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 - Introduction (instrumental)
II - In the name of God
Giving up the time we've got to live the life completely
Giving over to the lust that rageous in the mind
The Captain fills his place with gold while all the ship is sinking
Calls himself the Bishop-Prince and blood's his favorite wine
Gardens grow as people know and sense the smell of slaughter
Every soul in Saxon senses something's gone awry
The woman's in the wilderness - the beast has nearly got her
Men sorround the Bishop-Prince and sing their bloody cry
In the name of God you must die
All that's not our truth is a lie
In the name of God you must die
In the name of God you must die
If you want some teeth just ask why
In the name of God you must die
The pearl is trodden underfoot into the muck and mire
We'll take the Roman Gods except the names will all be changed
The woman's fed by ravens and her feet are in the fire
Cold and bare she's holding there 1260 days
In the name of God you must die
All that's not our truth is a lie
In the name of God you must die
In the name of God you must die
We won't let a sleeping dog lie
In the name of God you must die
And the Captain calls
If they won't pay they're soon be scratching the dungeon walls
From the highest height to the tenement halls - it's true
Look out we're coming for you
In the name of God you must die
In the name of God you must die
III - All I ask for
Free me - know me
Only you can make the morning mine
Lowly - humbly
As the sunlight lights the way
This is all I asked for
This is all I wanted to do
Is to live with you forever
And feel the beauty of your truth
This is all I asked for
To live a life that's pleasing to you
And be there ever after
You know my heart: you know it's true
Bravely, strongly - You have left the veil of death behind
Something drawing me out into your way
This is all I asked for
This is all I wanted to do
Is to live with you forever
And feel the beauty of your truth
This is all I asked for
To live a life that's pleasing to you
And to be there ever after
You know my heart: you know it's truth
All I want is you
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you and from you only
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
I seek your light through the veil of life
Please come and make me holy
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
(This is all I ask for)
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
(To live a life that's pleasing to you)
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
Only you
IV - Mercy for sale
In the name of God you must pay your penance
If you don't well that's a crime
If you want to buy your way to Heaven
We'll indulge you every time
Would you like to come?
We'll eat in secret
My water's stolen but it's fine
If you want know much more about me
Take a look in Proverbs 9
Mercy, mercy we're selling mercy
We are Christ and we'll bless you well
People crying Lord have mercy
But they've gone in through the gates of hell
It's true, look out we're comin' for you!
If you think the whore is only history
Are there those who teach her lies?
Wherever they believe what came out from her
That same spirit is still alive
Mercy, mercy we're selling mercy
We are Christ and we'll bless you well
People crying Lord have mercy
But they've gone in through the gates of hell
It's true, look out we're coming for you!
V - Keep silent
How can I keep silent when I know the truth?
How can I stand idly by with the previleged few?
There's criminals in power; the keepers of the lie
They say you've got salvation when they know you're gonna die
I don't wanna be the one to bring the curtain down
I'd much rather stay at home and keep what I have found
But Jesus didn't call me to do what I would do
So how can I keep silent when I know the truth?
What is it that binds me? What can keep me down?
And in my very heart of hearts who shall wear the crown?
But as I read and as I bleed, oh, my heart is fixed
And if I follow blind men, well, we'll all fall in the ditch
I don't wanna be the one to bring the curtain down
I'd much rather stay at home and keep what I have found
But Jesus didn't call me to do what I would do
So how can I keep silent when I know the truth?
Oh Lord I can't justify what the ones above me do
Oh Lord I can testify nothing more or less will do
And I'll be your witness in the wild
The dragons stands in front of me
The virgins been defiled, Oh God...
How can I keep silent when I know the truth?
I ask myself one question: What will Jesus do?
I don't wanna be the one to bring the curtain down
I'd much rather stay at home and keep what I have found
But Jesus didn't call me to do what I would do
So how can I keep silent when I know the truth?
