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."
And that's why Chinks do it, Japs do it
Up in Lapland Laps do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
In Spain, the best upper sets do it
Lithuanians and Letts do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it
Not to mention the Fins
Folks in Siam do it - think of Siamese twins
Some Argentines, without means, do it
People say in Boston even beans do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
The Dragon Flies in the weeds do it
Sentimental Centipedes do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Mosquitoes, Heaven forbid, do it
So does every Katydid do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
The most sedate barnyard cows do it
When the chances here climbs (?)
High brown-eyed owls do it
They're supposed to be wise
Birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Electric eels I might add do it
Though it shocks em I know
Why ask if shad do it - ho do dee oh do!
In shallow shoals English soles do it
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it
Up in Lapland Laps do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
In Spain, the best upper sets do it
Lithuanians and Letts do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it
Not to mention the Fins
Folks in Siam do it - think of Siamese twins
Some Argentines, without means, do it
People say in Boston even beans do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
The Dragon Flies in the weeds do it
Sentimental Centipedes do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Mosquitoes, Heaven forbid, do it
So does every Katydid do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
The most sedate barnyard cows do it
When the chances here climbs (?)
High brown-eyed owls do it
They're supposed to be wise
Birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
Electric eels I might add do it
Though it shocks em I know
Why ask if shad do it - ho do dee oh do!
In shallow shoals English soles do it
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it
Lyrics submitted by IamMajosha
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