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."
(There is no dream)
So wake up run your lips across your fingers till you find
Some scent of yourself that you can hold up high
To remind yourself that you didn't die
On a day that was so crappy whole and happy you're alive
And you seem so bruised and it's beautiful
As it's reflecting off from you as it shines
You're in the bathroom carving holiday designs into yourself
Hoping no one will find you but they found you
And they took you and you somehow survived
(There is no dream)
So wake up and if the holidays don't hollow out your eyes
Then press yourself against whatever
You find to be beautiful and trembling with life
Because I'm so happy I'm so happy I'm so happy
I'm so happy that you didn't die
So wake up run your lips across your fingers till you find
Some scent of yourself that you can hold up high
To remind yourself that you didn't die
On a day that was so crappy whole and happy you're alive
And you seem so bruised and it's beautiful
As it's reflecting off from you as it shines
You're in the bathroom carving holiday designs into yourself
Hoping no one will find you but they found you
And they took you and you somehow survived
(There is no dream)
So wake up and if the holidays don't hollow out your eyes
Then press yourself against whatever
You find to be beautiful and trembling with life
Because I'm so happy I'm so happy I'm so happy
I'm so happy that you didn't die
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Mountain Song
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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This song is obviously about a suicide attempt, but it's so hauntingly beautiful. Just the way Jeff Mangum sings "and you somehow survived" is amazing. The line "Press yourself against whatever/you find to be beautiful and trembling with life" reminds me of the message in "Aeroplane" -- "let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see." It's about the search to be happy in a world that's often otherwise.
I agree whole-heartedly, not only about the meaning, but about Jeff's delivery as well. The song is rather chilling, a far cry from "Aeroplane".
i also agree that this song is about an attempt at suicide (a reoccuring theme in several of mangums lyrics). it is an eerie song that i can not get enough of! (i'm not suicidal or anything...)
i agree with everything and i think that the singer is saying im glad you didn't die...and he wants the "attemptee" to realize that he loves them and he wants them to see that...see the happiness..the beauty
right on zooey
When he sings, "I'm so happy you didn't die," in that voice that sounds anything but happy...I get chills. Every time. Chills!
this song is so creepy... i absolutely love it.
This song is so blindingly beautiful. I think there's a certain satirical element to it, it's confusing in a way that seems truthful and right?! It reminds me a bit of Smashing Pumpkins-Today, because it's ironic it's positivity. It's almost like you're living for others,pressing yourself against them,and trying to soak happiness up through them
I'd just like to note that the song opens with , what seems to be, "there is no dream." - and also add that this song feels filling. Doesn't it?
the lyrics are wrong