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 sold down the river
And I've been told that Jesus delivers
But don't believe everything that you bleed
It may mean nothing to you
But it means something to me
I got sidetracked and rearranged
And like a leper, I've been estranged
And drawn to fame like a moth to a flame
Living hand to mouth but I'm hoping for change
I've been drowning in the Queen's tears
I've been staring at a square face in the mirror for years
She feels like water and she tastes like wind
And her fire burns hotter when the night rolls in
You've been a saint, I've been a sinner
You're a fat cat, I'm getting thinner
I'm having trouble telling wrong from right
These slippery handshakes that keep me awake at night
Oh, I think you've seen me before
You had your eyes on mine 'cause your grass don't grow
This ain't a song, it's a call to arms
There's a gathering storm, better sound the alarm
I've been drowning in the Queen's tears
I've been staring at a square face in the mirror for years
She feels like water and she tastes like wind
And her fire burns hotter when the night rolls in
None of your friends ever know what to say
'Cause what you wish for tomorrow, you could have today
None of your friends ever know what to say
'Cause what you wish for tomorrow, you could have today
Up sister, keep your head on
Living in the past but the past is gone
Up sister, can you hear?
That the future is here, the future is here now
Up sister, keep your head on
Living in the past but the past is gone
Up sister, come clean
It's a slippery slope and you're the avalanche queen
None of your friends ever know what to say
'Cause what you wish for tomorrow, you could have today
None of your friends ever know what to say
'Cause what you wish for tomorrow, you could have today
And I've been told that Jesus delivers
But don't believe everything that you bleed
It may mean nothing to you
But it means something to me
I got sidetracked and rearranged
And like a leper, I've been estranged
And drawn to fame like a moth to a flame
Living hand to mouth but I'm hoping for change
I've been drowning in the Queen's tears
I've been staring at a square face in the mirror for years
She feels like water and she tastes like wind
And her fire burns hotter when the night rolls in
You've been a saint, I've been a sinner
You're a fat cat, I'm getting thinner
I'm having trouble telling wrong from right
These slippery handshakes that keep me awake at night
Oh, I think you've seen me before
You had your eyes on mine 'cause your grass don't grow
This ain't a song, it's a call to arms
There's a gathering storm, better sound the alarm
I've been drowning in the Queen's tears
I've been staring at a square face in the mirror for years
She feels like water and she tastes like wind
And her fire burns hotter when the night rolls in
None of your friends ever know what to say
'Cause what you wish for tomorrow, you could have today
None of your friends ever know what to say
'Cause what you wish for tomorrow, you could have today
Up sister, keep your head on
Living in the past but the past is gone
Up sister, can you hear?
That the future is here, the future is here now
Up sister, keep your head on
Living in the past but the past is gone
Up sister, come clean
It's a slippery slope and you're the avalanche queen
None of your friends ever know what to say
'Cause what you wish for tomorrow, you could have today
None of your friends ever know what to say
'Cause what you wish for tomorrow, you could have today
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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,
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I think the line "I've been drowning in the Queen's tears" refers to Canada still technically being a colony of the U.K..