VI - Upon the door
Sometimes comes a moment when there is no escape
A man by candlelight reads: "The just shall live by faith"
And a rushing ray of light comes and hits him at the core
I will write my words upon the door
History is hinged on him playing of the role
The dawn was coming after the dark night of the soul
The simple act has changed our world forever more
I will write my words upon the door
I will write my words upon the door
Martin saw the jailer with the woman in her bed
With simple words of life he struck the seventh head
The witness stands before the dragon and the whore
I will write my words upon the door
I will write my words upon the door
II - In the name of God
Giving up the time we've got to live the life completely
Giving over to the lust that rageous in the mind
The Captain fills his place with gold while all the ship is sinking
Calls himself the Bishop-Prince and blood's his favorite wine
Gardens grow as people know and sense the smell of slaughter
Every soul in Saxon senses something's gone awry
The woman's in the wilderness - the beast has nearly got her
Men sorround the Bishop-Prince and sing their bloody cry
In the name of God you must die
All that's not our truth is a lie
In the name of God you must die
In the name of God you must die
If you want some teeth just ask why
In the name of God you must die
The pearl is trodden underfoot into the muck and mire
We'll take the Roman Gods except the names will all be changed
The woman's fed by ravens and her feet are in the fire
Cold and bare she's holding there 1260 days
In the name of God you must die
All that's not our truth is a lie
In the name of God you must die
In the name of God you must die
We won't let a sleeping dog lie
In the name of God you must die
And the Captain calls
If they won't pay they're soon be scratching the dungeon walls
From the highest height to the tenement halls - it's true
Look out we're coming for you
In the name of God you must die
In the name of God you must die
III - All I ask for
Free me - know me
Only you can make the morning mine
Lowly - humbly
As the sunlight lights the way
This is all I asked for
This is all I wanted to do
Is to live with you forever
And feel the beauty of your truth
This is all I asked for
To live a life that's pleasing to you
And be there ever after
You know my heart: you know it's true
Bravely, strongly - You have left the veil of death behind
Something drawing me out into your way
This is all I asked for
This is all I wanted to do
Is to live with you forever
And feel the beauty of your truth
This is all I asked for
To live a life that's pleasing to you
And to be there ever after
You know my heart: you know it's truth
All I want is you
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you and from you only
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
I seek your light through the veil of life
Please come and make me holy
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
(This is all I ask for)
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
(To live a life that's pleasing to you)
Oh God I seek the glory that's from you
Only you
IV - Mercy for sale
In the name of God you must pay your penance
If you don't well that's a crime
If you want to buy your way to Heaven
We'll indulge you every time
Would you like to come?
We'll eat in secret
My water's stolen but it's fine
If you want know much more about me
Take a look in Proverbs 9
Mercy, mercy we're selling mercy
We are Christ and we'll bless you well
People crying Lord have mercy
But they've gone in through the gates of hell
It's true, look out we're comin' for you!
If you think the whore is only history
Are there those who teach her lies?
Wherever they believe what came out from her
That same spirit is still alive
Mercy, mercy we're selling mercy
We are Christ and we'll bless you well
People crying Lord have mercy
But they've gone in through the gates of hell
It's true, look out we're coming for you!
V - Keep silent
How can I keep silent when I know the truth?
How can I stand idly by with the previleged few?
There's criminals in power; the keepers of the lie
They say you've got salvation when they know you're gonna die
I don't wanna be the one to bring the curtain down
I'd much rather stay at home and keep what I have found
But Jesus didn't call me to do what I would do
So how can I keep silent when I know the truth?
What is it that binds me? What can keep me down?
And in my very heart of hearts who shall wear the crown?
But as I read and as I bleed, oh, my heart is fixed
And if I follow blind men, well, we'll all fall in the ditch
I don't wanna be the one to bring the curtain down
I'd much rather stay at home and keep what I have found
But Jesus didn't call me to do what I would do
So how can I keep silent when I know the truth?
Oh Lord I can't justify what the ones above me do
Oh Lord I can testify nothing more or less will do
And I'll be your witness in the wild
The dragons stands in front of me
The virgins been defiled, Oh God...
How can I keep silent when I know the truth?
I ask myself one question: What will Jesus do?
I don't wanna be the one to bring the curtain down
I'd much rather stay at home and keep what I have found
But Jesus didn't call me to do what I would do
So how can I keep silent when I know the truth?
VI - Upon the door
Sometimes comes a moment when there is no escape
A man by candlelight reads: "The just shall live by faith"
And a rushing ray of light comes and hits him at the core
I will write my words upon the door
History is hinged on him playing of the role
The dawn was coming after the dark night of the soul
The simple act has changed our world forever more
I will write my words upon the door
I will write my words upon the door
Martin saw the jailer with the woman in her bed
With simple words of life he struck the seventh head
The witness stands before the dragon and the whore
I will write my words upon the door
I will write my words upon the door
Lyrics submitted by Orlo
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Oh, and by the way. Martin Luther did not post the 95 Theses on the door of the Vatican. Tradition holds that he posted it on the door of the All Saint's Church (aka Castle Church) in Wittenberg, Germany on Halloween 1517.