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."
Here's a little story that must be told
And it goes a little something like this
This is a Misdemeanor exclusive
(If your radio is experiencing any kind of difficulties)
(Turn the volume up)
Yes, t-turn the volume up
Yes, t-t-turn the volume up
This is an exclusive (turn the volume up)
It's very necessary, on the contrary
No, you do not scare me, is you drinkin' Bloody Mary?
For this, you better hurry, before I have to bury
My attitude is bitchy, 'cause my period is heavy
I used to drive a Chevy, put twenties on that Bevy
My nigga was the shit, but then that stupid nigga left me
And now I'm lovin' Larry, but Larry go with Terri
And Terri is a freak, but it's his baby she will carry
The life he live's a fairy, cartoon like Tom and Jerry
My flow is legendary and your style is temporary
Yeah, you need to worry, like Jason, it gets scary
The words that I spit don't fit in that category
Is my vision blurry? My speech is very slurry
Me without Tim is like Jamaicans with no curry
And yes, it's necessary, so hurry, nigga, hurry
'Cause when this album drops, you whack MC's will all get buried
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Your style's very crummy, that's why you have no money
You always lookin' bummy, I don't care if you don't love me
Don't try to come before me, unless you are a dummy
Repeat, you'll lose your teeth and I would hate to call you gummy
Rainy or sunny, battle no way, honey
This not a game of Hide-and-Seek, go call ya mummy
It's about get so ugly, and I'ma keep y'all runnin'
Hiding from me, 'cause you know you are weak
You ain't sayin' nothin', I keep it jumpin' jumpin'
In your Kenwoods, I'm bumpin' sumthin' in ya trunk'n
You can say I'm buggin', 'cause when I come out bustin'
That's why y'all be discussin' who I like and who I'm fuckin'
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon
Fickidy, uh, uh, uh
C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon
I had a little homie named Paul Revere
Smoked blunt after blunt, guzzled 40s of beer
Used to swear up and down every first of the year
He was gon' quit smokin', but he never did
Watch y'all Huskey, it's about that time
Gettin' ready for the club 'round quarter to nine
Couple bottles of hypnotic in the back of the ride
Might spit like a girl, but I hit like a guy
Me and Missy ballin' up the avenue
Funky fresh dressed to impress, we mackin' dudes
Music biz only reason I ain't jackin' fools
You know bullshit walk and stackin' rules
Niggas keep drawin', the streets keep callin'
Drink til' I'm nice and uh, uh-uh, on'n
I'm bad luck, y'all mad 'cause y'all suck
Please do not try to fuck with this young buck
Please do not try to fuck with this young buck
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Turn the volume up
And it goes a little something like this
This is a Misdemeanor exclusive
(If your radio is experiencing any kind of difficulties)
(Turn the volume up)
Yes, t-turn the volume up
Yes, t-t-turn the volume up
This is an exclusive (turn the volume up)
It's very necessary, on the contrary
No, you do not scare me, is you drinkin' Bloody Mary?
For this, you better hurry, before I have to bury
My attitude is bitchy, 'cause my period is heavy
I used to drive a Chevy, put twenties on that Bevy
My nigga was the shit, but then that stupid nigga left me
And now I'm lovin' Larry, but Larry go with Terri
And Terri is a freak, but it's his baby she will carry
The life he live's a fairy, cartoon like Tom and Jerry
My flow is legendary and your style is temporary
Yeah, you need to worry, like Jason, it gets scary
The words that I spit don't fit in that category
Is my vision blurry? My speech is very slurry
Me without Tim is like Jamaicans with no curry
And yes, it's necessary, so hurry, nigga, hurry
'Cause when this album drops, you whack MC's will all get buried
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Your style's very crummy, that's why you have no money
You always lookin' bummy, I don't care if you don't love me
Don't try to come before me, unless you are a dummy
Repeat, you'll lose your teeth and I would hate to call you gummy
Rainy or sunny, battle no way, honey
This not a game of Hide-and-Seek, go call ya mummy
It's about get so ugly, and I'ma keep y'all runnin'
Hiding from me, 'cause you know you are weak
You ain't sayin' nothin', I keep it jumpin' jumpin'
In your Kenwoods, I'm bumpin' sumthin' in ya trunk'n
You can say I'm buggin', 'cause when I come out bustin'
That's why y'all be discussin' who I like and who I'm fuckin'
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon
Fickidy, uh, uh, uh
C'mon, c'mon
C'mon, c'mon
I had a little homie named Paul Revere
Smoked blunt after blunt, guzzled 40s of beer
Used to swear up and down every first of the year
He was gon' quit smokin', but he never did
Watch y'all Huskey, it's about that time
Gettin' ready for the club 'round quarter to nine
Couple bottles of hypnotic in the back of the ride
Might spit like a girl, but I hit like a guy
Me and Missy ballin' up the avenue
Funky fresh dressed to impress, we mackin' dudes
Music biz only reason I ain't jackin' fools
You know bullshit walk and stackin' rules
Niggas keep drawin', the streets keep callin'
Drink til' I'm nice and uh, uh-uh, on'n
I'm bad luck, y'all mad 'cause y'all suck
Please do not try to fuck with this young buck
Please do not try to fuck with this young buck
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress, ready to party
Funky-funky fresh dressed to impress (turn the volume up)
Turn the volume up
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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 Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.