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."
In the morning
The battle for endurance has been lost
Sold my worth and dignity the same
I am shade
And essence of corroding time
So pale next to my love
In every way
Meaningless scar
Through the evening
Where our wisdom turns to rust
Fill the gap with lost integrity
I become the one you haven't seen for years
Liberating rain
Two shots and I need more
Adapt to the flow
A taste of the void
Get back and focus again
More of the fire
It churns the blood
The waves of dependence
Await to be slain
By memories of old
The battle for endurance has been lost
Sold my worth and dignity the same
I am shade
And essence of corroding time
So pale next to my love
In every way
Meaningless scar
Through the evening
Where our wisdom turns to rust
Fill the gap with lost integrity
I become the one you haven't seen for years
Liberating rain
Two shots and I need more
Adapt to the flow
A taste of the void
Get back and focus again
More of the fire
It churns the blood
The waves of dependence
Await to be slain
By memories of old
Lyrics submitted by cyruskh666, edited by EmperorPear
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The word "Serein" was described by guitarist Anders Nystrom to mean "when rain falls but you can’t see any cloud". He goes to say that the song title is meant to be a cryptic metaphor & refused to describe what is truly being described in the context of the song. I believe the song is about a person reflecting on their life & past transgressions/failures. They see scars both external & internal, realizing it's all a part of their story arc & are having to come to peace with it all.
I thought it was about a long past relationship. The more I listen to it the song seems to be more about substince abuse of a hypothetical character and possibly prostitution. I need to work through the rest of the album to understand.
In the morning, the battle for endurance has been lost. I sold my worth and dignity the same. I am shade, an essence of corroding time"
Depression is kickstarting every day.
"So pale next to my love in evey way, meaningless scar"
The one you love is joyfull while you are still holding on to pain.
"Through the evening, where our wisdom turns to rust, fill the gap with lost integrity. I become the one you haven't seen for years."
Using alcohol to stupify yourself, feign the act of forgetting your own pain, and become an obnoxious version of who you were in the past. And then
"Liberating rain... two shots and I need more... adapt to the flow... taste of the void... get back and focus again. More of the fire churns the blood. The weight of dependance, await to be slain by memories of old"
It gives the strength to face what is going on in your life today and be numb to it, yet you are still trapped in the moments of whatever traumatized your past. .