a tall tale
and you are as cold as the seas
you're just another sunken anchor
passed out in your lover's bed
locked out of the life you begged for
you're just another sunken anchor
and i'd try to pull you out if i could
but what's the use in rescuing a fool?
you are the sad part loving
you are the noose hung from the tree
dangling the one you set free
adn you are the tarnish on the ring
you're just another sunken anchor
inside another lover's bed locked out of the arms you asked for
you're just another sunken anchor
stay down
but there was no legion, there was only command
and you led the table in decision
oh, but there was only indecision
and all hail the builder of this mansion
as its stolen lumber just splinters down
he taught us how to pick up our guns
kill everything in sigh and start back at number one
you are the darkness in comedy
you are the laughter in disease
you are the height of a tall tale
and you are as cold as the seas
you're just another sunken anchor
passed out in your lover's bed
locked out of the life you begged for
you're just another sunken anchor
you wrapped the diamond 'round her finger
she wrapped her heart and skin around you
and so bloomed the flower of good intention
but inside, you murdered the invention
you are the darkness in comedy
you are the laughter in disease
you are the height of a tall tale
and you are as cold as the seas
you're just another sunken anchor
passed out in your lover's bed
locked out of the life you begged for
you're just another sunken anchor
and i'd try to pull you out if i could
but what's the use in rescuing a fool?
you are the sad part loving
you are the noose hung from the tree
dangling the one you set free
adn you are the tarnish on the ring
you're just another sunken anchor
inside another lover's bed locked out of the arms you asked for
you're just another sunken anchor
stay down
Lyrics submitted by Sinai
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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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,
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