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."
WOMAN
Alarm goes off at seven
And you start uptown.
You put in your eight hours
For the powers that have always been.
Till it's five P.M.
BUM 1
Then You go
COMPANY
Downtown
Where the folks are broke.
Downtown
Where your life's a joke.
Downtown
When you buy your token,
you go
Home to skid row.
BUM 2
Yes, you go
COMPANY
Downtown
Where the cabs don't stop
Downtown
Where the food is slop
Downtown
Where the hop-heads flop
in the snow
Down on Skid Row
Uptown you cater to a million jerks.
Uptown you're messengers and
mailroom clerks
eating all your lunches at the
hot dog carts.
The bosses take your money
And they break your hearts.
Uptown you cater to a million whores.
You disinfect terrazzo on their
bathroom floors.
Your morning's tribulation,
afternoon's a curse
And five o'clock is even worse
BUM 3
That's when you go
COMPANY AUDREY
Downtown Where the guys are drips.
Downtown Where they rip your slips.
Downtown Where relationships are no go.
Down on skid row Down on skid row
Down on skid row Down on skid row
Down on skid row Down on skid row
Down on skid row! Down on skid row!
SEYMOUR
Poor! All my life I've always been poor.
I keep asking God what I'm for,
and he tells me "Gee, I'm not sure
sweep that floor, kid."
Oh, I started life as an orphan,
a child of the street
Here on skid row.
He took me in, gave me shelter, a bed,
Crust of bread and a job
Treats me like dirt, calls me a slob,
Which I am. COMPANY
So I live Downtown
That's your home address.
Ya live Downtown
When your life's a mess.
Ya live Downtown
Where depressions' jes'
Status Quo.
Down on skid row
Someone show me a way to get
outa here,
'cause I constantly pray I'll get
outa here
Please, won't somebody say I'll get
outa here
Someone gimme my shot or I'll
rot here.
COMPANY SEYMOUR & AUDREY
Downtown There's no rules for us.
Downtown 'Cause it's dangerous.
Downtown Where the rainbow's jus a no-show
Downtown Where the sun don't
Downtown Past the bottom line
Downtown Go ask any wino, he'll know
I'll do I dunno what to get outa skid
Downtown
But a hell of a lot to get outa skid
Downtown
People tell me there's not a way outa skid
Downtown
But believe me I gotta get outa skid
ALL
Row!
Alarm goes off at seven
And you start uptown.
You put in your eight hours
For the powers that have always been.
Till it's five P.M.
BUM 1
Then You go
COMPANY
Downtown
Where the folks are broke.
Downtown
Where your life's a joke.
Downtown
When you buy your token,
you go
Home to skid row.
BUM 2
Yes, you go
COMPANY
Downtown
Where the cabs don't stop
Downtown
Where the food is slop
Downtown
Where the hop-heads flop
in the snow
Down on Skid Row
Uptown you cater to a million jerks.
Uptown you're messengers and
mailroom clerks
eating all your lunches at the
hot dog carts.
The bosses take your money
And they break your hearts.
Uptown you cater to a million whores.
You disinfect terrazzo on their
bathroom floors.
Your morning's tribulation,
afternoon's a curse
And five o'clock is even worse
BUM 3
That's when you go
COMPANY AUDREY
Downtown Where the guys are drips.
Downtown Where they rip your slips.
Downtown Where relationships are no go.
Down on skid row Down on skid row
Down on skid row Down on skid row
Down on skid row Down on skid row
Down on skid row! Down on skid row!
SEYMOUR
Poor! All my life I've always been poor.
I keep asking God what I'm for,
and he tells me "Gee, I'm not sure
sweep that floor, kid."
Oh, I started life as an orphan,
a child of the street
Here on skid row.
He took me in, gave me shelter, a bed,
Crust of bread and a job
Treats me like dirt, calls me a slob,
Which I am. COMPANY
So I live Downtown
That's your home address.
Ya live Downtown
When your life's a mess.
Ya live Downtown
Where depressions' jes'
Status Quo.
Down on skid row
Someone show me a way to get
outa here,
'cause I constantly pray I'll get
outa here
Please, won't somebody say I'll get
outa here
Someone gimme my shot or I'll
rot here.
COMPANY SEYMOUR & AUDREY
Downtown There's no rules for us.
Downtown 'Cause it's dangerous.
Downtown Where the rainbow's jus a no-show
Downtown Where the sun don't
Downtown Past the bottom line
Downtown Go ask any wino, he'll know
I'll do I dunno what to get outa skid
Downtown
But a hell of a lot to get outa skid
Downtown
People tell me there's not a way outa skid
Downtown
But believe me I gotta get outa skid
ALL
Row!
Lyrics submitted by BroadwayAngel232
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