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."
ever since i
take downs to keep me dreaming.
i get down about redeeming this lie.
ever since that night.
i replay transfiguration
of a dead, black aberration
and cry.
whatever helps you break that fall.
whatever makes you safe at all.
i need healing.
i need graves to get me feeling.
whatever helps you break that fall.
whatever makes you safe at all.
i need healing.
i need graves to get me feeling.
ever since i
fell prey to desperation
i take pains to keep sensation 'til i die.
ever since that night.
pick you up on my receiver.
giving up one true believer in why.
whatever helps you break that fall.
whatever makes you safe at all.
i need healing.
i need graves to get me feeling.
whatever helps you break that fall.
whatever makes you safe at all.
i need healing.
i need graves to get me feeling.
take downs to keep me dreaming.
i get down about redeeming this lie.
ever since that night.
i replay transfiguration
of a dead, black aberration
and cry.
whatever helps you break that fall.
whatever makes you safe at all.
i need healing.
i need graves to get me feeling.
whatever helps you break that fall.
whatever makes you safe at all.
i need healing.
i need graves to get me feeling.
ever since i
fell prey to desperation
i take pains to keep sensation 'til i die.
ever since that night.
pick you up on my receiver.
giving up one true believer in why.
whatever helps you break that fall.
whatever makes you safe at all.
i need healing.
i need graves to get me feeling.
whatever helps you break that fall.
whatever makes you safe at all.
i need healing.
i need graves to get me feeling.
Lyrics submitted by punkmebabygal
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John Davis had a pretty hardcore drinking problem all throughout his Superdrag years, which cumulated in Superdrag's break-up and Davis' turn to Gospel.
"Ever since I/take downs to keep me dreaming" - 'Downs', I'm pretty sure, is referring to downers like alcohol. The line most likely means that he used to drink himself to convince himself he's having fun ('dreaming').
"Whatever helps you break that fall/whatever makes you safe at all" - Whatever one might think of his decision to turn to Christian rock, it WAS a religious experience that pulled Davis out of his alcoholism, that much cannot be denied. He's basically saying that whatever it takes to get you to 'break that fall', do it. In John's case, it was religion.
@Kabbage\r\n\r\nAgreed. To a point. \r\n\r\nThere\'s a difference between Religion and Faith, and I would say it was likely the later.\r\n\r\nAlso, given that context, I always thought that the word was Grace even though all of the lyric sites seem to say Graves. It\'s certainly grace. Right?
@mike115816 - Yeah, feels like it\'s gotta be "grace".\r\n\r\nI\'d agree with you in that this was probably more of a turn toward having faith in something greater, some meaning. According to this "jesusfreakhideout.com" review of the 2005 "John Davis" solo album: \r\n\r\n"Growing up, Davis fully embraced God; but as a member of Superdrag, Davis began a downward spiral of alcohol addiction. But during a night drive, God revealed Himself to Davis and he realized only God could fill the gaping hole in his life."\r\n\r\nHe goes on to write that most tracks "talk about falling away from God and running back into His embrace."\r\n\r\nWere I to guess, I\'d say he grew up in a religious household, went off to play with Superdrag at some point, became an alcoholic on the road, and once it came to a head, and he returned to the religious stuff to heal and find meaning.\r\n\r\nBased on his post-2005 content, I agree that I wouldn\'t call him particularly religious nowadays, in the sense that he\'s not like making a huge show out of praising jesus and all that.\r\n\r\nIf it helped him break that fall and get back on his feet, I suppose it was for the best.