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 was once betrothed to the bonds of friends
But life too short to hold
Help me, to go...Away
Woo-wee, wander for warmth
Cold spreads throughout my body like cancer
Consumed by a question, innately question the answer
An entrancer, traveling for truth portal to portal
To quell the parallel, heaven and hell, are we immortal?
A stepping stone of flesh and bone
A body loaned to serve our own
Time is running out, can't postpone
'Cause death keeps ringing like the telephone
See, I don't know what direction I am heading
I don't know if there's somethine I'm forgetting
Before I give in to the dark, my greatest fear is being lost
Help me forget I'm almost gone
Before I give in to the dark
We are forlorn hope
She doesn't stop, the torment hands me ways to make peace
With myself
You remembered me
Our memories play like motion pictures
Love was limited, pain and struggle were fixtures
I view you as I knew you, reflecting like a mirror
My eyes are the windows to your soul, becoming clearer
Without a trace of time and space
I see your face, an angel's face
You and I just can't erase
The meeting at your resting place
And now I know what direction I am heading
Now I know you're the skin that I've been shedding
The moment I saw you I opened my eyes and suddenly realized that I was to
Be engrossed in the fact that I'm already dead. You're...Wrong!
Is this the end or only the beginning?
Is this the end or only the beginning?
Is this the end or only the beginning?
Is this the end or only the beginning?
Lost? Is this all a dream are we
Lost? Is this all a dream are we
Lost? Is this all a dream are we
Lost? Is this all a dream are we
Lost
But life too short to hold
Help me, to go...Away
Woo-wee, wander for warmth
Cold spreads throughout my body like cancer
Consumed by a question, innately question the answer
An entrancer, traveling for truth portal to portal
To quell the parallel, heaven and hell, are we immortal?
A stepping stone of flesh and bone
A body loaned to serve our own
Time is running out, can't postpone
'Cause death keeps ringing like the telephone
See, I don't know what direction I am heading
I don't know if there's somethine I'm forgetting
Before I give in to the dark, my greatest fear is being lost
Help me forget I'm almost gone
Before I give in to the dark
We are forlorn hope
She doesn't stop, the torment hands me ways to make peace
With myself
You remembered me
Our memories play like motion pictures
Love was limited, pain and struggle were fixtures
I view you as I knew you, reflecting like a mirror
My eyes are the windows to your soul, becoming clearer
Without a trace of time and space
I see your face, an angel's face
You and I just can't erase
The meeting at your resting place
And now I know what direction I am heading
Now I know you're the skin that I've been shedding
The moment I saw you I opened my eyes and suddenly realized that I was to
Be engrossed in the fact that I'm already dead. You're...Wrong!
Is this the end or only the beginning?
Is this the end or only the beginning?
Is this the end or only the beginning?
Is this the end or only the beginning?
Lost? Is this all a dream are we
Lost? Is this all a dream are we
Lost? Is this all a dream are we
Lost? Is this all a dream are we
Lost
Lyrics submitted by Eli
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Another Love
Tom Odell
Tom Odell
I think the meaning is pretty clear. This person got really burned in a previous relationship, and because of this is unable to love and show care in his present one, even though he so badly wants to. It's lovely song, and very sad. You can really feel how defeated and frustrated he is with himself.
Well another great song by DWR. I love their CD. Im not much into the D.I.Y.M tho. But this one is great!