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."
Nah nah nah...hey...hey...
I was down to my very last song
Didn't even know which way to go
Couldn't believe that this was happening
I said, "God please don't put me back"
I didn't even see there was blood on my tracks
I was still compromising
And then the rain came and the sun went down below
And the city arose from the water it was all for show
And I realized what was happening
I had to pay the toll
It's true that you lose your mind when you can't control
But I was a fool to think I could play this game with you
Cause I was born to walk this higher road forever
There's no understanding all the things that people do
Cause when this higher road comes down, we'll be born together
Said when this higher road comes down, we'll be both forever
Yeah I was down to my very last friend
I was on highway Kevin again
Tell me why it's so hard to stay
In your place in the arms of who you want
Seems I got too close to the sun
I was burning burning burning burning
And then the rain came and the sun went down below
And the city arose from the water and the water flowed
And I realized what was happening
You have to pay the toll
True that you gain your soul
When you lose control
Fool to think that I could play this game with you
Cause I was born to walk this higher road forever
See there's no understanding all the things that people do
But when this higher road comes down, we'll be born together
Said when this higher road comes down, we'll be both forever
Hey at night I toss and turn
Cause it seems I haven't learned
That the more that you fight and the more that you tried
That's the way that you're making the storm
Oh if I had my way
I would bring you back to stay
But you're gone and all I got is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Highway rose
Highway rose
Highway rose
I was down to my very last song
Didn't even know which way to go
Couldn't believe that this was happening
I said, "God please don't put me back"
I didn't even see there was blood on my tracks
I was still compromising
And then the rain came and the sun went down below
And the city arose from the water it was all for show
And I realized what was happening
I had to pay the toll
It's true that you lose your mind when you can't control
But I was a fool to think I could play this game with you
Cause I was born to walk this higher road forever
There's no understanding all the things that people do
Cause when this higher road comes down, we'll be born together
Said when this higher road comes down, we'll be both forever
Yeah I was down to my very last friend
I was on highway Kevin again
Tell me why it's so hard to stay
In your place in the arms of who you want
Seems I got too close to the sun
I was burning burning burning burning
And then the rain came and the sun went down below
And the city arose from the water and the water flowed
And I realized what was happening
You have to pay the toll
True that you gain your soul
When you lose control
Fool to think that I could play this game with you
Cause I was born to walk this higher road forever
See there's no understanding all the things that people do
But when this higher road comes down, we'll be born together
Said when this higher road comes down, we'll be both forever
Hey at night I toss and turn
Cause it seems I haven't learned
That the more that you fight and the more that you tried
That's the way that you're making the storm
Oh if I had my way
I would bring you back to stay
But you're gone and all I got is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Is the crown that you wore
Highway rose
Highway rose
Highway rose
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