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."
Yeah, the caravan is on its way
I can hear the merry gypsies play
Mama, mama, look at Emma Rose
She's a-playin with the radio
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Yeah, the caravan has all my friends
Yeah, they'll stay with me until the end
Gypsy Robin, Sweet Emma Rose
Tell me everything I need to know
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Turn up your radio
And let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long to hold you tight, so I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night, I shall reveal you
If you won't turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, turn it up, so you know, radio
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Yeah, the caravan is painted red and white
That means everybody's staying overnight
Yeah, the barefoot gypsy player 'round a campfire sing and play
And the woman tells us of her ways
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long just to hold you tight, so maybe I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night, I shall reveal you
If you won't turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, that's enough, so you know it's got soul
Radio, radio turn it up, hmm
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
I can hear the merry gypsies play
Mama, mama, look at Emma Rose
She's a-playin with the radio
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Yeah, the caravan has all my friends
Yeah, they'll stay with me until the end
Gypsy Robin, Sweet Emma Rose
Tell me everything I need to know
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Turn up your radio
And let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long to hold you tight, so I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night, I shall reveal you
If you won't turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, turn it up, so you know, radio
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Yeah, the caravan is painted red and white
That means everybody's staying overnight
Yeah, the barefoot gypsy player 'round a campfire sing and play
And the woman tells us of her ways
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long just to hold you tight, so maybe I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night, I shall reveal you
If you won't turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, that's enough, so you know it's got soul
Radio, radio turn it up, hmm
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira
Caravan Lyrics as written by Van Morrison
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love the Last Waltz version so much...its got undeniable soul. I used to drive around in the minivan I got second-hand from my mom and get high and go to bonfires...such good times come to mind when I hear this
The emphasis I think is on gypsies having soul, that it doesn't necessarily need to be only Christain musicians who have soul, it isn't specific to any religion