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."
Why Aesop gave the palm of cunning
Over flying animals and running
To Renard Fox, I cannot tell
Though I have searched the subject well
Has not Sir Wolf an equal skill
In tricks and artifices shown
When he would do some life an ill
Or from his foes defend his own?
I think he has; and, void of disrespect
What seemed to him an ample cheese
Two balanced buckets took their turns
When drawers thence would fill their urns
Our fox went down in one of these
By hunger greatly pressed to sup
And drew the other empty up
Convince at once of his mistake
And anxious for his safety’s sake
He saw his death was near and sure
Unless some other wretch in need
The same moon’s image should allure
To take a bucket and succeed
To his predicament, indeed
Two days passed by, and none approached the well
Unhalting Time, as is his wont
Was scooping from the moon’s full front
And as he scooped Sir Renard’s courage fell
He crony wolf, of damorous maw
Poor fox at last above him saw
And cried, “My comrade, look you here!
See what abundance of good cheers!
A cheese of most delicious zest!
Which Faunas must himself have pressed
Of milk by heifer Io given
If Jupiter were sick in Heaven
The taste would bring to his appetite
I have taken, as you see, a bite
But still for both there is a plenty
Pray take the bucket that I have sent you
Come down, and get your share”
Although, to make the story fair
The fox had used his utmost care
The wolf (a fool to give him credit)
Went down because his stomach bid it
And by his weight pulled up
Sir Renard to the top
We need not mock this simpleton
For we ourselves such deeds have done
Our faith is prone to lend its ear
To anything which we desire or fear
The wolf and the fox
Jean de la Fontaine
Over flying animals and running
To Renard Fox, I cannot tell
Though I have searched the subject well
Has not Sir Wolf an equal skill
In tricks and artifices shown
When he would do some life an ill
Or from his foes defend his own?
I think he has; and, void of disrespect
What seemed to him an ample cheese
Two balanced buckets took their turns
When drawers thence would fill their urns
Our fox went down in one of these
By hunger greatly pressed to sup
And drew the other empty up
Convince at once of his mistake
And anxious for his safety’s sake
He saw his death was near and sure
Unless some other wretch in need
The same moon’s image should allure
To take a bucket and succeed
To his predicament, indeed
Two days passed by, and none approached the well
Unhalting Time, as is his wont
Was scooping from the moon’s full front
And as he scooped Sir Renard’s courage fell
He crony wolf, of damorous maw
Poor fox at last above him saw
And cried, “My comrade, look you here!
See what abundance of good cheers!
A cheese of most delicious zest!
Which Faunas must himself have pressed
Of milk by heifer Io given
If Jupiter were sick in Heaven
The taste would bring to his appetite
I have taken, as you see, a bite
But still for both there is a plenty
Pray take the bucket that I have sent you
Come down, and get your share”
Although, to make the story fair
The fox had used his utmost care
The wolf (a fool to give him credit)
Went down because his stomach bid it
And by his weight pulled up
Sir Renard to the top
We need not mock this simpleton
For we ourselves such deeds have done
Our faith is prone to lend its ear
To anything which we desire or fear
The wolf and the fox
Jean de la Fontaine
Lyrics submitted by theweeks123, edited by Mellow_Harsher
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I cant find this song anywhere but I agree, Especially the last bit sounds like the well and the lighthouse.