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."
This is just the basic, this is not the best
Everybody knows that the trouble starts when you talk all about the rest
First, you went to college and then you got yourself degrees
Then, you got some pretty girls to get down on their knees
You took yourself some pictures and you showed them to your friends
Now, you're going straight to Hell and that's where your story ends
Well, one of those girls was a friend of mine
One of those ones you took
One of those girls didn't want to see her face on the cover of a dirty book
One of those girls took her life last night just in case you had not heard
And everybody knows that the pretty ones go down doing it for the work, and
[Chorus:]
Don't be fooled
Don't be flattered
It's not like you ever mattered
When the world around is falling down, and every ship's been shattered
Don't be fooled
Don't flattered
It's not like you ever mattered
Not to me
Ah, Rick James was the original super freak
Man, you're not so perfect
Man, you're not a pearl
You're nothing more, man, than a little piece of sand
That grew up inside of a girl
I don't go for the Novocain
'Cause I don't like the pain
And I don't fall for the Jesus freaks when they seem like they want to win
[Chorus]
[Bridge:]
I'm not looking for an answer anymore
I'm not looking for a visionary
Help me, Mother Mary
I've done my time
I'm closer everyday to a life of crime
The god above us and everywhere - he watches all the people die
Killing them as others waste their time in asking why
But time is all we're given, and the happiness we seek
It may be the peace within the meek or maybe the statement of the freak and
[Chorus x 2]
Everybody knows that the trouble starts when you talk all about the rest
First, you went to college and then you got yourself degrees
Then, you got some pretty girls to get down on their knees
You took yourself some pictures and you showed them to your friends
Now, you're going straight to Hell and that's where your story ends
Well, one of those girls was a friend of mine
One of those ones you took
One of those girls didn't want to see her face on the cover of a dirty book
One of those girls took her life last night just in case you had not heard
And everybody knows that the pretty ones go down doing it for the work, and
[Chorus:]
Don't be fooled
Don't be flattered
It's not like you ever mattered
When the world around is falling down, and every ship's been shattered
Don't be fooled
Don't flattered
It's not like you ever mattered
Not to me
Ah, Rick James was the original super freak
Man, you're not so perfect
Man, you're not a pearl
You're nothing more, man, than a little piece of sand
That grew up inside of a girl
I don't go for the Novocain
'Cause I don't like the pain
And I don't fall for the Jesus freaks when they seem like they want to win
[Chorus]
[Bridge:]
I'm not looking for an answer anymore
I'm not looking for a visionary
Help me, Mother Mary
I've done my time
I'm closer everyday to a life of crime
The god above us and everywhere - he watches all the people die
Killing them as others waste their time in asking why
But time is all we're given, and the happiness we seek
It may be the peace within the meek or maybe the statement of the freak and
[Chorus x 2]
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I can't believe no one has commented on this song yet. Jude is amazing. This song is so funny. Obviously Rick James was famous for his song "Super Freak," hence "Rick James was the original super freak."
I love the line "Don't be fooled, don't be flattered, it's not like you ever mattered."