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."
She is juniper and roses
She is amethyst and pearl
And though she makes her home in Hollywood
She's really just a Berkeley girl
She's the breeze on Sunday morning
Blowing down a country lane
She's got the style of Paulette Goddard
And the smile of Joan Fontaine
And she drives a Karmann Ghia
Through the streets of Silver Lake
And the hills of Echo Park
She is crinoline and satin
She is leopard skin and lace
Hard to believe that she believed in me
When I was such a hopeless case
And she knows from love and service
Yes she knows from peace of mind
To be not sinister in purpose
And to never be unkind
And she loves a Tulsi garden
And she loves her rock 'n roll
And she's never far from my mind
She is juniper and roses
Guess I'll sing it once again
And though we are no longer lovers
I know she'll always be my friend
So if you're ever right beside her
Drivin' down the 101
Be thankful that you're with a Berkeley girl
Who's beautiful beneath the moon and the sun
She is amethyst and pearl
And though she makes her home in Hollywood
She's really just a Berkeley girl
She's the breeze on Sunday morning
Blowing down a country lane
She's got the style of Paulette Goddard
And the smile of Joan Fontaine
And she drives a Karmann Ghia
Through the streets of Silver Lake
And the hills of Echo Park
She is crinoline and satin
She is leopard skin and lace
Hard to believe that she believed in me
When I was such a hopeless case
And she knows from love and service
Yes she knows from peace of mind
To be not sinister in purpose
And to never be unkind
And she loves a Tulsi garden
And she loves her rock 'n roll
And she's never far from my mind
She is juniper and roses
Guess I'll sing it once again
And though we are no longer lovers
I know she'll always be my friend
So if you're ever right beside her
Drivin' down the 101
Be thankful that you're with a Berkeley girl
Who's beautiful beneath the moon and the sun
Lyrics submitted by jamesabsolutely
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She drives a Karmann Gia Through the streets of Silver Lake And the hills of Echo Park
Silver Lake and Echo Park are neighborhoods of LA - Echo Park is very steep, Chavez Ravine and Dodger Stadium
Paulette Goddard and Tulsi garden I don't think are right, either, but I don't have suggestions.
Paulette Goddard and Tulsi gardens are correct. Paulette Goddard was a famous film star in the '30's and '40's, she lived with Charlie Chaplin. Tulsi is an aromatic herb.<br /> I laughed so much at the line "she is criminal in satin" !!! I can't help but sing these lyrics now.
Joan Fontaine, not June Fontaine.
She is crinoline and satin - not criminal.
I think the correct lyrics are as follows:
She is juniper and roses She is amethyst and pearl And though she makes her home in Hollywood She's really just a Berkeley girl
She's the breeze on Sunday morning Blowing down a country lane She's got the style of Paulette Goddard And the smile of Joan Fontaine And she drives a Karmann Ghia Through the streets of Silver Lake And the hills of Echo Park
She is crinoline and satin She is leopardskin and lace Hard to believe that she believed in me When I was such a hopeless case
And she knows from love and service Yes she knows from peace of mind To be not sinister in purpose And to never be unkind And she loves a Tulsi garden And she loves her rock and roll And she's never far from my mind, no.
She is juniper and roses Guess I'll sing it once again And though we are no longer lovers I know she'll always be my friend
So if you're ever ride beside her Drivin' down the 101 Be thankful that you're with a Berkeley girl Who's beautiful beneath the moon and the sun