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."
We started good, crossed our hearts we made a promise
Misunderstood, cause all my friends say you're dishonest
You had me questioning what I was worth
Yeah you know and I know, no
Say what you want
But I know that's only
Words that you use
To anyone, anybody
Myself and I
Yeah we're done with your sorrys
Get out my face
It's safe to say
When I was your girlfriend
You said it be different
You wanted all the girls
Then you wanted commitment
But you couldn't get it to to to-gether
I'm sending you this love, love, love-letter
Oh I was your girlfriend
I thought you were different
I tried to make it work
Gave a million chances
But I know I can do, do, do, better
I'm sending you this love, love, love letter
You'd sit at home, tokin on that marijuana
I'd pick up your clothes, like you forgot I'm not your mother
Yeah you were getting way too comfortable
Yeah you know and I know, no
Say what you want
But I know that's only
Words that you use
To anyone, anybody
Myself and I
Yeah we're done with your sorrys
You'll be replaced
It's safe to say
When I was your girlfriend
You said it be different
You wanted all the girls
Then you wanted commitment
But you couldn't get it to, to, to-gether
I'm sending you this love, love, love-letter
Oh I was your girlfriend
I thought you were different
I tried to make it work
Gave a million chances
But I know I can do, do, do better
I'm sending you this love, love, love letter
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Sending you this love, love, love letter
Ooh, ooh, ooh
By the time you get it I'll be out on the road
Cause I've packed up all my things put your name on a note
Yeah you thought you were clever but you didn't know
That my heart left about 2 months ago
By the time you get it I'll be out on the road
Cause I've packed up all my things put your name on a note
(Packed up my things)
Yeah you thought you were clever but you didn't know
That my heart left about 2 months ago
When I was your girlfriend
You said it be different
You wanted all the girls
Then you wanted commitment
But you couldn't get it to, to, to-gether
I'm sending you this love, love, love-letter
Oh I was your girlfriend
I thought you were different
I tried to make it work
Gave a million chances
But I know I can do, do, do better
I'm sending you this love, love, love letter
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Sending you this love, love, love letter
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Sending you this love, love, love letter
Misunderstood, cause all my friends say you're dishonest
You had me questioning what I was worth
Yeah you know and I know, no
Say what you want
But I know that's only
Words that you use
To anyone, anybody
Myself and I
Yeah we're done with your sorrys
Get out my face
It's safe to say
When I was your girlfriend
You said it be different
You wanted all the girls
Then you wanted commitment
But you couldn't get it to to to-gether
I'm sending you this love, love, love-letter
Oh I was your girlfriend
I thought you were different
I tried to make it work
Gave a million chances
But I know I can do, do, do, better
I'm sending you this love, love, love letter
You'd sit at home, tokin on that marijuana
I'd pick up your clothes, like you forgot I'm not your mother
Yeah you were getting way too comfortable
Yeah you know and I know, no
Say what you want
But I know that's only
Words that you use
To anyone, anybody
Myself and I
Yeah we're done with your sorrys
You'll be replaced
It's safe to say
When I was your girlfriend
You said it be different
You wanted all the girls
Then you wanted commitment
But you couldn't get it to, to, to-gether
I'm sending you this love, love, love-letter
Oh I was your girlfriend
I thought you were different
I tried to make it work
Gave a million chances
But I know I can do, do, do better
I'm sending you this love, love, love letter
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Sending you this love, love, love letter
Ooh, ooh, ooh
By the time you get it I'll be out on the road
Cause I've packed up all my things put your name on a note
Yeah you thought you were clever but you didn't know
That my heart left about 2 months ago
By the time you get it I'll be out on the road
Cause I've packed up all my things put your name on a note
(Packed up my things)
Yeah you thought you were clever but you didn't know
That my heart left about 2 months ago
When I was your girlfriend
You said it be different
You wanted all the girls
Then you wanted commitment
But you couldn't get it to, to, to-gether
I'm sending you this love, love, love-letter
Oh I was your girlfriend
I thought you were different
I tried to make it work
Gave a million chances
But I know I can do, do, do better
I'm sending you this love, love, love letter
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Sending you this love, love, love letter
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Sending you this love, love, love letter
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.