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."
You kick the blow, now you gotta kick the guy
You sat alone under billowing sky
If I feel god judging me,
Well I fell into the water, now I'm free.
My friends don't really get me, think I'm the only one
Well I sold my soul to Jesus and since then I've had no fun
Behind every tree is a cutting machine and a kite fallen from grace
Inside every man is a heart of sand you can see it in his face.
He'll tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
He'll tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
The wind and I, we speak the same, but he don't hear so well.
You're gonna have to curse him well you're gonna have to yell.
The sky and I, we've had our fights and I'm coming down to rain,
If the rain come round and it don't come out, then I'll never have to speak again,
I can tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
Can tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
The captains got his boots on and he's heading out the door,
Leaving his lady alone thinkin' "he don't love me no more"
He's done with all this bullshit, he's going back to war,
If heaven is as heaven does then this is hell for sure
And he'll tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
He'll tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
You kick the blow, now you gotta kick the guy
You sat alone under billowing sky*
If I feel god judging me,
Well I fell into the water, now I'm free
You sat alone under billowing sky
If I feel god judging me,
Well I fell into the water, now I'm free.
My friends don't really get me, think I'm the only one
Well I sold my soul to Jesus and since then I've had no fun
Behind every tree is a cutting machine and a kite fallen from grace
Inside every man is a heart of sand you can see it in his face.
He'll tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
He'll tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
The wind and I, we speak the same, but he don't hear so well.
You're gonna have to curse him well you're gonna have to yell.
The sky and I, we've had our fights and I'm coming down to rain,
If the rain come round and it don't come out, then I'll never have to speak again,
I can tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
Can tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
The captains got his boots on and he's heading out the door,
Leaving his lady alone thinkin' "he don't love me no more"
He's done with all this bullshit, he's going back to war,
If heaven is as heaven does then this is hell for sure
And he'll tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
He'll tick tick tick tick tick tick tick away.
Another second lost with every fallen grain.
You kick the blow, now you gotta kick the guy
You sat alone under billowing sky*
If I feel god judging me,
Well I fell into the water, now I'm free
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I would agree with damienfan09 since she seems to being comparing "the guy" to a drug habit. And when you refer to selling your soul to something its usually a negative connotation.