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."
Had enough of philosophy
Had enough of fleeting fads
Had enough of your certainty
Had enough of your luck of the draw
I’m supposed to be cool
I’m supposed to be kind but
You push it to the limit
Then way past the limit
Had a hunch
You'd be asking me
For a favor or two or three
And I'm all for generosity
But not when it all goes down the drain
I’m supposed to be cool
I’m supposed to be kind but
You push it to the limit
Then way past the limit
Push it too far
And then you'll find out
Had enough of fleeting fads
Had enough of your certainty
Had enough of your luck of the draw
I’m supposed to be cool
I’m supposed to be kind but
You push it to the limit
Then way past the limit
Had a hunch
You'd be asking me
For a favor or two or three
And I'm all for generosity
But not when it all goes down the drain
I’m supposed to be cool
I’m supposed to be kind but
You push it to the limit
Then way past the limit
Push it too far
And then you'll find out
Lyrics submitted by quamp
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I kind of get the feeling of two possibilities here: 1) David had an argument with others at Korda records over something, and he felt they were pushing things too far. 2) it's something of a sequel to a song on Beneath the Rhythm and Sound named Don't Believe Everything You Hear. The themes are somewhat similar. I think that the point where he goes below his vocal range was an intentional thing to show how going beyond one's limits isn't necessarily a good thing.