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."
Who do you carry that torch for, my young man?
Do you believe in anything?
Do you carry it around just to burn things down?
Meet me tonight on the turnpike, my darling
'Cause we believe in everything
If we sweat all these debts then we're sure to drown
So let's strap ourselves up to this engine now
With our God who we found laying under the back seat
What did you learn tonight?
You're shouting so loud, you barely joyous, broken thing.
You're a voice that never sings, is what I say
You are freezing over hell
You are bringing on the end, you do so well
You can only blame yourself, it's what I say
Oh, order your daughters to ignore me think that will sort me?
And sweep me under the rug
While you're beating with a book everyone that book tells you to love
There is an ember in the heart of the kiln
And it's burning hot with love
Burning out my center till there's nothing but dust
Rolling me with care into your cigarette
Cause the God I believe in never worked on a campaign trail
What did you learn tonight?
You're shouting so loud, you barely joyous, broken thing
You're a voice that never sings, is what I say
You are freezing over hell
You are bringing on the end, you do so well
You can only blame yourself, it's what I say
Who do you carry that torch for, my young man?
Do you believe in anything?
Do you carry it around just to burn things to the ground?
What did you learn tonight?
You're shouting so loud, you barely joyous, broken thing
You're a voice that never sings, is what I say
You are freezing over hell
You are bringing on the end, you do so well
You can only blame yourself, it's what I say
Feels like we could escape
And I don't mind throwing away this filthy silver song
If you try running a maze of your lies
It's too hard to save if you've thrown out everyone
Send "The Archer's Bows Have Broken
Do you believe in anything?
Do you carry it around just to burn things down?
Meet me tonight on the turnpike, my darling
'Cause we believe in everything
If we sweat all these debts then we're sure to drown
So let's strap ourselves up to this engine now
With our God who we found laying under the back seat
What did you learn tonight?
You're shouting so loud, you barely joyous, broken thing.
You're a voice that never sings, is what I say
You are freezing over hell
You are bringing on the end, you do so well
You can only blame yourself, it's what I say
Oh, order your daughters to ignore me think that will sort me?
And sweep me under the rug
While you're beating with a book everyone that book tells you to love
There is an ember in the heart of the kiln
And it's burning hot with love
Burning out my center till there's nothing but dust
Rolling me with care into your cigarette
Cause the God I believe in never worked on a campaign trail
What did you learn tonight?
You're shouting so loud, you barely joyous, broken thing
You're a voice that never sings, is what I say
You are freezing over hell
You are bringing on the end, you do so well
You can only blame yourself, it's what I say
Who do you carry that torch for, my young man?
Do you believe in anything?
Do you carry it around just to burn things to the ground?
What did you learn tonight?
You're shouting so loud, you barely joyous, broken thing
You're a voice that never sings, is what I say
You are freezing over hell
You are bringing on the end, you do so well
You can only blame yourself, it's what I say
Feels like we could escape
And I don't mind throwing away this filthy silver song
If you try running a maze of your lies
It's too hard to save if you've thrown out everyone
Send "The Archer's Bows Have Broken
Lyrics submitted by bnjared, edited by Mellow_Harsher
The Archers Bows Have Broken Lyrics as written by Jesse Lacey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Mountain Song
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holy crap this song is amazing. i love the mixed styles on this album. both the demo of this song and the new recorded/re-written song are amazing.
it gives me chills haha