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 may not believe in God
It doesn't mean I'm a lesser person
I still have a heart
And I know what it feels like to be broken
I may not believe in Jesus
But I believe in sacrifice
Life doesn't always stand a reason
And no one ever gets a chance to live it twice
But I'd rather risk my fate
Than to lose my faith
In the lovin', the hatin'
The constant debatin'
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
The living that die
The constant deny
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
I may not believe in regrets
But I believe in salvation
Some things I'd rather forget
We choose what we see
And we see what we choose to believe
In the name of the Father
The Son, and the Holy Ghost
I'm not concerned with religion
After all it's what's inside that matters most
But I'd rather risk my fate
Than to lose my faith
In the lovin', the hatin'
The constant debatin'
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
The living that die
The constant deny
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
But I'd rather risk my fate
Than to lose my faith
Yeah, I'd rather risk my fate
Than to lose my faith
In the lovin', the hatin'
The constant debatin'
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
The living that die
The constant deny
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Raise the alarm
It doesn't mean I'm a lesser person
I still have a heart
And I know what it feels like to be broken
I may not believe in Jesus
But I believe in sacrifice
Life doesn't always stand a reason
And no one ever gets a chance to live it twice
But I'd rather risk my fate
Than to lose my faith
In the lovin', the hatin'
The constant debatin'
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
The living that die
The constant deny
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
I may not believe in regrets
But I believe in salvation
Some things I'd rather forget
We choose what we see
And we see what we choose to believe
In the name of the Father
The Son, and the Holy Ghost
I'm not concerned with religion
After all it's what's inside that matters most
But I'd rather risk my fate
Than to lose my faith
In the lovin', the hatin'
The constant debatin'
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
The living that die
The constant deny
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
But I'd rather risk my fate
Than to lose my faith
Yeah, I'd rather risk my fate
Than to lose my faith
In the lovin', the hatin'
The constant debatin'
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
The living that die
The constant deny
The chaos, the calm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
Raise the alarm
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Raise the alarm
Lyrics submitted by abstractdrawing
Raise the Alarm Lyrics as written by Christopher John Cheney
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Seems like Cheney's decide to tackle the age old religion question and has revealed himself to be on the atheist side of things.
He defends atheism against the common argument levelled by religious folk that it breeds amorality- "I still have a heart", "it's what's inside that matters most".
He seems to suggest that religion may be a form of self-delusion- "We choose what we see, And we see what we choose to believe" (people who decide to believe in religion will imagine 'proofs' of their beliefs).
His only faith is in loving, hating, debating etc that go on in the world, and that they will continue to exist
i reckon its possible that chris cheney wrote this song about someone else being an athiest. its like he is defending the belief as a belief instead of as his beliefs.
or it might not be about religion/athieism. it could be that chris cheney is a humanist. so hes saying hed rather die than to lose his faith in people
'I may not believe in God, It doesn't mean I'm a lesser person. I still have a heart, And I know what it feels like to be broken.'
Cheesy, but still, YES. <3
I've been called some brutal shit after telling people I'm atheist. I mean, it's not like they actually make me feel BAD for being atheist; I don't value insults like 'What the fuck, you're so weird.' but no one likes to have people you thought were trustworthy give you that look like you're absolutely disgusting.
I think the song is from the perspective of humanism. Inpsite of all 'the lovin, the hatin, the constant debating, the chaos the calm' he doesn't want to lose faith in humanity. He'd rather risk his fate (in eternity) then believe religion and lose hope in humanity. Perhaps he'd refering to the Christian belief of original sin and that humanity's only hope is redemption through Christ. He rejects this idea.
I agree, it is a song blatantly defending atheism. For he doesn't believe in God, and he is not concerned with religion. Presumably then Chris is an Atheist.
I should clarify. The song is from a blatantly atheist perspective, and is defending it.
is not about atheism. his just making a pint that you don't have to be religious to be a good person (in the i may not believe in god... parts).
the song is more about how some people would defend religion blindly and doesn't agree with that. he rather question some thing he believes in than just lose faith in it. raising the alarm is because of all the consequences of this people that can't tolerate questioning or criticism.
I think it's about atheism, because if you don't believe in God, you are an atheist.
There are other religions you know that right? Not all religions believe in a god/your god/gods/or any gods at all.
In fact, I'm certain of it. It is pro-debate, but it is pro-debate from the perspective of an atheist. Indeed many atheists want to debate religion. There is no evidence in this song's lyrics to suggest he is religious. The lyrics state the contrary.
"But I'd rather risk my fate, Than to lose my faith." He is saying that he disagrees with some things from the Bible, and he would rather risk going to hell then compromise his beliefs.
"In the lovin, the hatin," Says that religion can cause both love and hate
"The constant debatin, The chaos, the calm." This is just describing all the debating, fighting, wars and politics that surround religion.
"The constant deny" The religious are denying reality, because religion is much nicer.
There's one problem with your interpretation gelaa, though I don't necessarily have a better explanation. It says:<br /> "I'd rather risk my fate than lose my faith IN<br /> the lovin, the hatin" etc.<br /> Which means to me that all of these things in the chorus are things that he has faith in. Which seems a little strange. Thoughts?