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've been high
I've been down
My head in the clouds
And my hands in the ground
In the arms of the woman
I found my way home
And in the arms of the woman
I have been lost
When Im so lost that this losing feels like dying
I hope you'll be by me then
When Im so lost that this losing feels like dying
I hope you'll be by me then
As a young man I was afraid
Of my life
Oh what would I make
I will make Iove
What will I hate
What better sweet road will I choose to the grave
And if I'm old 'til this oldness has me dying
I hope youll be by me then
'Cause if I'm old 'til this oldness has me dying
I hope youll be by me then
I'm sick of you, sick of me
I'm sick of war, and I'm sick of peace
I'm sick of sound like I'm sick of silence
I grow sick of the darkness 'til I'm sick of the light
When, I'm so sick that this sickness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
Well, I'm so sick that this sickness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
I hope you'll be by me then
Once as a boy, I saw what happened
I saw them beat him down to the cold cold ground
I watched those big boys cut that man down
And I was too weak, too weak to take a stand
When, I'm so weak that this weakness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
When, I'm so weak that this weakness feels like dying
I hope you'll be by me then
But if I'm old 'til this oldness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
So I will live as I see fit
And there will be those who will not like it
But in the arms of a woman
I found my way home
So to the arms of a woman
I will go
And if I'm old til this oldness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
If I'm old 'til this oldness has me dying
I've been down
My head in the clouds
And my hands in the ground
In the arms of the woman
I found my way home
And in the arms of the woman
I have been lost
When Im so lost that this losing feels like dying
I hope you'll be by me then
When Im so lost that this losing feels like dying
I hope you'll be by me then
As a young man I was afraid
Of my life
Oh what would I make
I will make Iove
What will I hate
What better sweet road will I choose to the grave
And if I'm old 'til this oldness has me dying
I hope youll be by me then
'Cause if I'm old 'til this oldness has me dying
I hope youll be by me then
I'm sick of you, sick of me
I'm sick of war, and I'm sick of peace
I'm sick of sound like I'm sick of silence
I grow sick of the darkness 'til I'm sick of the light
When, I'm so sick that this sickness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
Well, I'm so sick that this sickness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
I hope you'll be by me then
Once as a boy, I saw what happened
I saw them beat him down to the cold cold ground
I watched those big boys cut that man down
And I was too weak, too weak to take a stand
When, I'm so weak that this weakness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
When, I'm so weak that this weakness feels like dying
I hope you'll be by me then
But if I'm old 'til this oldness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
So I will live as I see fit
And there will be those who will not like it
But in the arms of a woman
I found my way home
So to the arms of a woman
I will go
And if I'm old til this oldness has me dying
I hope you'll be by me then
If I'm old 'til this oldness has me dying
Lyrics submitted by Ballashoes
#27 (I Hope You'll Be by Me Then) Lyrics as written by David John Matthews
Lyrics © BUG MUSIC OBO FLAME ON MUSIC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Great song. first heard it live at Camden 8/7/07. now i got it on piedmont.. and its great