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."
40 40 dollars to the man that wanna go
20 20 to the sister with the ticket
At the grocery store
I wish someone would get mine
If you got an extra dollar
Can you lend it to a man who's poor
I've been up but I ain't down
I've been lost but now I'm found
I've been defeated for sure and now I got a chance
And the City better let me go
I can't wait to get a ride to to California
Cause it makes sense to go to California
If Hollywood is where it's at let go to California
Cause it makes to sense to go California
Can I give up (no) let's just (go)
LA (whoa) got no money sure
If you was me see you would do the same thing you know
So leave your bags at your mama's door
Going going going to the man in the back
Cut the line if you feel me
Let me hear you say it one more time
I've set mind to break free
Now my body is getting loose
While I'll sinking like a dancing tree
I've been up but I ain't down
I've been lost but now I'm found
I need to leave this for sure
If you got another seat on the bus
Would you let me go
I can't wait to get a ride to to California
Cause it makes sense to go to California
If Hollywood is where it's at let go to California
Cause it makes to sense to go California
Can I give up (no) let's just (go)
LA (whoa) got no money sure
If you was me see you would do the same thing you know
So leave your bags at your mama's door
I really gotta catch that ride
I need to find a place in line
I'm picking up an LA vibe
I really wanna go this time
I really gotta catch that ride
I need to find a place in line
I'm picking up an LA vibe
I really wanna go this time
Whoa whoa ooh
I can't wait to get a ride to to California
Cause it makes sense to go to California
If Hollywood is where it's at let go to California
Cause it makes to sense to go California
Can I give up (no) let's just (go)
LA (whoa) got no money sure
If you was me see you would do the same thing you know
So leave your bags at your mama's door
Interstate freeway green light go
You can even get a plane or a train if the traffic's slow
I bet you won't beat me
I've been waiting for a mighty long time
So you best believe
I've been up but I ain't down
I've been lost but now I'm found
I need a ticket for sure
If you got another seat on the plane
Would you let me go
(Hey) break free
(Hey) break free
(Hey) break free
(Hey) come go with me
(Hey) break free
(Hey) break free
(Hey) break free
(Hey) come go with me
Whoa ooh ooh
I can't wait to get a ride to to California
Cause it makes sense to go to California
If Hollywood is where it's at let go to California
Cause it makes to sense to go California
Can I can I give up (no) let's just (go)
LA (whoa) got no money sure
If you was me see you would do the same thing you know
So leave your bags at your mama's door!
20 20 to the sister with the ticket
At the grocery store
I wish someone would get mine
If you got an extra dollar
Can you lend it to a man who's poor
I've been up but I ain't down
I've been lost but now I'm found
I've been defeated for sure and now I got a chance
And the City better let me go
I can't wait to get a ride to to California
Cause it makes sense to go to California
If Hollywood is where it's at let go to California
Cause it makes to sense to go California
Can I give up (no) let's just (go)
LA (whoa) got no money sure
If you was me see you would do the same thing you know
So leave your bags at your mama's door
Going going going to the man in the back
Cut the line if you feel me
Let me hear you say it one more time
I've set mind to break free
Now my body is getting loose
While I'll sinking like a dancing tree
I've been up but I ain't down
I've been lost but now I'm found
I need to leave this for sure
If you got another seat on the bus
Would you let me go
I can't wait to get a ride to to California
Cause it makes sense to go to California
If Hollywood is where it's at let go to California
Cause it makes to sense to go California
Can I give up (no) let's just (go)
LA (whoa) got no money sure
If you was me see you would do the same thing you know
So leave your bags at your mama's door
I really gotta catch that ride
I need to find a place in line
I'm picking up an LA vibe
I really wanna go this time
I really gotta catch that ride
I need to find a place in line
I'm picking up an LA vibe
I really wanna go this time
Whoa whoa ooh
I can't wait to get a ride to to California
Cause it makes sense to go to California
If Hollywood is where it's at let go to California
Cause it makes to sense to go California
Can I give up (no) let's just (go)
LA (whoa) got no money sure
If you was me see you would do the same thing you know
So leave your bags at your mama's door
Interstate freeway green light go
You can even get a plane or a train if the traffic's slow
I bet you won't beat me
I've been waiting for a mighty long time
So you best believe
I've been up but I ain't down
I've been lost but now I'm found
I need a ticket for sure
If you got another seat on the plane
Would you let me go
(Hey) break free
(Hey) break free
(Hey) break free
(Hey) come go with me
(Hey) break free
(Hey) break free
(Hey) break free
(Hey) come go with me
Whoa ooh ooh
I can't wait to get a ride to to California
Cause it makes sense to go to California
If Hollywood is where it's at let go to California
Cause it makes to sense to go California
Can I can I give up (no) let's just (go)
LA (whoa) got no money sure
If you was me see you would do the same thing you know
So leave your bags at your mama's door!
Lyrics submitted by bananahero
Ride to California Lyrics as written by Aswan North Brian West
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great song, meh lyrics.