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."
God is good and fate is great
When it feels so strong it's hard to wait
You never know how it might unfold
Hearts to break and bodies to hold
Time will tell but it never gets old
Like I told you I'm in for the long long
Had to of been one of those things that took place in outer space
A match made in heaven, not a scratch on her face
Angels must have smoked some dust
Singing songs about "In God We Trust"
Something slide, but this is a must
Like I told you there's a time for finding out
People try to tell me what not to do
You shouldn't make it with a younger girl and
Too many chances for the foot to drop,
I tried to tell 'em that I found a pearl, well
Like I told you be careful what you're asking for
This is to Brutus
Gotta mess of a better hell, ow
This is to Judas
Even you never had my back
She was the cutest thing that I ever did see
A drink in her hand and I don't mean tea
She was with a dude, but I just didn't care
I had to find out, these moments are rare
And Stevie says, "All is fair"
Like I told you there is something for everyone
Well, I guess I never told you some things
That I really, really wanted to say
Did I do everything I could do,
Or did the mice just need to play?
Like I told you there's more than meets the eye
This is to Brutus
Gotta mess of a better hell, ow
I said this is to Judas
Even you never had my back
I'm not trying to point fingers at you
And I'm not trying to lay any blame
But when it comes to the punishment
Girl you know how to bring the pain
Like I told you I'd do it all again
This is to Brutus
I gotta mess of a better hell, ow
I said this is to Judas
Even you never had my back
Come on
This is to Brutus
There's a jury to the woman's lap, ow
This is to Judas
Even you never had my back
When it feels so strong it's hard to wait
You never know how it might unfold
Hearts to break and bodies to hold
Time will tell but it never gets old
Like I told you I'm in for the long long
Had to of been one of those things that took place in outer space
A match made in heaven, not a scratch on her face
Angels must have smoked some dust
Singing songs about "In God We Trust"
Something slide, but this is a must
Like I told you there's a time for finding out
People try to tell me what not to do
You shouldn't make it with a younger girl and
Too many chances for the foot to drop,
I tried to tell 'em that I found a pearl, well
Like I told you be careful what you're asking for
This is to Brutus
Gotta mess of a better hell, ow
This is to Judas
Even you never had my back
She was the cutest thing that I ever did see
A drink in her hand and I don't mean tea
She was with a dude, but I just didn't care
I had to find out, these moments are rare
And Stevie says, "All is fair"
Like I told you there is something for everyone
Well, I guess I never told you some things
That I really, really wanted to say
Did I do everything I could do,
Or did the mice just need to play?
Like I told you there's more than meets the eye
This is to Brutus
Gotta mess of a better hell, ow
I said this is to Judas
Even you never had my back
I'm not trying to point fingers at you
And I'm not trying to lay any blame
But when it comes to the punishment
Girl you know how to bring the pain
Like I told you I'd do it all again
This is to Brutus
I gotta mess of a better hell, ow
I said this is to Judas
Even you never had my back
Come on
This is to Brutus
There's a jury to the woman's lap, ow
This is to Judas
Even you never had my back
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Ok, the song's fine, but this is Anthony's weakest album (imo). I don't hate the album, but with some of these lyrics (a drink and I don't mean tea.... come on) and the (incredibly notable) absence of Johnny, no wonder its reviews are so poor. The song's kinda catchy and the album does have some good tracks, Meet Me at the Corner and the stand out track Police Station. The narrator of Dante's Inferno encounters Brutus and Judas, among others, but I suppose that's merely coincidence. As for the meaning, well it's pretty fucking obvious, no need to say anything rly. The first verse is the best and the first line is the best of that, God is good and fate is great. It kinda gets worse from there, oh well.
i would like to think that this song has its shares of good lyrics for example Brendan's Death Song, Did I Let You Know, Happiness Loves Company, Police Station, and Meet Me at the Corner. all these songs in my opinion have great lyrics i love this song especially because he came on with a different approach to a song than before but whatever your opinion is i still think this album has some great lyrics as for the absense of frusciante... hey klinghoffer did a damngood job as a replacement he's no frusciante and he never will be but this is a new band now