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."
This song is for my mama,
This song is for you.
Hey mr. president,
Tomorrow i'm paying my rent
My fuel is runnin' low
And i've got places to go
Quit slowin' me down
Can we talk about the education of our children?
A book is worth more than a bomb any day
And remember a mirror to africa
Who will bring the cure before it's too late.
Don't you see the hurt in their eyes?
So much disappointment in many faces
Use your heart and not your pride
We can't go on and keep pretending
Please mr. president
Where's all the money you spent,
Food is fallin low
And they have nowhere to go,
Quit slowin me down.
I ask you to have mercy on us father,
You think we know the rules by now,
We can't go starting wars with hearts of hatred
Out nations greed won't make it better
Or quiet the fears in our hearts
Don't you see the hurt in their eyes?
So much disappointment in all of their faces
Use your heart and not your pride
We can't go on and keep pretending
O please mr. president
Dear mr. president
I hope you got the letter I sent
A dollar only goes so far
And we need help here, no matter who we are
See we come from different worlds and different places
Until there's one great land, one nation under god,
Times are getting harder and we need you to be like moses
And lead your people through
Please be careful, be careful,
Of what you do, what you do
This song is for you.
Hey mr. president,
Tomorrow i'm paying my rent
My fuel is runnin' low
And i've got places to go
Quit slowin' me down
Can we talk about the education of our children?
A book is worth more than a bomb any day
And remember a mirror to africa
Who will bring the cure before it's too late.
Don't you see the hurt in their eyes?
So much disappointment in many faces
Use your heart and not your pride
We can't go on and keep pretending
Please mr. president
Where's all the money you spent,
Food is fallin low
And they have nowhere to go,
Quit slowin me down.
I ask you to have mercy on us father,
You think we know the rules by now,
We can't go starting wars with hearts of hatred
Out nations greed won't make it better
Or quiet the fears in our hearts
Don't you see the hurt in their eyes?
So much disappointment in all of their faces
Use your heart and not your pride
We can't go on and keep pretending
O please mr. president
Dear mr. president
I hope you got the letter I sent
A dollar only goes so far
And we need help here, no matter who we are
See we come from different worlds and different places
Until there's one great land, one nation under god,
Times are getting harder and we need you to be like moses
And lead your people through
Please be careful, be careful,
Of what you do, what you do
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
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
it's "& remember, our merit to Africa. Who will bring the cure before it's too late"