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."
We made love until we cried and cried ourselves to laughter
Laughed until we realize our hearts were struck were fear
How in just a moments time could one see for ever after
I gently lie beside of you and dream away my tears
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Funny things you learn from your mama, like the way to throw your head back
When your swallowing pills
Funny things you learn from your papa, like when you're talking you just can't
Keep your hands still
But that was now and this is then
It never lasts for long
How I miss the good old days; but I'm so glad they're gone
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
I'd like to spend the time that you would like to spend with me
So that you could help me out with my dependency
Cause I'm hopelessly addicted, addicted to your sorrow
Makes me never wanna work, beg or borrow
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Laughed until we realize our hearts were struck were fear
How in just a moments time could one see for ever after
I gently lie beside of you and dream away my tears
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Funny things you learn from your mama, like the way to throw your head back
When your swallowing pills
Funny things you learn from your papa, like when you're talking you just can't
Keep your hands still
But that was now and this is then
It never lasts for long
How I miss the good old days; but I'm so glad they're gone
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
I'd like to spend the time that you would like to spend with me
So that you could help me out with my dependency
Cause I'm hopelessly addicted, addicted to your sorrow
Makes me never wanna work, beg or borrow
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Won't you let me treat you kind
We're gonna burn to shine
Lyrics submitted by dragonflower44
Burn to Shine Lyrics as written by Ben C Harper
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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some kind of destructive love
To me it seems that the girl (or significant other) is a bit...self destructive and depressed.
"Funny things you learn from your mama, like the way to throw your head back when your swallowing pills Funny things you learn from your papa, like when you're talking you just can't keep your hands still"
Obviously she pops pills and is either a bit nervous or hits (the hand still bit)
"I'd like to spend the time that you would like to spend with me So that you could help me out with my dependancy 'Cause I'm hoplessly addicted, addicted to your sorrow Makes me never wanna work, beg or borrow"
He wants to spend all his time with her to 'fix her' and make her feel better, make her feel loved
And he knows to do that they're gonna have to go through some baggage and hard time but they're gonna burn to shine. They're gonna go through hell and back to be ok.
Yeah.
Sap.
I just think of it as a young love song..a bittersweet love. But i don't know about the pill popping. I think it just refers to how how well he knows her. Either way the music is great...and is my official driving with the top off the jeep song.
i agree with ondisplay...
i love this song its so groovy!!!
Burn to Shine: The upward energy of Fire rages upward and then begins to spin, just as the rising hot air and smoke swirl, building Earth energy. I have Jeep also!!! :)
the video for this is totally BA
the video is very kickass. i think the song is about weed, or the band must have at least smoked some when they collaborated.