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."
Yeah (Triple A)
My mic sound good
Believe it or not (Dizz, you violated)
Karma
The only way I can heal (you know how I feel)
You know I always keep it real (you know how I feel)
Pour out my heart and my soul (you know how I feel)
It's no other way I really know, yeah (you know how I feel)
I know how it feel (uh)
Before Nas, I ain't know 'bout a deal (I didn't)
We was movin', I ain't know 'bout the pills (not yet)
You don't know about bills (nah)
This life is real, you don't know 'bout the field (real)
My man got life, I told him chill and just try to appeal (appeal it)
They think this money make it all good, how? (How?), things changed
Spend too much time in the hood now, know I could get killed (I know)
I'm in and out it like a robbery, might stop for a meal (I might)
Streets tricky, the way they did Nipsey, shit shocked me for real (neighborhood)
I'm seein' demons in my sleep, shit got me plottin' to kill (plottin')
Stay quiet, indictments comin', this is not just a drill (shh)
I ain't think that lean was real unless I'm poppin' the seal
Bottom niggas, we ain't stoppin' 'til it's top of the hill
Why the fake live a long time and the real die? (Why?)
They ain't got no morals, they ain't got nothin' they live by (nothin')
Seen a fiend from 2005, said she still high
I ain't have a dollar in my pocket, I was still fly
Nigga, I was still fresh (uh)
If you take a walk in my shoes, shit, that's a real test (real)
You never seen your man on the news or witness real death
I ain't seen that bitch in three summers, she said she still wet (yeah)
She know how I feel
The only way I can heal (you know how I feel)
You know I always keep it real (you know how I feel)
Pour out my heart and my soul (you know how I feel)
It's no other way I really know, yeah (you know how I feel)
She know how I feel, imagine bein' offered a deal (imagine)
To tell on your man, why the fuck you talkin' for real? (Why you talkin')
The whole court room white, shit get awkward for real (all white)
You thinkin' ten, the judge offer the will
You hope your lawyer get killed (kill 'em)
I don't even know how that feel (I don't)
Askin' me questions, I don't know 'bout that deal
If I ever have a son, I just hope that he real (I hope)
If I ever pass him a gun I just hope that he kill
Hope he don't know how it feel
Hope he don't know 'bout the pills (I hope)
Hope he don't know 'bout the coke, he don't know 'bout the drills (I hope)
Hope he know to grow, hope he know how to build (let's build, nigga)
Hope he got that look in his face where they know he for real (deadass)
Let him know he from a long line of gangsters (gangsters)
Let him know to keep his eyes on his own paper (paper)
Niggas'll get close to you just to see what you makin' (that's right)
Know your dad knew real shottas, niggas thought he was Jamaican (bumbaclaat)
Make sure my daughter stay away from y'all sons (y'all)
I went to DC, got put on to we are one in Solbiato (I remember)
First-class flight from LA, pack of Gelato
Netflix got me, can't stop watchin' El Chapo (Chapo)
Free Ralo, free Gato
Walk up out of nowhere, I feel like Wallo
Alias Don Pablo, studied the Narcos
I'ma drink until the bar close
Never stop, one day, we gotta all go (rollin')
Not afraid to see how it feel
Not afraid to feel somethin' real (real love)
What's goin' on in the world today?
Bein' desensitized just don't feel right
Don't wanna be an empty shell
My life's worth goin' through some hell
I never fail, it's just information
So I don't end up in the same location
Repeated myself like I'm insane
No growth, no change, but be ashamed
I wanna learn to be more patient
Learn how to get through all this temptation
I don't know if I would ever have kids
Don't want them to know what a broken heart is
I wish that when I close my eyes
Wish I could sleep straight through the night
I don't wanna be overthinkin'
Don't wanna end up always drinkin'
It's just a waste of my time
But when the fight for my life gets so hard I can cry
Sometimes I wish it didn't feel nothin' right
Why the fake live a long time and the real die? (Why?)
