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."
My grandma and your grand-ma were sit-tin' by the fire
My grandma told your grand-ma "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
My flag boy and your flag boy were sit-tin' by the fire
My flag boy told your flag boy "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire"
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
See that guy all dressed in green I-ko, I-ko, un-day
He's not a man, he's a lov-in' ma-chine jock-a mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
My grandma told your grand-ma "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Look at my king all dressed in red I-ko, I-ko, un-day
I bet-cha five dol-lars he'll kill you dead, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
My flag boy and your flag boy were sit-tin' by the fire
My flag boy told your flag boy "I'm gon-na set your flag on fire"
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
See that guy all dressed in green I-ko, I-ko, un-day
He's not a man, he's a lov-in' ma-chine jock-a mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Talk-in' 'bout, hey now hey now I-ko, I-ko, un-day
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
Jock-a-mo fee-no ai na-né, jock-a-mo fee na-né
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I was in Portland, Oregon, a few years ago, hanging out with my friend Aaron when this song came on. I listened to the words and said, "I really don't know what they're talking about in this song."
Aaron replied, "I think it's pretty clear they're talking bout hey now."
It's a Mardi Gras song. The "flags" & "the King" are references to Mardi Gras, and the two grandmothers support two different Mardi Gras Chiefs so they're basically smack talking to each other that their side is going to beat the other side. =) <br /> <br /> And the Dixie Cups version is my personal favorite.
@GTony you might want to check bact to my comment to gain some understanding of the song!<br /> Scotty
@scottyboyd I actually understand the song pretty well, having researched it. I was telling a funny story, the point of which you seem to have missed.
@GTony Then I'd have to say that it's pretty sad that you think that the systems, brutality, and ugliness of slavery were as you say the subject of "a funny story" How about the verse:<br /> There big buck a shirt of tan, Iko iko han nee, He big boss' breedin man. Choch-a-moe finah nee!<br /> YES, now there is some kind of funny story about being forced to "breed" with someone for the sake of producing a child into slavery to add to the valuable possessions of the "Boss"! I guess anyone can clearly see just what you think of as "funny"!
@scottyboyd<br /> <br /> Ok, first of all, you don't know me. When I say I've researched the song, you don't know how much I've researched or what I know. You're being rather presumptuous, unless your goal is keyboard warrioring, in which case I guess you're doing fine. I'm not the person you want to talk down to, though, because I'm very likely on your side, and will respond to new information positively. I can learn from this experience, whether or not you talk down to me.<br /> <br /> I never said the song was a "funny story"; I was talking about my story of me and my friend being clueless. How you took that to mean I thought the song was a "funny story", I have no idea. The song itself is not funny, and your outrage is appropriate. Had I known the background you're talking about, would I have commented in a way that is blind to that? Hell no. My flippancy, and willing to indulge in word play - not mockery of slavery - is a result of having looked only a little bit into the history of the song, and knowing that it had something to do with Mardi Gras. When I claimed to understand the song pretty well, that was clearly the Dunning Kruger effect, having its way with me. If you've never screwed up like that, good job.<br /> <br /> Now that you've told me more about the song, I have an entirely different opinion about it. Thank you for the education.
@GTony My me-maw an yo maw-maw dancin round a fire.<br /> My me-maw see yo maw-maw step into that fire!<br /> Talka now eh now, eh now Iko IKO Wah-nee.<br /> Jock-a-moe finah neh, Jock-a-moe finah neh!<br /> <br /> Here Maw-Maw an Big Maw-Maw they hair all white<br /> Iko IKO, whan eh.<br /> They love yous whit a big might,<br /> Choke-a-moe phen ah hay. Choke-a-moe phen ah hay!<br /> <br /> My sista an your sista,<br /> walkin by the bayou.<br /> My sista an your sista jest jump into that bayou!<br /> Talka now, hey now, hey now.<br /> Iko IKO whan neeh, chuck-a-moe fenah hey!<br /> Chuck-a-moe fenah hey!