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."
Friendly strangers on the path
Is there something i came here to do?
Wandering here, wandering there
I just wanna fit with you
Before the chaos hits the door
The sun was on my face
Can i hear you in the storm?
Is anybody there?
Iiiiiiiiiii.... (spinning into place)
Iiiiiiiiiii.... (spinning in outer space)
Now look up, look up again
Can you see the lights grow dim?
I hope you'll find i'm still the same
as a boy often in the rain
Before the dice hit the floor
And they have shown their hands
Its time to take another breath
And sink beneath the sand
Iiiiiiiiiiiii... (spinning into place)
Iiiiiiiiiiiii... (spinning in outer space)
Ill be with you
we'll be together
On our return
Returning from wherever
Ill be with you
We'll be together
On our return
Returning from wherever
Iiiiiiiiiiiii... (spinning into place)
Spinning in outer space
Ill be with you
We'll be together
Not quite sure how i feel about my interpretation on that second verse.
Is there something i came here to do?
Wandering here, wandering there
I just wanna fit with you
Before the chaos hits the door
The sun was on my face
Can i hear you in the storm?
Is anybody there?
Iiiiiiiiiii.... (spinning into place)
Iiiiiiiiiii.... (spinning in outer space)
Now look up, look up again
Can you see the lights grow dim?
I hope you'll find i'm still the same
as a boy often in the rain
Before the dice hit the floor
And they have shown their hands
Its time to take another breath
And sink beneath the sand
Iiiiiiiiiiiii... (spinning into place)
Iiiiiiiiiiiii... (spinning in outer space)
Ill be with you
we'll be together
On our return
Returning from wherever
Ill be with you
We'll be together
On our return
Returning from wherever
Iiiiiiiiiiiii... (spinning into place)
Spinning in outer space
Ill be with you
We'll be together
Not quite sure how i feel about my interpretation on that second verse.
Lyrics submitted by bowint26
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,
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This whole album to me is very spiritually themed, and knowing Simon that makes sense. The best part about it, IMO, is that it all seems to ask more questions and suggest a sort of spiritual blindness/confusion of the individual.
The first verse strikes me as a sort of prayer...
"Friendly strangers on the path" - To me this signifies a "god", or a spirit guide of sorts. I put "god" in quotes because I prefer it as an ambiguous term. To me, "god" means everything, the oneness within us all.
"Is there something i came here to do?" - One of humanity's greatest questions.
"Wandering here, wandering there I just wanna fit with you" - Demonstrating that in being lost & confused, unsure of his or her ultimate purpose, but knowing what he or she wants - to be one with god, the universe, everything, that this will be a solution to his or her "problem".
"Before the chaos hits the door The sun was on my face" - Thought he or she had it all figured out, just to be proven time and time again of his or her ignorance.
"Can i hear you in the storm? Is anybody there?" - Seeking "god"s company and aid in said turmoil, unsure as to how tangible and present it can or will make itself.
"Iiiiiiiiii'm spinning into place) Iiiiiiiiiii'm spinning in outer space)" - The earth spins in space. We as humans are spinning into our place, here on a home designed for our success. The individual is finding his purpose as a human spirit...spinning into place.
The second verse is extremely puzzling and I'm honestly still trying to grasp it, thought I have already had some thoughts and ideas...I'm not sure if I take it as a revelation of the individual, or a message from god/the universe, or what. I think it could be interpreted a lot of ways. I might take a shot at it at some point.
"Ill be with you we'll be together" - To me, these lines are about accepting that spiritual presence in our lives, in everything we do and everywhere we go, united as one.
"On our return Returning from wherever" - Meaning this presence/connection doesn't end with a moment of contact or revelation, it remains with you, always. <3
Thanks for the insight, Fuji. I agree with you whole-heartedly that this album is very spiritual in nature, and like you said, it's only natural since it's Simon Posford. The recurring theme for me is that it dares to ask some of the darker questions that spiritual experiences present us with. It's a very puzzling yet beautiful album, just like life itself. A masterpiece.