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."
Never questioned anything about the way that you were raised
Keep your life so plain, everything the same
Every Sunday take your kids to church just like your folks did
Don't let them complain and never go insane
You're scared of the changind world round you
But you know what to do
[chorus]
So lock your doors and shut the blinds
Cause you know that the freaks are coming
Cover your ears and close your eyes
Cause you know that the freaks are coming
Don't let your kids be hypnotized
By the way of the world that you live in
So lock your doors and close your mind
So the freaks can't get in
Bleeding questions all the time wondering about this life
Show them the christian way, keep them nice and safe
Public school is not for you, there's too much sex and drug abuse
It's a scary place, those people have no chance
You're scared of the changind world round you
But you know what to do
[chorus]
Look away you'll be fine, don't let the evil of this world in your mind
Try to stay in the light
These freaks are wrong and you know you're that right
Look away you'll be fine, don't let the evil of this world in your mind
Try to stay in the light
Thses freaks are wrong and you know you're that right
So lock your doors and shut the blinds
Cause you know that the freaks are coming
Cover your ears and close your eyes
Cause you know that the freaks are coming
Don't let your kids be hypnotized
By the way of the world that you live in
Lock your doors and close your mind
Lock your doors and close your mind
Lock your doors and close your mind
So the freaks can't get in
Keep your life so plain, everything the same
Every Sunday take your kids to church just like your folks did
Don't let them complain and never go insane
You're scared of the changind world round you
But you know what to do
[chorus]
So lock your doors and shut the blinds
Cause you know that the freaks are coming
Cover your ears and close your eyes
Cause you know that the freaks are coming
Don't let your kids be hypnotized
By the way of the world that you live in
So lock your doors and close your mind
So the freaks can't get in
Bleeding questions all the time wondering about this life
Show them the christian way, keep them nice and safe
Public school is not for you, there's too much sex and drug abuse
It's a scary place, those people have no chance
You're scared of the changind world round you
But you know what to do
[chorus]
Look away you'll be fine, don't let the evil of this world in your mind
Try to stay in the light
These freaks are wrong and you know you're that right
Look away you'll be fine, don't let the evil of this world in your mind
Try to stay in the light
Thses freaks are wrong and you know you're that right
So lock your doors and shut the blinds
Cause you know that the freaks are coming
Cover your ears and close your eyes
Cause you know that the freaks are coming
Don't let your kids be hypnotized
By the way of the world that you live in
Lock your doors and close your mind
Lock your doors and close your mind
Lock your doors and close your mind
So the freaks can't get in
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
I think this is another song about religion, and the way that people use it to be a "shield". Good song.