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."
A code embedded deep within!
Encrypted in vaults of bone and skin!
A tug, magnetic, toward the dark.
The wolf, voracious!
Hath witnessed it's mark.
Internal pressure growing, behind your eyes is mounting still.
Constant thoughts of evil are coming to a head inside you.
Humanity decreasing, blood is strong upon the passing winds.
To forsake would be a sin, let the night entrance you.
You'll feel the pull of the moonlight equilibrium.
Pitch black transmission of the soul.
Instincts from within rise!
We're all but beasts that hunger from inside.
Cannot escape this longing.
These symptoms don't remit, for death becoming sick.
The long hairs feel them stand, the nigh tworld calls again.
Your existence turning black, there'll be no coming back.
A desire to tear and hack, it's growing lord please help us!
You'll feel the pull of the moonlight equilibrium.
Pitch black transmission of the soul.
Instincts from within rise!
We're all but beasts that hunger from inside.
You must subdue this yearning, to feast!
That very eve the devil cameth,
And his will did force thine idle hands.
Open this heart of molten darkness,
Floweth foul rivers of the damned.
Blood of the lycan, within thee enthroned.
Heir to the cosmic fathers unknown.
Who traileth not far from where death would increase.
Seek they to murder to rid the world clean.
A curse by the ancients of bloodline befouled,
The clouds they are parting, the moon has come out!
Internal pressure growing, behind your eyes is mounting still.
Constant thoughts of evil are coming to a head inside you.
Humanity decreasing, blood is strong upon the passing winds.
To forsake would be a sin, let the night entrance you.
You'll feel the pull of the moonlight equilibrium.
Pitch black transmission of the soul.
Instincts from within rise!
We're all but beasts that hunger from inside.
Cannot repress these urges to kill!
To taste the red, your only will!
There's no salvation.
Encrypted in vaults of bone and skin!
A tug, magnetic, toward the dark.
The wolf, voracious!
Hath witnessed it's mark.
Internal pressure growing, behind your eyes is mounting still.
Constant thoughts of evil are coming to a head inside you.
Humanity decreasing, blood is strong upon the passing winds.
To forsake would be a sin, let the night entrance you.
You'll feel the pull of the moonlight equilibrium.
Pitch black transmission of the soul.
Instincts from within rise!
We're all but beasts that hunger from inside.
Cannot escape this longing.
These symptoms don't remit, for death becoming sick.
The long hairs feel them stand, the nigh tworld calls again.
Your existence turning black, there'll be no coming back.
A desire to tear and hack, it's growing lord please help us!
You'll feel the pull of the moonlight equilibrium.
Pitch black transmission of the soul.
Instincts from within rise!
We're all but beasts that hunger from inside.
You must subdue this yearning, to feast!
That very eve the devil cameth,
And his will did force thine idle hands.
Open this heart of molten darkness,
Floweth foul rivers of the damned.
Blood of the lycan, within thee enthroned.
Heir to the cosmic fathers unknown.
Who traileth not far from where death would increase.
Seek they to murder to rid the world clean.
A curse by the ancients of bloodline befouled,
The clouds they are parting, the moon has come out!
Internal pressure growing, behind your eyes is mounting still.
Constant thoughts of evil are coming to a head inside you.
Humanity decreasing, blood is strong upon the passing winds.
To forsake would be a sin, let the night entrance you.
You'll feel the pull of the moonlight equilibrium.
Pitch black transmission of the soul.
Instincts from within rise!
We're all but beasts that hunger from inside.
Cannot repress these urges to kill!
To taste the red, your only will!
There's no salvation.
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