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."
Just before our love got lost, you said
That I am as constant as a northern star, and I said
"Constantly in the darkness, where's that at?
If you want me, I'll be in the bar"
And on the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
Well, I drew a map of Canada, oh, Canada
With your face sketched on it twice
You're in my blood, you're like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, oh darling
And I would still be on my feet,
Yes, I'd still be on my feet
And oh, I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints, and I'm
Frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones who ain't afraid
And I remember that time you told me, you said
That "love is touching souls" and surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you pours out of me
In those lines from time to time
You're in my blood, you're like holy wine
You taste so bitter, so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, oh darling
And I would still be on my feet,
Yes, I'd still be on my feet
And I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devil's and your deeds, and she said
"Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"
You're in my blood, you're like holy wine
You taste so bitter, so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, oh darling
And I would still be on my feet,
Yes, I'd still be on my feet
Oh, I'd still be on my feet
Yes, I'd still be on my feet
That I am as constant as a northern star, and I said
"Constantly in the darkness, where's that at?
If you want me, I'll be in the bar"
And on the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
Well, I drew a map of Canada, oh, Canada
With your face sketched on it twice
You're in my blood, you're like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, oh darling
And I would still be on my feet,
Yes, I'd still be on my feet
And oh, I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints, and I'm
Frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones who ain't afraid
And I remember that time you told me, you said
That "love is touching souls" and surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you pours out of me
In those lines from time to time
You're in my blood, you're like holy wine
You taste so bitter, so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, oh darling
And I would still be on my feet,
Yes, I'd still be on my feet
And I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devil's and your deeds, and she said
"Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"
You're in my blood, you're like holy wine
You taste so bitter, so bitter and so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you, oh darling
And I would still be on my feet,
Yes, I'd still be on my feet
Oh, I'd still be on my feet
Yes, I'd still be on my feet
Lyrics submitted by Abbie96
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Mountain Song
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