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."
Hello?
Nah, nah, she don't live here, man.
I thought I told you!
Yo I think you need to step off, alright!?
Moved into my apartment at the University,
The only one who lives here's me,
So why the phone ring all day long,
I got no friends 'cept Mike and he's gone for the summer,
And I just want some peace and quiet,
Go to my room it's a telephone riot,
Ring-aling-aling,
Everytime I take a step can't sleep can't eat can't breathe can't get,
Any of my work done,
'Cause people keep callin' with the same damn question,
(Hello, is Shaniqua there?)
Nah, Shaniqua moved out last year,
I think you got the wrong number,
This is Little T,
(You mean Shaniqua's brother?)
Man, can't you just leave me alone,
This ain't Shaniqua's house this ain't her phone!
And don't call back again,
'Cause if you do you know the answer man:
CHORUS
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
(Is Shaniqua there?)
Hell no!
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
(Is Shaniqua there?)
Hell no!
I wonder who Shaniqua is,
What she does and where she lives,
Is she a pot-head with too many zits?
A movie star with inflatable t*ts?
Does she take the train,
Or drive in a car?
Does she work at the office,
Or down at the bar?
How the hell should I know,
She could be albino for all I care,
(Hello is Shaniqua there?)
Yea, she is but she can't talk now,
She's busy milkin' our purple cow,
And talkin' to the Easter bunny,
(Man you think you're funny)
Shuttup Beavis I told you six times before,
Shaniqua don't live here no more
(Chorus)
Check my machine on Friday there were 22 messages,
Man I can't win at this,
One said:
(This is for the kid livin' with Shaniqua,
You want that chick you can keep her)
Will this ever cease?
So I can get some sleep,
Shaniqua moved out,
Leave your message at the beep,
(Yo, Shaniqua, I love you, call me)
(CHORUS)
Nah, nah, she don't live here, man.
I thought I told you!
Yo I think you need to step off, alright!?
Moved into my apartment at the University,
The only one who lives here's me,
So why the phone ring all day long,
I got no friends 'cept Mike and he's gone for the summer,
And I just want some peace and quiet,
Go to my room it's a telephone riot,
Ring-aling-aling,
Everytime I take a step can't sleep can't eat can't breathe can't get,
Any of my work done,
'Cause people keep callin' with the same damn question,
(Hello, is Shaniqua there?)
Nah, Shaniqua moved out last year,
I think you got the wrong number,
This is Little T,
(You mean Shaniqua's brother?)
Man, can't you just leave me alone,
This ain't Shaniqua's house this ain't her phone!
And don't call back again,
'Cause if you do you know the answer man:
CHORUS
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
(Is Shaniqua there?)
Hell no!
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
Shaniqua don't live here no more,
(Is Shaniqua there?)
Hell no!
I wonder who Shaniqua is,
What she does and where she lives,
Is she a pot-head with too many zits?
A movie star with inflatable t*ts?
Does she take the train,
Or drive in a car?
Does she work at the office,
Or down at the bar?
How the hell should I know,
She could be albino for all I care,
(Hello is Shaniqua there?)
Yea, she is but she can't talk now,
She's busy milkin' our purple cow,
And talkin' to the Easter bunny,
(Man you think you're funny)
Shuttup Beavis I told you six times before,
Shaniqua don't live here no more
(Chorus)
Check my machine on Friday there were 22 messages,
Man I can't win at this,
One said:
(This is for the kid livin' with Shaniqua,
You want that chick you can keep her)
Will this ever cease?
So I can get some sleep,
Shaniqua moved out,
Leave your message at the beep,
(Yo, Shaniqua, I love you, call me)
(CHORUS)
Lyrics submitted by BJs_GaL
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one of our friends just randomly like started responding to us in math class with Shaniqua Don't live here no more"