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."
Backwards Betty lives a backwards life
She's obsessed with Grazia and carving knives
The wind in the willows is flowing through her hair
She doesn't really care cos her face is a picture
Her face is a picture
Her face is a picture
Her face is a picture
She's trying to get with ya
But her face is a picture
In a plastic frame and the usual fixtures
Got one boogie board where we like to boogie
Boogie woogie on the bed when she's screaming screw me
Visions in the morning get her stomach turning
L'oreal, Clearasil, Maybelline, get your fill
Come with me we'll take a trip to Mars
Get your face in the Mirror
Get your name in the Star
Watch your value burn up in the Sun
Make a name for yourself in front of everyone
Be my assistant and I'll cut you in two
Then I'll put you back together you'll be as good as new
Trust in me I'll take you to the top
Take me by the hand and then the party won't stop
Call the lovers, fighters and a witness
To inform the world of who you've been with
It's a tragedy when you're on your own
Find the values in your mothers bosom
And swap them for your indecision
Let your vanity find it's own way home
I will be the dragon crying rainbow tears
I will care for your interest for a thousand years
I will watch over you wherever you go
Cos your face is a picture..let the whole world know
Money and friends will be a thing of the past
Cos your face is a picture we'll be having a blast
Caviar breakfast in a gold plated yacht
They'll be taken aback by all the power you've got
Call the lovers, fighters and a witness
To inform the world of who you've been with
It's a tragedy when you're on your own
Find the values in your mothers bosom
And swap them for your indecision
Let your vanity find it's own way home
Be part of the system...
She's obsessed with Grazia and carving knives
The wind in the willows is flowing through her hair
She doesn't really care cos her face is a picture
Her face is a picture
Her face is a picture
Her face is a picture
She's trying to get with ya
But her face is a picture
In a plastic frame and the usual fixtures
Got one boogie board where we like to boogie
Boogie woogie on the bed when she's screaming screw me
Visions in the morning get her stomach turning
L'oreal, Clearasil, Maybelline, get your fill
Come with me we'll take a trip to Mars
Get your face in the Mirror
Get your name in the Star
Watch your value burn up in the Sun
Make a name for yourself in front of everyone
Be my assistant and I'll cut you in two
Then I'll put you back together you'll be as good as new
Trust in me I'll take you to the top
Take me by the hand and then the party won't stop
Call the lovers, fighters and a witness
To inform the world of who you've been with
It's a tragedy when you're on your own
Find the values in your mothers bosom
And swap them for your indecision
Let your vanity find it's own way home
I will be the dragon crying rainbow tears
I will care for your interest for a thousand years
I will watch over you wherever you go
Cos your face is a picture..let the whole world know
Money and friends will be a thing of the past
Cos your face is a picture we'll be having a blast
Caviar breakfast in a gold plated yacht
They'll be taken aback by all the power you've got
Call the lovers, fighters and a witness
To inform the world of who you've been with
It's a tragedy when you're on your own
Find the values in your mothers bosom
And swap them for your indecision
Let your vanity find it's own way home
Be part of the system...
Lyrics submitted by DungareesJim
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Obviously about 'stars' that grew up wanting to be famous. It's from their entourage's perspective. They pity and resent the famous one, but she's getting what she wanted. It's like the universal anthem of artist's personal assistant. It also reminds me of my scene friend who got into modeling and was simultaneously happy and depressed and empty. And pretty. Picture-face indeed, but nothing behind it except blind hunger for more more more, more meaning, more exposure, more money. I played this at parties and most people danced, but some stood back and watched and listened to the lyrics. They drank more than the others.