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."
Conversations haunt me
Like the body
That wouldn't sink.
If I could I'd take back
Some things that I have said.
I put a lot on you.
It was good for sympathy,
But the truth is that I was as bad.
So when I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
The things I sit with
Come flying out.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
The things I sit with
Come flying out.
Try responsibility and not,
Not pacifism.
Don't take comfort in that you're damaged,
Just find a way,
Find a way to release the excess.
You'll find yourself better off.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
All the things I sit with
Come flying out.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
All the things I sit with
Come flying out.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
All the things I sit with
Come flying out.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing...
Jump in, don't slow down.
You don't think of me....
I won't retract what I've done for her,
On behalf, on behalf of her.
Don't take that away.
I won't deprive the time of it.
Someone said, "Take the past.
You're not a reactionary."
I never had it hard.
You held that to me,
As I wore enough
Perpetual happiness.
Like the body
That wouldn't sink.
If I could I'd take back
Some things that I have said.
I put a lot on you.
It was good for sympathy,
But the truth is that I was as bad.
So when I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
The things I sit with
Come flying out.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
The things I sit with
Come flying out.
Try responsibility and not,
Not pacifism.
Don't take comfort in that you're damaged,
Just find a way,
Find a way to release the excess.
You'll find yourself better off.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
All the things I sit with
Come flying out.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
All the things I sit with
Come flying out.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
All the things I sit with
Come flying out.
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing,
When I say nothing,
When I do nothing...
Jump in, don't slow down.
You don't think of me....
I won't retract what I've done for her,
On behalf, on behalf of her.
Don't take that away.
I won't deprive the time of it.
Someone said, "Take the past.
You're not a reactionary."
I never had it hard.
You held that to me,
As I wore enough
Perpetual happiness.
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
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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.
This is my favorite osker song it really means a lot to me...too bad they broke up 8^/
oh yeah and i think the song obviously means he did a lot for someone who he really cared for and they ended up treating him like shit. thats why he says "I won't retract what I've done for her, On behalf, on behalf of her."
Every time someone mentions "Osker" I cry my eyes out. These guys were truly brilliant.
its so fucking amazing how devon can take so many aspects of life and put it all into a single song. this is the best example of how great of a songwriter the guy is.
"I never had it hard. You held that to me, As I wore enough Perpetual happiness."
hmm... I always thought he was saying "you held that to me as a warrant of perpetual happiness" there. :shrug: