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."
I got something to say little girl
You might not like my style
But weve been hanging around this town
Just a little too long a while
You say youre gonna get your act together
Gonna take it out on the road
But if I dont get outta here pretty soon
My heads going to explode
Sure I like country music
I like mandolins
But right now I need a telecaster
Through a vibro-lux turned up to ten
Chorus:
Lets go to memphis in the meantime baby
Memphis in the meantime girl
I need a little shot of that rhythm baby
Mixed up with these country blues
I wanna trade in these ol country boots
For some fine italian shoes
Forget the mousse and the hairspray sugar
We dont need none of that
Just a little dabll do ya girl
Underneath a pork pie hat
Until hell freezes over
Maybe you can wait that long
But I dont think ronnie milsaps gonna ever
Record this song
Chorus twice
Bridge:
Maybe theres nothin happenin there
Maybe theres somethin in the air
Before our upper lips get stiff
Maybe we need us a big ol whiff
If we could just get off-a that beat little girl
Maybe we could find the groove
At least we can get a decent meal
Down at the rendez-vous
cause one more heartfelt steel guitar chord
Girl, its gonna do me in
I need to hear some trumpet and saxophone
You know sound as sweet as sin
And after we get good and greasy
Baby we can come back home
Put the cowhorns back on the cadillac
And change the message on the cord-a-phone
But...
Chorus
You might not like my style
But weve been hanging around this town
Just a little too long a while
You say youre gonna get your act together
Gonna take it out on the road
But if I dont get outta here pretty soon
My heads going to explode
Sure I like country music
I like mandolins
But right now I need a telecaster
Through a vibro-lux turned up to ten
Chorus:
Lets go to memphis in the meantime baby
Memphis in the meantime girl
I need a little shot of that rhythm baby
Mixed up with these country blues
I wanna trade in these ol country boots
For some fine italian shoes
Forget the mousse and the hairspray sugar
We dont need none of that
Just a little dabll do ya girl
Underneath a pork pie hat
Until hell freezes over
Maybe you can wait that long
But I dont think ronnie milsaps gonna ever
Record this song
Chorus twice
Bridge:
Maybe theres nothin happenin there
Maybe theres somethin in the air
Before our upper lips get stiff
Maybe we need us a big ol whiff
If we could just get off-a that beat little girl
Maybe we could find the groove
At least we can get a decent meal
Down at the rendez-vous
cause one more heartfelt steel guitar chord
Girl, its gonna do me in
I need to hear some trumpet and saxophone
You know sound as sweet as sin
And after we get good and greasy
Baby we can come back home
Put the cowhorns back on the cadillac
And change the message on the cord-a-phone
But...
Chorus
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Memphis in the Meantime Lyrics as written by John Hiatt
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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