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."
What if there's no more fun to have?
And all I got is what I've had?
What if I have forgotten how?
Cut my losses and get out now
Get out, right now!
There's something stronger than me
There's something I don't want to see
A new thing growing in me
It is the hardest thing to
To watch it grow on top of you
And see you're just like everyone
No fun!
There's something stronger than me
There's something I don't want to see
A new thing growing in me
There's something I don't want to see
I don't speak that language anymore!
My blood is not that color anymore!
My blood don't shine the same way anymore!
I cannot deny it anymore!
No
There's something stronger than me
There's something I don't want to see
Got a new thing growing in me
There's something I don't want to see
There's something stronger than me
There's something I don't want to see
A new thing growing in me
And all I got is what I've had?
What if I have forgotten how?
Cut my losses and get out now
Get out, right now!
There's something stronger than me
There's something I don't want to see
A new thing growing in me
It is the hardest thing to
To watch it grow on top of you
And see you're just like everyone
No fun!
There's something stronger than me
There's something I don't want to see
A new thing growing in me
There's something I don't want to see
I don't speak that language anymore!
My blood is not that color anymore!
My blood don't shine the same way anymore!
I cannot deny it anymore!
No
There's something stronger than me
There's something I don't want to see
Got a new thing growing in me
There's something I don't want to see
There's something stronger than me
There's something I don't want to see
A new thing growing in me
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Simple really, Fear of being normal wanting to make yourself different to other people to get out
Reading too much into the author of the words doesn't help much. All that stuff about Patton living in Italy etc. would only mean anything to big fans of FNM. Its not an implicit meaning in the song.
I think the lyrics are fairly transparent, except this "new thing growing in me". What is it? He says its "something stronger than me". It has overtones of religious faith that i find interesting. I doubt Patton has "found God" or anything like that (I certainly haven't) but it does sound like the acknowledgement of a force beyond your control compelling you to do something
denying maturity?
I'm with GotMeNow... The guy's maturing, he doesn't have the same problems he had (nor the same reactions, "I don't speak that language anymore") but possibly some new challenges, and he's a bit scared of it all since it's unknown to him... Though he seems to know it's the right thing, even if it's 'no fun'.
well this one is pretty self explanatory isn't it? There is the feeling over having no control, having to run, overwhelmed by how things are turning out. its not about a guy, to whom things happens... thats no use really to have lyrics like this. I have the usual bummer to read stuff here, that are just reducing lyrics to some sort of tvsoap storyboards...lol come on, what matters is always and only the feeling you get! something speaking of a common human behavior. this here observasion tells about what anyone experiences in life when losing touch, facing a low, a terrible new thing, unpredicatble making one losing its mind. being unable to point it out, to put your finger on it. your life is just turning all upside down.. but somehow you must keep a grip.. or run away as you can, just for a while.. til you can't hide.
@naivada excellent interpretation! I was thinking the same.
Sounds like he's afraid becuase he's becoming something he doesn't want to be..like maybe with a drug addiction or someting..and he wants to "get out"..i dunno.
my vote's with GotMeNow
I think it might be something to do with how Faith No More's music had changed from the last album. Mike even said that on King for a Day they were being more true to themselves.
Maturity or recovery is the "something stronger". This song is written by the self-destructive younger self, which puts "fun" above health. It's losing the battle, and it's arguing its case by accusing the growing healthy self of arrogance ("my blood is not that colour anymore"). "Get out" means, "don't turn into a tool, kill yourself instead". The lyrics are pretty literal.
Puff dominates this song.