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."
At junction 8 the traffic starts to slow
Artilleries of braking lights and bluish glow
Ascending in a plumage of twisted steel
Shattered glass and confetti dashed upon the wheel
When a car crash gets you off you've lost your grip
When a fuck is not enough you know you've slipped
When the church is full it means you've just been had
When the world has gone to seed you're so detached
Got a feeling that I want you to be there
Driving by on my way to somewhere else
I fill my lungs with a noxious burning smell
There is weed and gray concrete like this for miles
Dead souls in my rear view mirror hitch a ride for a while
I want to be loved
Artilleries of braking lights and bluish glow
Ascending in a plumage of twisted steel
Shattered glass and confetti dashed upon the wheel
When a car crash gets you off you've lost your grip
When a fuck is not enough you know you've slipped
When the church is full it means you've just been had
When the world has gone to seed you're so detached
Got a feeling that I want you to be there
Driving by on my way to somewhere else
I fill my lungs with a noxious burning smell
There is weed and gray concrete like this for miles
Dead souls in my rear view mirror hitch a ride for a while
I want to be loved
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Anybody know what's being whispered in the background?
Also, this track rocks.
I thought that this song was about a cannibal. "Get to know the chef...you get to know the chef".
@CoyoteLongshot you'll get them all in your shit..?
@CoyoteLongshot "You get demolished"<br />
@CoyoteLongshot "You get demolished"<br />
yeah i was wondering the exact same thing. almost sounds like "you get demolished". it is a great track but i am still yet to decide whether not this album is a progress or a slight fall back for PT. The album is certaintly growing on me though.
This album is definitely not a step back for Porcupine Tree. It really grows on you after a little bit :) I love it already
I thought the whispers were: "get aboard the ship". I thought to have heard that quite clearly.
That's what I hear too.
I've only been a fan for about a year, but I've heard their most recent albums and a lot off of the older albums. I have literally listened to this album for the entire day. I've fallen in love with it. I was definitely not disappointed, like I so often am with newer albums by other artists these days. While Steven Wilson isn't exactly attractive to me, I think I've fallen in love with his voice.
Holy shit. I think I'm going to listen to it again :)
You can definitely see what Steven was describing as his influence in this; the thoughts & feelings of somebody contemplating the cause/consequences of a major motor accident.
But as far as literary allusions, does anybody thing there is a bit of JG Ballard's 'Crash' in there too? (perhaps to cover the mindset of people not in a clear state of mind when on the road?)
As for the whispers... I either hear "you get abortion" which is unlikely, or "you get aboard this ship".
To me, the whispers sound like "You get to call the shot."
This is the perfect album for budding teenage artists.
I think it sounds like "You can't demolish it" but I'm not sure. I wasn't so sure about the album first time around but on second listen it sounds fantastic. If on third listen it's even better that's the sign of a classic.