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."
He spent his whole life being too young,
To live the life thats in his dreams,
At night he lies awake and he wonders
why can't that be me
Cause in his life he's filled with all these good intentions.
He's left a lot of things he'd rather not mention right now.
Just before he says goodnight,
He looks up with a little smile at me and he says
If I could be like that (like that)
I'd would give anything
Just to live one day
In those shoes.
If I could be like that (like that), what would I do?
What would I do? yeah
Now in dreams we run.
She spends her days up in the north park,
Watching the people as they pass.
And all she wants is just a little piece of this dream, is that too much to ask?
With a safe home, and a warm bed, on a quiet little street.
All she wants is just that something to hold onto now, that's all she needs. (all she needs)
Yeah!
If I could be like that, I would give anything
Just to live one day, in those shoes.
If I could be like that, what would I do?
What would I do?
Yeahee yeah oh ohhh yeah
Falling into this, in dreams we run away.
If I could be like that, I would give anything
Just to live one day, in those shoes.
If I could be like that, what would I do?
What would I do? x3
Falling in.
I feel I'm falling in to this again.
To live the life thats in his dreams,
At night he lies awake and he wonders
why can't that be me
Cause in his life he's filled with all these good intentions.
He's left a lot of things he'd rather not mention right now.
Just before he says goodnight,
He looks up with a little smile at me and he says
If I could be like that (like that)
I'd would give anything
Just to live one day
In those shoes.
If I could be like that (like that), what would I do?
What would I do? yeah
Now in dreams we run.
She spends her days up in the north park,
Watching the people as they pass.
And all she wants is just a little piece of this dream, is that too much to ask?
With a safe home, and a warm bed, on a quiet little street.
All she wants is just that something to hold onto now, that's all she needs. (all she needs)
Yeah!
If I could be like that, I would give anything
Just to live one day, in those shoes.
If I could be like that, what would I do?
What would I do?
Yeahee yeah oh ohhh yeah
Falling into this, in dreams we run away.
If I could be like that, I would give anything
Just to live one day, in those shoes.
If I could be like that, what would I do?
What would I do? x3
Falling in.
I feel I'm falling in to this again.
Lyrics submitted by priOphelia, edited by lions10803
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Wow im surprised noone has commented this song.... its great! sad though its about just ordinary people that dont have a lot in life that wish they had just a lil more like other people do.... and live like they have dreamed! very cool song!
This song is about the contrast between what two different people wish they could have for just one day. The man who spends his nights in california "watching the stars on the big screen" (or watching the celebrities at the movies)"obviously leading a simple life without very much accomplishment. "Then he lies awake and he wonders, Why can't that be me" basically saying if they can do it why cant I? he looks up to me and asks (asking god in my opinion)that for just one day he could live in those shoes of someone who matters. The man HAS something to hold onto. <br /> <br /> "She spends her days up in the north park," Notice how immediately it starts out oposite of the mans verse. Emphasizes the difference between the two. "She watches the people as they pass" Oposite of the man she is observing the common people rather than the celebrities on the big screen. <br /> <br /> "And all she wants is just<br /> A little piece of this dream, <br /> Is that too much to ask<br /> With a safe home, and a warm bed, <br /> On a quiet little street<br /> All she wants is just that something to<br /> Hold onto, that�s all she needs"<br /> <br /> Unlike the man this girl plays an important role in society and is constantly receiving attention. And she wishes the exact oposite of the man. to be normal and to have something to hold onto rather than than be a star on the bigscreen. Great Song!!!
Great song..I agree with skidder...Its about about people who just sometimes wish they could have a little more..even if only for a day....but if you look at the second verse..there could also be a hidden meaning about appreciating what you have because others may not be so lucky...
fa sho
I feel that this song is about the American Dream. Having a beautiful girl to spend the rest of your days with, becoming a homeowner, having children etc. This man in California dreams about this every night, willing to give up anything just to have a little taste of the dream we all chase.
@commons4101 I really feel like it's from different persons perspective. But we all differ in ways we could never even think to compare, im not disagreeing im simply sharing my opinion after reading yours. I feel like he sings of a boy then a girl feeling like all I wanted was to be loved and to love forever in a small house with out many shiny things. "Just that something to hold on to is that too much to ask" seeing people who have 100x the simplicity she dreamed of it looks like it comes so easy but she just destined to live without
First off let me say "I love this song". That being said, I have listened to the lyrics about a hundred times. Here's the second half of the first chorus
Cause in his life he is filled With all these good intentions He’s left a lot of things He’d rather not mention right now {A young child would not have good intentions or things he'd rather not mention right now. This would implicate the boy was at least in his late teens.}
But just before he says goodnight, He looks up with a little smile at me, {This sounds like the action of a small child.}
All in all I would say that the lyrics sounded great but in the end made no real sense. They were just written to convey a certain feeling which they did very well.
@jimfun71 please consider this look, its been almost 9 years and I heard it different at 19 29 and now 39<br /> <br /> "he spent his whole life being too young, to live the life thats in his dreams<br /> <br /> At night he lies awake and he wonders, why cant that be me<br /> (Sounds like a young man 19-21, in college, spent his life being too young, high school, college, maybe grad school, still too young need a masters to reach his dreams)<br /> "He said his life was filled with all these good intentions, he left alot of things hed rather not mention, right now"<br /> ( he set out on his journey with the best of intent, pure soul, as some graduates of high school are sometimes, but instead hes made alot of mistakes, but hed rather not dwell on them, not right now)<br /> "Just before he says goodnight, he looks up with a little smile at me and he says, if i could be like that i would give anything, just to live one day in those shoes what would i do"<br /> ( maybe a now homeless man on the street looking up at you to say goodnight, or he is looking to the heavens praying asking God man if he could be like that, before he says goodnight, remembering his dreams as a young man and the endless possibilities that being like that couldve taken him to find his smile some while he dozes off.) <br /> I heard it kinda like u when i was19 and even 29 but at 39 I hear it differently. We maybe all wrong maybe all right but beautiful song. BTW the video for the song has the lyrics I shared I just found I like video lyrics more
no wait, wait, wait... while I fully 100% recognize the lyrics you have to start the song, ive heard them, but at different parts of the song. On youtube premium right now It starts with, " he spent his whole life being too young, to live the life thats in his dreams At night he lies awake and he wonders..." and so on?? But guys ive heard the California verse too but it wasn't where it's placed. Is his lyrics really that far off??
By the way I was going to underage night at clubs here where I live watching 3 doors down when they were strangers with candy, and also under their name before that. They had their first 2 names changed on copyright infringement. What an incredible song writing ability this song has many Interpretations and i myself heard 3 different ones through about my 20 years listening. Someone please help me solve this
To me it’s about an orphaned or abused child. Someone who watches other children playing and just being with a loving family. This is something that the child longs for,” a safe home and a warm bed “. Every time I hear a song like this I just want to reach in and save them. Oh well it’s a beautiful song none the less.