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 fall down in the street
I need somebody to help me to my feet
The dreams I'm having make me scared of the heat
But thanks to you I know it time I could be
Anything you told me that from day one
Said I could be the president so what the heck I'll go be one
You taught me to use manners and showed me the family tree
And now everyday I thank God for my family
I don't know where I'd be
It's so astonishing
Thank you Dad for working so hard so that I could be
Anything that I wanted to be and thank you Kimberly
For saying every single prayer that you said for me
So I just sit back and relax knowing that God has plan for me
And thank you family, thank you family
For sporting me in everything
I just don't know where I'd be
Without your love, with out you mommy
And I know that may sound incredibly cheesy but who cares
This is for my family
I remember Mom when you took me to school
You drove the Jeep because I though it was cool
It was my first day of high school
And if it wasn't for you I'd swear I would look like a fool
You see that's just the thing you would do anything
It doesn't matter about the pain you would do it for me
And now I'm older and my eyes are open wider you see
I swear to God ill never forget my family
And don't think I forgot about you, my Kimberly
I love you so much I cry just trying to sing
And I'd do anything to be as great a my Dad
Everybody come meet the best guy I'm sure glade I already have.
So I just sit back and relax knowing that God has plan for me
And thank you family, thank you family
For sporting me in everything
I just don't know where I..d be
Without your love, with out you mommy
And I know that may sound incredibly cheesy but who cares
This is for my family
So I just sit back and relax knowing that God has plan for me
And thank you family, thank you family
For sporting me in everything
I just don't know where I'd be
Without your love, with out you mommy
And I know that may sound incredibly cheesy but who cares
This is for my family
I need somebody to help me to my feet
The dreams I'm having make me scared of the heat
But thanks to you I know it time I could be
Anything you told me that from day one
Said I could be the president so what the heck I'll go be one
You taught me to use manners and showed me the family tree
And now everyday I thank God for my family
I don't know where I'd be
It's so astonishing
Thank you Dad for working so hard so that I could be
Anything that I wanted to be and thank you Kimberly
For saying every single prayer that you said for me
So I just sit back and relax knowing that God has plan for me
And thank you family, thank you family
For sporting me in everything
I just don't know where I'd be
Without your love, with out you mommy
And I know that may sound incredibly cheesy but who cares
This is for my family
I remember Mom when you took me to school
You drove the Jeep because I though it was cool
It was my first day of high school
And if it wasn't for you I'd swear I would look like a fool
You see that's just the thing you would do anything
It doesn't matter about the pain you would do it for me
And now I'm older and my eyes are open wider you see
I swear to God ill never forget my family
And don't think I forgot about you, my Kimberly
I love you so much I cry just trying to sing
And I'd do anything to be as great a my Dad
Everybody come meet the best guy I'm sure glade I already have.
So I just sit back and relax knowing that God has plan for me
And thank you family, thank you family
For sporting me in everything
I just don't know where I..d be
Without your love, with out you mommy
And I know that may sound incredibly cheesy but who cares
This is for my family
So I just sit back and relax knowing that God has plan for me
And thank you family, thank you family
For sporting me in everything
I just don't know where I'd be
Without your love, with out you mommy
And I know that may sound incredibly cheesy but who cares
This is for my family
Lyrics submitted by bleedthecoloursopen
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
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
"i love you so much i cry just trying to sing." ^best lyrics.