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."
Dirt on your fingernails, blood on your knees
But did that ever make you happy?
I think you were my best friend, gentle, do not apprehend
I know it hasn't been a dream, but if you pardon, I will mend
Drunk in a parking lot, just after three
Tearin' out your hair like a banshee
Lighter and a safety pin, light the end, burn to skin
I'll stick to you forever, 'cause this scar, I think is permanent
Ooh ooh
Falling off the edge with you, ooh ooh
It was too good to be true
Too good to be true
Bite off your fingernails, cut off your skin
Tell me that it didn't happen
Running through the dark woods, falling, couldn't see straight
I was only looking for a human to reciprocate
Baby it's a black hole, I need it to breathe
But does it really make you happy?
Kiss me with a big knife, bloody heart of paradise
Led him like a soldier, peace of mind, must be nice
Ooh ooh
Falling off the edge with you, ooh ooh
It was too good to be true
Too good to be true
Thought I had won, I thought I won til I lost
I, fixing my fall, but for what cost?
And I see your reflection when I look in mine
And I say, I say (I say)
Baby, don't look away
Falling off the edge with you, ahh ooh ooh ooh
It was too good to be true
Ooh, falling off the edge with you
It was too good to be true
Too good to be true
But did that ever make you happy?
I think you were my best friend, gentle, do not apprehend
I know it hasn't been a dream, but if you pardon, I will mend
Drunk in a parking lot, just after three
Tearin' out your hair like a banshee
Lighter and a safety pin, light the end, burn to skin
I'll stick to you forever, 'cause this scar, I think is permanent
Ooh ooh
Falling off the edge with you, ooh ooh
It was too good to be true
Too good to be true
Bite off your fingernails, cut off your skin
Tell me that it didn't happen
Running through the dark woods, falling, couldn't see straight
I was only looking for a human to reciprocate
Baby it's a black hole, I need it to breathe
But does it really make you happy?
Kiss me with a big knife, bloody heart of paradise
Led him like a soldier, peace of mind, must be nice
Ooh ooh
Falling off the edge with you, ooh ooh
It was too good to be true
Too good to be true
Thought I had won, I thought I won til I lost
I, fixing my fall, but for what cost?
And I see your reflection when I look in mine
And I say, I say (I say)
Baby, don't look away
Falling off the edge with you, ahh ooh ooh ooh
It was too good to be true
Ooh, falling off the edge with you
It was too good to be true
Too good to be true
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I feel like I remember there being an earlier version of the lvrics on here that were far more correct. I tried editing them back but doesn't seem like it will get posted, oh well I tried...anyway:
Dirt on your fingernails, blood on your knees But did that ever make you happy? I think you were my best friend, gentle, do not reprehend I know it hasn't been a dream, but if you pardon, I will mend
Drunk in a parking lot, just after 3 Tearin' at your hair like a banshee Lighter and a safety pin, light the end, burn the skin I'll stick to you forever cause the scar, I think, is permanent
Ooh-ooh Falling off the edge with you, ooh-ooh It was too good to be true Too Good to be true
Bite off your fingernails, cut off your skin Tell me that it didn't happen Run through the dark woods, fall and couldn't see straight I was only looking for a human to reciprocate
Fade into black hole, I need it to breathe But does it really make you happy? Kiss me with a big knife, fighting hard off paradise Led him like a soldier, peace of mind, must be nice
Ooh-ooh Falling off the edge with you, ooh-ooh It was too good to be true Too good to be true
Thought I had what I thought I wanted I lost I'm fixing my thoughts, falling way off course And I can see your affection when I look in mine And I say, "bless you" (say "bless you") Baby, don't go away
Falling off the edge with you, ahh-ooh-ooh-ooh It was too good to be true Ooh, falling off the edge with you It was too good to be true Too good to be true