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."
She's a pillar by the day, a fire by the night
She's a famous architect, like Frank Lloyd Wright
When it comes to tightrope walkin', she's world renowned
Her elegance and charm are worthy of praise
And I heard she used to throw for the Oakland A's
She works two hundred and sixty eight hours a week, I've yet to meet her match
A marvel of modern science
She's a natural born pioneer
I can't make up my mind,
Should I put her on display or hide her?
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
I know that she's out of my league
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
My uniform has been decreed
She's a daughter of the gods, got a lot of clout
If she's ever in a bind, I'll get her out
And sometimes I have these nightmares, in the middle of the day
Where a hay-makin' gypsy steals her away
There ain't no doubt about it (no doubt about it)
I'm a slave to her shade of love
One day her majesty the Queen, unprovoked and unforeseen
She's gonna fly her over to England, put that sword on her shoulder,
And knight her!
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
No label's gonna change where she's from
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
And I'm dancin' to the beat of her drum
She's always on my side, rich or poor
And she's with me all the way to the Golden Door
My lioness, my pièce de résistance
My only way
I'm gonna drive me an El Dorado
The color of her marbly eyes
With twin bullet tail lights
And plates that we desire
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
Though the weather may be foul
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
Though the wind and the wolves may howl
(Prize fighter)
Through the sunshine, through the rain
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
Over and over again
She's a famous architect, like Frank Lloyd Wright
When it comes to tightrope walkin', she's world renowned
Her elegance and charm are worthy of praise
And I heard she used to throw for the Oakland A's
She works two hundred and sixty eight hours a week, I've yet to meet her match
A marvel of modern science
She's a natural born pioneer
I can't make up my mind,
Should I put her on display or hide her?
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
I know that she's out of my league
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
My uniform has been decreed
She's a daughter of the gods, got a lot of clout
If she's ever in a bind, I'll get her out
And sometimes I have these nightmares, in the middle of the day
Where a hay-makin' gypsy steals her away
There ain't no doubt about it (no doubt about it)
I'm a slave to her shade of love
One day her majesty the Queen, unprovoked and unforeseen
She's gonna fly her over to England, put that sword on her shoulder,
And knight her!
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
No label's gonna change where she's from
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
And I'm dancin' to the beat of her drum
She's always on my side, rich or poor
And she's with me all the way to the Golden Door
My lioness, my pièce de résistance
My only way
I'm gonna drive me an El Dorado
The color of her marbly eyes
With twin bullet tail lights
And plates that we desire
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
Though the weather may be foul
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
Though the wind and the wolves may howl
(Prize fighter)
Through the sunshine, through the rain
I'm gonna be her prize fighter
Over and over again
Lyrics submitted by phoebe9261
Prize Fighter Lyrics as written by Dave Brent Keuning Brandon Flowers
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Using a sports metaphor, I think this song is just about being enamoured with a girl. And this guy is just in awe of her - she seems to have it all, and be doing it all, and he wants to be there for her in any way he can. He's also a little afraid that he's going to lose her.