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."
He's just a singer
A natural born guitar ringer
Kind of clinger
To sad ole songs.
He's not a walk behinder
He's a new note finder
His name's a reminder
Of a blues man that's already gone.
So he started drinkin'
Took some things that messed up his thinkin'
He was surely sinkin'
When she came along.
He was alone in the spot lights
Not too much left in sight
She changed all that one night
When she sang him this song.
Hey, baby I love you
Hey, baby I need you
Hey, baby you ain't got to prove to me
You're some kind of macho man
You've wasted so much of your life
Runnin' through the dark night
Let me shine a little love light
Down on that blues man.
--- Instrumental ---
He got so sick from speedin'
All the things they said he was needin'
If he is to keep on pleasin'
All of his fans.
He got cuffed on dirt road
He got sued over no show
He came and took all that ole load
Down off that blues man
And he sang.
Hey, baby I love you too
Hey, baby I need you
Hey, baby I do get tired
Of this travellin' band.
I'm over 40 years old now
Nights would be cold now
If you hadn't stuck it out
With this blues man.
He's over 40 years old now
Nights would be so cold now
If she hadn't hung around
With that blues man...
--- Instrumental to fade ---
A natural born guitar ringer
Kind of clinger
To sad ole songs.
He's not a walk behinder
He's a new note finder
His name's a reminder
Of a blues man that's already gone.
So he started drinkin'
Took some things that messed up his thinkin'
He was surely sinkin'
When she came along.
He was alone in the spot lights
Not too much left in sight
She changed all that one night
When she sang him this song.
Hey, baby I love you
Hey, baby I need you
Hey, baby you ain't got to prove to me
You're some kind of macho man
You've wasted so much of your life
Runnin' through the dark night
Let me shine a little love light
Down on that blues man.
--- Instrumental ---
He got so sick from speedin'
All the things they said he was needin'
If he is to keep on pleasin'
All of his fans.
He got cuffed on dirt road
He got sued over no show
He came and took all that ole load
Down off that blues man
And he sang.
Hey, baby I love you too
Hey, baby I need you
Hey, baby I do get tired
Of this travellin' band.
I'm over 40 years old now
Nights would be cold now
If you hadn't stuck it out
With this blues man.
He's over 40 years old now
Nights would be so cold now
If she hadn't hung around
With that blues man...
--- Instrumental to fade ---
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Blues Man Lyrics as written by Hank Jr. Williams
Lyrics © BOCEPHUS MUSIC INC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
The Blues Man [A Tribute to Hank Williams Jr.] song meanings
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