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."
Julianne, thinking back I can remember just one thing
Wondering what might have been
Julianne, when I met you, you were in between a girl and a young lady
When we led another…
Julianne, I beg your pardon if I ask too many questions,
I can be an asshole sometimes, tell me please, how did it happen?
Julianne, ohh-ohh-ohh-oh-oh, Julianne.
Julianne, ohh-ohh-ohh-ohhhhh-ooohhoo, Julianne, ohh.
Julianne, everything looks so much bigger from down here
It seems life alone I could not understand or stand to bear
And in my mind I behold a scene too wonderful for sight
Julianne you’re flying, floating high above the tops of trees
I see your hands holding two fistfuls of dandelions
While casting colors down it seems into the summer breeze
Julianne (Julianne, c’mon let’s go Julianne) are you alone tonight?
(Julianne, broken hearts are meant to mend)
Julianne (Julianne) are you alone tonight?
(Julianne, I hope you’re alright)
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
Julianne, I know you came to see some other guys
Could you pretend otherwise just for a moment?
Julianne I barely know you but I’m so in love, for real
I mean maybe… but I could be backwards
Julianne, ohh-ohh-ohh-oh-oh, Julianne.
Julianne, ohh-ohh-ohh-ohhhhh-ooohhoo, Julianne, ohh.
Julianne since we last spoke the river took the water home
I dream you’re anywhere, hope you’re anywhere else but there.
Julianne (Julianne, c’mon let’s go Julianne) are you alone tonight?
(Julianne, broken hearts are meant to mend)
Julianne (Julianne) are you alone tonight?
(Julianne, I hope you’re alright)
Are you alright?
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
You’re mine.
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
I’m all yours.
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
I’m all yours.
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
Has anyone ever dreamed of you? Of all that you could be?
Has anyone ever dreamed of you, like me?
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything’s alright…
Wondering what might have been
Julianne, when I met you, you were in between a girl and a young lady
When we led another…
Julianne, I beg your pardon if I ask too many questions,
I can be an asshole sometimes, tell me please, how did it happen?
Julianne, ohh-ohh-ohh-oh-oh, Julianne.
Julianne, ohh-ohh-ohh-ohhhhh-ooohhoo, Julianne, ohh.
Julianne, everything looks so much bigger from down here
It seems life alone I could not understand or stand to bear
And in my mind I behold a scene too wonderful for sight
Julianne you’re flying, floating high above the tops of trees
I see your hands holding two fistfuls of dandelions
While casting colors down it seems into the summer breeze
Julianne (Julianne, c’mon let’s go Julianne) are you alone tonight?
(Julianne, broken hearts are meant to mend)
Julianne (Julianne) are you alone tonight?
(Julianne, I hope you’re alright)
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
Julianne, I know you came to see some other guys
Could you pretend otherwise just for a moment?
Julianne I barely know you but I’m so in love, for real
I mean maybe… but I could be backwards
Julianne, ohh-ohh-ohh-oh-oh, Julianne.
Julianne, ohh-ohh-ohh-ohhhhh-ooohhoo, Julianne, ohh.
Julianne since we last spoke the river took the water home
I dream you’re anywhere, hope you’re anywhere else but there.
Julianne (Julianne, c’mon let’s go Julianne) are you alone tonight?
(Julianne, broken hearts are meant to mend)
Julianne (Julianne) are you alone tonight?
(Julianne, I hope you’re alright)
Are you alright?
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
You’re mine.
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
I’m all yours.
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
I’m all yours.
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything is alright, no one in sight
Has anyone ever dreamed of you? Of all that you could be?
Has anyone ever dreamed of you, like me?
Summertime at the river-side in the sunshine, everything’s alright…
Lyrics submitted by sexualhealy08
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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