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."
Stepping steps of floating floats
That float above such shining notes
They know just where we should rest
Policed and waiting patiently
We knew where we'd gone and where we'd be
We know this should never drown the seeds (just where their feet are moving)
(Just why their feet are moving), oh
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all gone
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all gone
Deaf and dumb but fluent speech
Speaking speaks and listening
While eating piled tangled sugar weaves (just where their feet are moving)
(Just why their feet are moving), oh
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all gone
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all gone
You are my hands, do as I please
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
You are my hands, do as I please
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
A messy mess of fruits and pies
That dance about these aging eyes
They know just what becomes of seeds (just where their feet are moving)
(Just why their feet are moving)
A busy suit of dirty boys
Feeling rude in lazy lies
Oh my, my, oh my, my, my my (oh my, oh my, my, my my), oh
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all
You are my hands, do as I please (my mind is all, my mind is all)
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
You are my hands, do as I please (my mind is all, my mind is all)
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
You are my hands, do as I please (my mind is all, my mind is all)
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
That float above such shining notes
They know just where we should rest
Policed and waiting patiently
We knew where we'd gone and where we'd be
We know this should never drown the seeds (just where their feet are moving)
(Just why their feet are moving), oh
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all gone
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all gone
Deaf and dumb but fluent speech
Speaking speaks and listening
While eating piled tangled sugar weaves (just where their feet are moving)
(Just why their feet are moving), oh
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all gone
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all gone
You are my hands, do as I please
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
You are my hands, do as I please
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
A messy mess of fruits and pies
That dance about these aging eyes
They know just what becomes of seeds (just where their feet are moving)
(Just why their feet are moving)
A busy suit of dirty boys
Feeling rude in lazy lies
Oh my, my, oh my, my, my my (oh my, oh my, my, my my), oh
My mind is all
My mind is all
My mind is all
You are my hands, do as I please (my mind is all, my mind is all)
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
You are my hands, do as I please (my mind is all, my mind is all)
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
You are my hands, do as I please (my mind is all, my mind is all)
I feel my body moving, I feel these feet a-moving
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what is this song about?