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."
When you walk right by my side
everything just feels alright
all the stars are shining bright
I feel lucky
When I'm hanging out with you
and you do the things you do
when you look into my eyes
I'm so glad
But there's something sad 'bout you
you're guy and I'm one, too
you like girls and I like you
so I don't know what to do
I just hide my face away
standing in the closet
and pretending I feel fine
I just hide my tears away
you know I'm a big boy
you won't see me crying
When I walk around with you
and you do the things you do
when you look into my eyes
feel like crying
When you call me on the phone
telling me you feel alone
it's just tearing out my heart
feel like dying
everything just feels alright
all the stars are shining bright
I feel lucky
When I'm hanging out with you
and you do the things you do
when you look into my eyes
I'm so glad
But there's something sad 'bout you
you're guy and I'm one, too
you like girls and I like you
so I don't know what to do
I just hide my face away
standing in the closet
and pretending I feel fine
I just hide my tears away
you know I'm a big boy
you won't see me crying
When I walk around with you
and you do the things you do
when you look into my eyes
feel like crying
When you call me on the phone
telling me you feel alone
it's just tearing out my heart
feel like dying
Lyrics submitted by punk_in_drublic99
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
The last entries are very long ago, but anyway, I will clarify now. The band commented this song in the booklet of the compilation "Kraut & Rüben":
"We wrote this about a friend, sorry guys! It's a song for all people who have to hide something about themselves because they have to fear the reactions of a society that is full of intolerance and narrow-mindedness."
@sunday84 Thanks a lot.
How do you know its the singer that wrote the song tho...?
What a catchy awesome song! I heard it on a <a href="411vm.com">411VM</a> skateboarding years ago and just the other day after I watched the video for music sakes I heard that song again.
hmmm this song makes me wonder if the WIZO singer's actually gay?
I doubt that he is.