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."
[Verse One]
You see my mind gets to clickin'
And the light started blinkin'
Pen steady leakin'
Next thing "Oh we've got a song"
And time keeps on slippin' our survival seeming distant, but progression is a lesson
And thus we move along
And I remember Easter when my Mom gave me that boom box
Boxing out the world every time I heard a tune knock
Knocking on my door got no response
I was lost in a small room in a small apartment in Boston
My own universe with verses bouncing off the wall in reverb
Pop quiz, do you remember these words?
"I'm the King of Rock!" and til this day there is none
Back when musicians flaunted styles that hadn't been done
And era to treasure
I pay homage when I put a pen to
The paper, drop a jewel to school you later
Vapor catches word matches assemble thoughts (visions)
Wisdom leaking through my pen
Speaking volumes
Tunes remind me blindly seeing life in 2 dimensions (inventions)
Amplifying what I mention
Word, syllable, sentence
Sent this to a million folks I never met
They regard it as an ancient epithet
And they haven't even read it yet
Etiquette pertaining to predicate
My actions attracting interactions from factions seeking rations
Cash and jewels escape me as I walk the streets faintly
Panicking lately
Usually a calm Brother
I suffer, from the stress and duress of the windows that I see closing
Never know which ones will be open
And I keep hoping for a little rest
But doesn't seem to be in my cards
So I wake up and I work hard
Hardly sleeping
Fans needing more of the raw
They tell me never stop
Well I can't promise I'll forever drop
However by request
From your favorite chef
Another rhyme written near death
A data platter served best
On a sunny day drive with some weed in your chest
Or in the dead of winter when you've got some time to invest
More or less horrorfest awaits those who hesitate
And miss their calling in life
This time it's too late
But for now
Recognize that God bless the child
With style / support my records
Keep me on file
And I'll bring forth
With sincerity of course
Some descriptions of my missions as I'm plotting my course
[Hook]
It's the end of an era
But the dawning of a brand new age
Live your life inside these brand new days
Though they tell you it's terror
It's the dawning of a brand new age
Move forward in these brand new days
Take a look in the mirror
Love yourself inside these brand new days
If you don't, you may molt and decay
Though they tell you it's terror
How I know it?
It was wrote on my page
Live your life inside these brand new days
You see my mind gets to clickin'
And the light started blinkin'
Pen steady leakin'
Next thing "Oh we've got a song"
And time keeps on slippin' our survival seeming distant, but progression is a lesson
And thus we move along
And I remember Easter when my Mom gave me that boom box
Boxing out the world every time I heard a tune knock
Knocking on my door got no response
I was lost in a small room in a small apartment in Boston
My own universe with verses bouncing off the wall in reverb
Pop quiz, do you remember these words?
"I'm the King of Rock!" and til this day there is none
Back when musicians flaunted styles that hadn't been done
And era to treasure
I pay homage when I put a pen to
The paper, drop a jewel to school you later
Vapor catches word matches assemble thoughts (visions)
Wisdom leaking through my pen
Speaking volumes
Tunes remind me blindly seeing life in 2 dimensions (inventions)
Amplifying what I mention
Word, syllable, sentence
Sent this to a million folks I never met
They regard it as an ancient epithet
And they haven't even read it yet
Etiquette pertaining to predicate
My actions attracting interactions from factions seeking rations
Cash and jewels escape me as I walk the streets faintly
Panicking lately
Usually a calm Brother
I suffer, from the stress and duress of the windows that I see closing
Never know which ones will be open
And I keep hoping for a little rest
But doesn't seem to be in my cards
So I wake up and I work hard
Hardly sleeping
Fans needing more of the raw
They tell me never stop
Well I can't promise I'll forever drop
However by request
From your favorite chef
Another rhyme written near death
A data platter served best
On a sunny day drive with some weed in your chest
Or in the dead of winter when you've got some time to invest
More or less horrorfest awaits those who hesitate
And miss their calling in life
This time it's too late
But for now
Recognize that God bless the child
With style / support my records
Keep me on file
And I'll bring forth
With sincerity of course
Some descriptions of my missions as I'm plotting my course
[Hook]
It's the end of an era
But the dawning of a brand new age
Live your life inside these brand new days
Though they tell you it's terror
It's the dawning of a brand new age
Move forward in these brand new days
Take a look in the mirror
Love yourself inside these brand new days
If you don't, you may molt and decay
Though they tell you it's terror
How I know it?
It was wrote on my page
Live your life inside these brand new days
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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