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."
I don't say this about just anybody
I don't usually stay for mornin' coffee
But I don't wanna waste you
On feelings I can't do
I don't say this about just anybody (huh uh)
Yeah, I lost my heart in a love fight
But if I had it, I would give it to you
Would you follow suit if it felt right?
Yeah, if I had it, I would give it to you
What you've been waitin' for, isn't even mine anymore
'Cause I lost my heart in a love fight (I lost my heart in a love)
You don't even know how bad I want this (want this)
But Confucius says stop being cautious
I'm jealous of our friends and how they just jump in
But you don't even know how bad I want this (hey, yeah)
Yeah, I lost my heart in a love fight
But if I had it, I would give it to you
Would you follow suit if it felt right?
'Cause if I had it, I would give it to you
What you've been waitin' for, isn't even mine anymore
'Cause I lost my heart in a love fight (mm)
But if I had it, I would give it to you
Yeah, if I had it, I would give it in a minute, I'm in it for just you
If I had it, I would give it in a second, you know that I would, too
Yeah, if I had it, I would give it in a minute, I'm in it for just you
If I had it, I would give it to
Yeah, if I had it, I would give it to you, yeah
Yeah, I lost my heart in a love fight
But if I had it, I would give it to you
Would you follow suit if it felt right?
'Cause if I had it, I would give it to you
What you've been waitin' for, isn't even mine anymore
'Cause I lost my heart in a love fight (love fight)
I don't usually stay for mornin' coffee
But I don't wanna waste you
On feelings I can't do
I don't say this about just anybody (huh uh)
Yeah, I lost my heart in a love fight
But if I had it, I would give it to you
Would you follow suit if it felt right?
Yeah, if I had it, I would give it to you
What you've been waitin' for, isn't even mine anymore
'Cause I lost my heart in a love fight (I lost my heart in a love)
You don't even know how bad I want this (want this)
But Confucius says stop being cautious
I'm jealous of our friends and how they just jump in
But you don't even know how bad I want this (hey, yeah)
Yeah, I lost my heart in a love fight
But if I had it, I would give it to you
Would you follow suit if it felt right?
'Cause if I had it, I would give it to you
What you've been waitin' for, isn't even mine anymore
'Cause I lost my heart in a love fight (mm)
But if I had it, I would give it to you
Yeah, if I had it, I would give it in a minute, I'm in it for just you
If I had it, I would give it in a second, you know that I would, too
Yeah, if I had it, I would give it in a minute, I'm in it for just you
If I had it, I would give it to
Yeah, if I had it, I would give it to you, yeah
Yeah, I lost my heart in a love fight
But if I had it, I would give it to you
Would you follow suit if it felt right?
'Cause if I had it, I would give it to you
What you've been waitin' for, isn't even mine anymore
'Cause I lost my heart in a love fight (love fight)
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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,
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