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."
Too eager to appease
The cure is the disease
And it's only growing worse
Day by day it takes its hold
Divides its cells a thousand-fold
And makes your blindness seem perverse
Out of sight and out of mind
Are deadly traits when they're combined
But it's easier that way
Sit and watch the world go by
While all the problems multiply
With nothing left to do but pray
I am the rain
Falling down to cover you
Wish me away
But I'm here for your own good
I am the storm
Sent to wake you from your dream
Show me your scorn
But you'll thank me in the end
These amenities are nice
But there is need for sacrifice
You must lose so you may gain
It's too easy to malign
The implements that steal our time
But it's we who are to blame
Fill your pockets while you can
And try to keep the upper hand
The voice of reason sounds so shrill
Surround yourself with all you own
Work your fingers to the bone
And happiness evades you still
I am the rain
Falling down to cover you
Wish me away
But I'm here for your own good
I am the storm
Sent to wake you from your dream
Show me your scorn
But you'll thank me in the end
Too eager to appease
You've lost the forest for the trees
And it really is a shame
It is such a sorry sight
When you evaluate your life
You've only got yourself to blame
I am the rain
Falling down to cover you
Wish me away
But I'm here for your own good
I am the storm
Sent to wake you from your dream
Show me your scorn
But you'll thank me in the end
The cure is the disease
And it's only growing worse
Day by day it takes its hold
Divides its cells a thousand-fold
And makes your blindness seem perverse
Out of sight and out of mind
Are deadly traits when they're combined
But it's easier that way
Sit and watch the world go by
While all the problems multiply
With nothing left to do but pray
I am the rain
Falling down to cover you
Wish me away
But I'm here for your own good
I am the storm
Sent to wake you from your dream
Show me your scorn
But you'll thank me in the end
These amenities are nice
But there is need for sacrifice
You must lose so you may gain
It's too easy to malign
The implements that steal our time
But it's we who are to blame
Fill your pockets while you can
And try to keep the upper hand
The voice of reason sounds so shrill
Surround yourself with all you own
Work your fingers to the bone
And happiness evades you still
I am the rain
Falling down to cover you
Wish me away
But I'm here for your own good
I am the storm
Sent to wake you from your dream
Show me your scorn
But you'll thank me in the end
Too eager to appease
You've lost the forest for the trees
And it really is a shame
It is such a sorry sight
When you evaluate your life
You've only got yourself to blame
I am the rain
Falling down to cover you
Wish me away
But I'm here for your own good
I am the storm
Sent to wake you from your dream
Show me your scorn
But you'll thank me in the end
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It is such a sorry sight When you evaluate your life You've only got yourself to blame
I'm pretty sure that its supposed to be "It is such a sorry sight / when you evaluate your plight".