They ain't got no morals, they ain't got nothin' they live by (nothin')
Seen a fiend from 2005, said she still high
I ain't have a dollar in my pocket, I was still fly (oh, oh)
Nigga, I was still fresh
If you take a walk in my shoes, shit, that's a real test (real)
You never seen your man on the news or witness real death
I ain't seen that bitch in three summers, she said she still wet (yeah)
She know how I feel
The only way I can heal (you know how I feel)
You know I always keep it real (you know how I feel)
Pour out my heart and my soul (you know how I feel)
It's no other way I really know, yeah (you know how I feel)
My mic sound good
Believe it or not (Dizz, you violated)
Karma
The only way I can heal (you know how I feel)
You know I always keep it real (you know how I feel)
Pour out my heart and my soul (you know how I feel)
It's no other way I really know, yeah (you know how I feel)
I know how it feel (uh)
Before Nas, I ain't know 'bout a deal (I didn't)
We was movin', I ain't know 'bout the pills (not yet)
You don't know about bills (nah)
This life is real, you don't know 'bout the field (real)
My man got life, I told him chill and just try to appeal (appeal it)
They think this money make it all good, how? (How?), things changed
Spend too much time in the hood now, know I could get killed (I know)
I'm in and out it like a robbery, might stop for a meal (I might)
Streets tricky, the way they did Nipsey, shit shocked me for real (neighborhood)
I'm seein' demons in my sleep, shit got me plottin' to kill (plottin')
Stay quiet, indictments comin', this is not just a drill (shh)
I ain't think that lean was real unless I'm poppin' the seal
Bottom niggas, we ain't stoppin' 'til it's top of the hill
Why the fake live a long time and the real die? (Why?)
They ain't got no morals, they ain't got nothin' they live by (nothin')
Seen a fiend from 2005, said she still high
I ain't have a dollar in my pocket, I was still fly
Nigga, I was still fresh (uh)
If you take a walk in my shoes, shit, that's a real test (real)
You never seen your man on the news or witness real death
I ain't seen that bitch in three summers, she said she still wet (yeah)
She know how I feel
The only way I can heal (you know how I feel)
You know I always keep it real (you know how I feel)
Pour out my heart and my soul (you know how I feel)
It's no other way I really know, yeah (you know how I feel)
She know how I feel, imagine bein' offered a deal (imagine)
To tell on your man, why the fuck you talkin' for real? (Why you talkin')
The whole court room white, shit get awkward for real (all white)
You thinkin' ten, the judge offer the will
You hope your lawyer get killed (kill 'em)
I don't even know how that feel (I don't)
Askin' me questions, I don't know 'bout that deal
If I ever have a son, I just hope that he real (I hope)
If I ever pass him a gun I just hope that he kill
Hope he don't know how it feel
Hope he don't know 'bout the pills (I hope)
Hope he don't know 'bout the coke, he don't know 'bout the drills (I hope)
Hope he know to grow, hope he know how to build (let's build, nigga)
Hope he got that look in his face where they know he for real (deadass)
Let him know he from a long line of gangsters (gangsters)
Let him know to keep his eyes on his own paper (paper)
Niggas'll get close to you just to see what you makin' (that's right)
Know your dad knew real shottas, niggas thought he was Jamaican (bumbaclaat)
Make sure my daughter stay away from y'all sons (y'all)
I went to DC, got put on to we are one in Solbiato (I remember)
First-class flight from LA, pack of Gelato
Netflix got me, can't stop watchin' El Chapo (Chapo)
Free Ralo, free Gato
Walk up out of nowhere, I feel like Wallo
Alias Don Pablo, studied the Narcos
I'ma drink until the bar close
Never stop, one day, we gotta all go (rollin')
Not afraid to see how it feel
Not afraid to feel somethin' real (real love)
What's goin' on in the world today?
Bein' desensitized just don't feel right
Don't wanna be an empty shell
My life's worth goin' through some hell
I never fail, it's just information
So I don't end up in the same location
Repeated myself like I'm insane
No growth, no change, but be ashamed
I wanna learn to be more patient
Learn how to get through all this temptation
I don't know if I would ever have kids
Don't want them to know what a broken heart is
I wish that when I close my eyes
Wish I could sleep straight through the night
I don't wanna be overthinkin'
Don't wanna end up always drinkin'
It's just a waste of my time
But when the fight for my life gets so hard I can cry
Sometimes I wish it didn't feel nothin' right
Why the fake live a long time and the real die? (Why?)
They ain't got no morals, they ain't got nothin' they live by (nothin')
Seen a fiend from 2005, said she still high
I ain't have a dollar in my pocket, I was still fly (oh, oh)
Nigga, I was still fresh
If you take a walk in my shoes, shit, that's a real test (real)
You never seen your man on the news or witness real death
I ain't seen that bitch in three summers, she said she still wet (yeah)
She know how I feel
The only way I can heal (you know how I feel)
You know I always keep it real (you know how I feel)
Pour out my heart and my soul (you know how I feel)
It's no other way I really know, yeah (you know how I feel)
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.