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."
You were talking loud
I was waiting for a noise complaint
You just gave the look
I must have said something you hate
Now you want to argue
You want to tell me everything that's wrong
But I'm so distracted
'Cause they're playing my favorite song
Ooh ooh, doesn't matter
Ooh ooh, we're together
Ooh ooh, doesn't matter, no
If you just shut that pretty mouth
We'll forget what the fight's about
Come on, just let me turn you out
With human contact
If you just shut that pretty mouth
Baby we, we could burn it down
Come on, let's turn this shit around
With human contact
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Baby, can't you see that your point's already made
Can't you let it go, let's listen to the music play
Right now I've forgot what we were even mad about
Let's quit sitting here, let's work this matter out
Ooh ooh, doesn't matter
Ooh ooh, we're together
Ooh ooh, doesn't matter, no
If you just shut that pretty mouth
We'll forget what the fight's about
Come on, just let me turn you out
With human contact
If you just shut that pretty mouth
Baby we, we could burn it down
Come on, let's turn this shit around
With human contact
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah, oh!
If you just shut that pretty mouth
We'll forget what the fight's about
Come on, let me turn you out, oh
If you just shut that pretty mouth
Baby we, we could burn it down
Come on
If you just shut that pretty mouth
We'll forget what the fight's about
Come on, just let me turn you out
With human contact
If you just shut that pretty mouth
Baby we, we could burn it down
Come on, let's turn this shit around
With human contact
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
I was waiting for a noise complaint
You just gave the look
I must have said something you hate
Now you want to argue
You want to tell me everything that's wrong
But I'm so distracted
'Cause they're playing my favorite song
Ooh ooh, doesn't matter
Ooh ooh, we're together
Ooh ooh, doesn't matter, no
If you just shut that pretty mouth
We'll forget what the fight's about
Come on, just let me turn you out
With human contact
If you just shut that pretty mouth
Baby we, we could burn it down
Come on, let's turn this shit around
With human contact
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Baby, can't you see that your point's already made
Can't you let it go, let's listen to the music play
Right now I've forgot what we were even mad about
Let's quit sitting here, let's work this matter out
Ooh ooh, doesn't matter
Ooh ooh, we're together
Ooh ooh, doesn't matter, no
If you just shut that pretty mouth
We'll forget what the fight's about
Come on, just let me turn you out
With human contact
If you just shut that pretty mouth
Baby we, we could burn it down
Come on, let's turn this shit around
With human contact
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah, oh!
If you just shut that pretty mouth
We'll forget what the fight's about
Come on, let me turn you out, oh
If you just shut that pretty mouth
Baby we, we could burn it down
Come on
If you just shut that pretty mouth
We'll forget what the fight's about
Come on, just let me turn you out
With human contact
If you just shut that pretty mouth
Baby we, we could burn it down
Come on, let's turn this shit around
With human contact
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
Ba ba ba ba ba by ah
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