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."
Silence, listen
Write it down, take it in
I was never interested in shadows,
they've nothing for me.
And i will never be your shadow though you look right through me.
This is not the way to live a life, it's not a life.
It's just a way of wasting time, I wont waste time.
Cause you give up...
On everything...
Thrown away, your only chance to ever know me in and out.
Im shutting down now.
If i was the best thing ever for you, you wont see cuz its gone now.
I can hear the things you say, all your complaints.
Where's tomorrow? I hate today, wont this go away?
But while you shut your eyes, it's passing by. I'll wave goodbye.
But its not me thats on your mind. Am i on your mind?
You give up...
On everything...
Thrown away, your only chance to ever know me in and out.
Im shutting down now.
If i was the best thing ever for you, you wont see cuz its gone now.
One more last chance
Makes no difference
They're all the same...
They're all the same...
One more last chance
Makes no difference
They're all the same...
They're all the same...
Thrown away, your only chance to ever know me in and out.
Im shutting down now.
If i was the best thing ever for you, you wont see cuz its gone now.
I'll watch you throw this away.
oh dont you throw it away.
one day it will be worth it.
Oh don't you throw this away
I know it's worth it to you
Oh no, oh no
Write it down, take it in
I was never interested in shadows,
they've nothing for me.
And i will never be your shadow though you look right through me.
This is not the way to live a life, it's not a life.
It's just a way of wasting time, I wont waste time.
Cause you give up...
On everything...
Thrown away, your only chance to ever know me in and out.
Im shutting down now.
If i was the best thing ever for you, you wont see cuz its gone now.
I can hear the things you say, all your complaints.
Where's tomorrow? I hate today, wont this go away?
But while you shut your eyes, it's passing by. I'll wave goodbye.
But its not me thats on your mind. Am i on your mind?
You give up...
On everything...
Thrown away, your only chance to ever know me in and out.
Im shutting down now.
If i was the best thing ever for you, you wont see cuz its gone now.
One more last chance
Makes no difference
They're all the same...
They're all the same...
One more last chance
Makes no difference
They're all the same...
They're all the same...
Thrown away, your only chance to ever know me in and out.
Im shutting down now.
If i was the best thing ever for you, you wont see cuz its gone now.
I'll watch you throw this away.
oh dont you throw it away.
one day it will be worth it.
Oh don't you throw this away
I know it's worth it to you
Oh no, oh no
Lyrics submitted by cuppycakes
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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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I love the interesting song titles Kenotia has. I think this song means that this girl is telling a guy "if you want to end it with me, then think long and hard because I'm not coming back, and it would be the biggest mistake if he ends it." She also can't take it anymore. This is basically a goodbye song to an ex-boyfriend.
i think it is about ending a relationship with someone that is so negative on everything that he doesn't seem to care about her anymore. "While you shut your eyes, it's passing by. I'll wave goodbye."