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."
Goodbye to sleep
I think that staying up is exactly what I need
Well take apart your head
Take apart the counting
And the flock it has bred
Goodbye to love
It's a ride that will push you up
Right against the wall
(Does everybody really need to know everyone?)
Take apart your head
(Do you really think you're really a part of it?)
Right against the wall
(And is your army really one of some thousands?)
Chew it up and swallow it
(And will you declare war on the loony bin?)
You burn bright but you run out
I fell asleep in the incline
I can't shake this little feeling
I'll never get anything right
Goodbye, you liar
Well, you sipped from her cup
But you don't own up to anything
Then you think you will inspire
(When I arrive will God be waiting and pacing around his throne?)
Take apart your head
(Will he feel a little Old Testament?)
I wish I could inspire
(And will he celebrate with fire and brimstone)
Take apart the demon, in the attic, to the left
(Yeah, I admit, I am afraid of the reckoning)
(Goodbye my love)
You burnt bright but you run out
(You wait right here, and they will come and pick you up)
Let's sleep on the incline
(I've been on pause but I'm shaking off the rust)
I can't shake this tiny feeling
(I've lost my charge, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right, right, right (I'm on my own)
Take me, take me, back to your bed
I love you so much that it hurts my head
Say "I don't mind you under my skin,"
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
But when we were made, we were set apart
Life is a test and I get bad marks
Now some Saint got the job
Of writing down my sins
The storm is coming
The storm is coming, yeah
You burnt bright but you run out
I fell asleep in the incline
I can't shake this little feeling
I never did anything right (I'm on my own)
I never did anything right (I'm on my own)
Take me, take me back to your bed
I love you so much, that it hurts my head
I don't mind you under my skin
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
You're my favorite bird, and when you sing
I really do wish that you would wear my ring
No matter what they say, I am still the king
Now, the storm is coming
The storm is coming, yeah
I think that staying up is exactly what I need
Well take apart your head
Take apart the counting
And the flock it has bred
Goodbye to love
It's a ride that will push you up
Right against the wall
(Does everybody really need to know everyone?)
Take apart your head
(Do you really think you're really a part of it?)
Right against the wall
(And is your army really one of some thousands?)
Chew it up and swallow it
(And will you declare war on the loony bin?)
You burn bright but you run out
I fell asleep in the incline
I can't shake this little feeling
I'll never get anything right
Goodbye, you liar
Well, you sipped from her cup
But you don't own up to anything
Then you think you will inspire
(When I arrive will God be waiting and pacing around his throne?)
Take apart your head
(Will he feel a little Old Testament?)
I wish I could inspire
(And will he celebrate with fire and brimstone)
Take apart the demon, in the attic, to the left
(Yeah, I admit, I am afraid of the reckoning)
(Goodbye my love)
You burnt bright but you run out
(You wait right here, and they will come and pick you up)
Let's sleep on the incline
(I've been on pause but I'm shaking off the rust)
I can't shake this tiny feeling
(I've lost my charge, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right
(I'm on my own, I've been degaussed)
I never say anything right, right, right (I'm on my own)
Take me, take me, back to your bed
I love you so much that it hurts my head
Say "I don't mind you under my skin,"
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
But when we were made, we were set apart
Life is a test and I get bad marks
Now some Saint got the job
Of writing down my sins
The storm is coming
The storm is coming, yeah
You burnt bright but you run out
I fell asleep in the incline
I can't shake this little feeling
I never did anything right (I'm on my own)
I never did anything right (I'm on my own)
Take me, take me back to your bed
I love you so much, that it hurts my head
I don't mind you under my skin
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in
You're my favorite bird, and when you sing
I really do wish that you would wear my ring
No matter what they say, I am still the king
Now, the storm is coming
The storm is coming, yeah
Lyrics submitted by overoverme, edited by ked0261, SephNite
Degausser Lyrics as written by Garrett Tierney Brian Lane
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
I feel like he is saying "here is your storm again" beause right after that it the music becomes really hard kinda like the storm is here again...make sense?