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."
Hi, I'm Chuckie
Wanna play?
I told you size wasn't shit, that's why I murdered your nieces
Wasn't my fault they found they head cut in 88 pieces
Don't let 'em run, hurry up and catch 'em
You grab an arm, I grab an arm let's pull 'till we stretch 'em
Play pussy, get fucked means you're better off dead
I wanna see food so I fished in a child's head
Motherfuckers be weary 'cause I'm sick
Dead heads and frog legs, mmm cake mix!
Friday the 13th the night of the living dead
Vampire arms walking 'round givin niggas head
If you didn't die, I would say you got lucky
All bodies found dead, fuck it, blame it on Chuckie
But this is child's play, motherfucka!
Aw, fuck, Chuck's on a killin' spree
Gimme some barb and I'll start by killin me
When I murder, I tried to slack off
Now 100 missiles blew a little girl's back off
My name is Chuckie, some say I'm insane
You give me some gin, and I might eat a dog's brain
Give me a motherfuckin 15-pack
And I'll be damned if I don't bring 15 dead niggas back
A murder contest, you know I'll win it
'Cause in every mailbox, there be a head with a knife in it
I'm gettin' hungry, I need to be fed
I feel like eatin' a bag of barbequed broke legs
Bustin' necks with a motherf*ckin' brick!
Half my body is Chuckie, the other half is Bushwick
A short nigga always pumpin' some lead
I Haven't figured out a way to get my fist out your forehead
What up? Get up, sit up, you get lit up
A knife in his neck made a polar bear spit up
A 9, a Uzi is my only utensil
Inside his chest they found 10,000 pencils
You have the nerve to try to go against Chuck?
With fifty guns aimed at you, how the fuck you gonna duck, yo?
When I'm mad, I'm ready to slay
The graveyards are packed, but it ain't nothin' but child's play
You'd better murder me, put me to rest
'Cause if you don't I'll come out shootin' with my head in a bird's chest
Pissed off, the way I'm always soundin'
Killed a punk in '82, and they just now found him
Some say I'm crazy, some say I'm on crack
Before I die cut off my leg and let me die in Iraq
A born loser, some say I'm mindless
If I get pissed off, you leave naked and spineless
Worse than Charles Manson, never havin' a equal
Went sleepwalking last night and killed 300 people
When I woke up they had me chained to the floor
When they told me what I did I killed 300 more, yo
You wanna rumble? Then go get your war hat
I went to jail for assault with a carjack
I might be small but my nuts are big
The worst that you could do is let me keep your fuckin kids
'Cause I'm a teach 'em how to act
And if they ain't actin' right, they dyin' tonight
So, uh, ain't no use in your tryin' to spot 'em
I'll send you a motherfuckin note that says "Chuckie's got em!"
Wanna play?
I told you size wasn't shit, that's why I murdered your nieces
Wasn't my fault they found they head cut in 88 pieces
Don't let 'em run, hurry up and catch 'em
You grab an arm, I grab an arm let's pull 'till we stretch 'em
Play pussy, get fucked means you're better off dead
I wanna see food so I fished in a child's head
Motherfuckers be weary 'cause I'm sick
Dead heads and frog legs, mmm cake mix!
Friday the 13th the night of the living dead
Vampire arms walking 'round givin niggas head
If you didn't die, I would say you got lucky
All bodies found dead, fuck it, blame it on Chuckie
But this is child's play, motherfucka!
Aw, fuck, Chuck's on a killin' spree
Gimme some barb and I'll start by killin me
When I murder, I tried to slack off
Now 100 missiles blew a little girl's back off
My name is Chuckie, some say I'm insane
You give me some gin, and I might eat a dog's brain
Give me a motherfuckin 15-pack
And I'll be damned if I don't bring 15 dead niggas back
A murder contest, you know I'll win it
'Cause in every mailbox, there be a head with a knife in it
I'm gettin' hungry, I need to be fed
I feel like eatin' a bag of barbequed broke legs
Bustin' necks with a motherf*ckin' brick!
Half my body is Chuckie, the other half is Bushwick
A short nigga always pumpin' some lead
I Haven't figured out a way to get my fist out your forehead
What up? Get up, sit up, you get lit up
A knife in his neck made a polar bear spit up
A 9, a Uzi is my only utensil
Inside his chest they found 10,000 pencils
You have the nerve to try to go against Chuck?
With fifty guns aimed at you, how the fuck you gonna duck, yo?
When I'm mad, I'm ready to slay
The graveyards are packed, but it ain't nothin' but child's play
You'd better murder me, put me to rest
'Cause if you don't I'll come out shootin' with my head in a bird's chest
Pissed off, the way I'm always soundin'
Killed a punk in '82, and they just now found him
Some say I'm crazy, some say I'm on crack
Before I die cut off my leg and let me die in Iraq
A born loser, some say I'm mindless
If I get pissed off, you leave naked and spineless
Worse than Charles Manson, never havin' a equal
Went sleepwalking last night and killed 300 people
When I woke up they had me chained to the floor
When they told me what I did I killed 300 more, yo
You wanna rumble? Then go get your war hat
I went to jail for assault with a carjack
I might be small but my nuts are big
The worst that you could do is let me keep your fuckin kids
'Cause I'm a teach 'em how to act
And if they ain't actin' right, they dyin' tonight
So, uh, ain't no use in your tryin' to spot 'em
I'll send you a motherfuckin note that says "Chuckie's got em!"
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More Featured Meanings
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,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
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