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."
Sometimes I sit and ponder, of all the fucked up things in my life
Can't make them go away, and not be afraid
I'll have you know I work a 9 to 5
I finish up and walk right out the door
When every day's the same
Not a dollar to my name
And they all waltz around with fancy cars
And dollar bills waving in my face
I could careless; I'm not impressed
Cuz all your smiles are the same
Life really sucks, well I'm alive
This is the life for me until the day I die
You may be strong and count on life
But when the night is young, the strong resolve to fight
Pick up the paper, shake my hand, and roll my eyes
Turn on the television, my blood is getting thick
So I write tonight To tell you about the things I can't explain
And I wave goodbye, I'm not standing by, to let you take control
Life really sucks, well I'm alive
This is the life for me until the day I die
You may be strong and count on life
But when the night is young, the strong resolve to fight
We carry questions through the night
When all the answers are denied
We carry questions through the night
When all the answers are denied
Sometimes I sit and wonder of all the fucked up things in this life
I can't pretend I'm right, so I stay and fight
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The strong resolve to fight
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The strong resolve to fight
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The strong resolve to fight
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The strong resolve to fight
Can't make them go away, and not be afraid
I'll have you know I work a 9 to 5
I finish up and walk right out the door
When every day's the same
Not a dollar to my name
And they all waltz around with fancy cars
And dollar bills waving in my face
I could careless; I'm not impressed
Cuz all your smiles are the same
Life really sucks, well I'm alive
This is the life for me until the day I die
You may be strong and count on life
But when the night is young, the strong resolve to fight
Pick up the paper, shake my hand, and roll my eyes
Turn on the television, my blood is getting thick
So I write tonight To tell you about the things I can't explain
And I wave goodbye, I'm not standing by, to let you take control
Life really sucks, well I'm alive
This is the life for me until the day I die
You may be strong and count on life
But when the night is young, the strong resolve to fight
We carry questions through the night
When all the answers are denied
We carry questions through the night
When all the answers are denied
Sometimes I sit and wonder of all the fucked up things in this life
I can't pretend I'm right, so I stay and fight
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The strong resolve to fight
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The strong resolve to fight
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The strong resolve to fight
Hey, hey, hey, hey
The strong resolve to fight
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