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."
Hey fellas have you heard the news?
You know that Annie's back in town?
It won't take long just watch and see
How the fellas lay their money down
Her style is new but the face is the same
As it was so long ago
But from her eyes a different smile
Like that of one who knows
Well it's been ten years and maybe more
Since I first set eyes on you
The best years of my life gone by
Here I am alone and blue
Some people cry and some people die
By the wicked ways of love
But I'll just keep on rollin' along
With the grace of the Lord above
People talkin' all around 'bout the way you left me flat
I don't care what the people say, I know where their jive is at
One thing I do have on my mind, if you can clarify please do
It's the way you call me by another guy's name when I try to make love to you, yeah
I try to make love but it ain't no use
Give it to me, give it
Work so hard I couldn't unwind
Get some money saved
Abuse my love a thousand times
However hard I tried
Heartbreaker, your time has come
Can't take your evil way
Go away heartbreaker
Heartbreaker
Heartbreaker
Heart
You know that Annie's back in town?
It won't take long just watch and see
How the fellas lay their money down
Her style is new but the face is the same
As it was so long ago
But from her eyes a different smile
Like that of one who knows
Well it's been ten years and maybe more
Since I first set eyes on you
The best years of my life gone by
Here I am alone and blue
Some people cry and some people die
By the wicked ways of love
But I'll just keep on rollin' along
With the grace of the Lord above
People talkin' all around 'bout the way you left me flat
I don't care what the people say, I know where their jive is at
One thing I do have on my mind, if you can clarify please do
It's the way you call me by another guy's name when I try to make love to you, yeah
I try to make love but it ain't no use
Give it to me, give it
Work so hard I couldn't unwind
Get some money saved
Abuse my love a thousand times
However hard I tried
Heartbreaker, your time has come
Can't take your evil way
Go away heartbreaker
Heartbreaker
Heartbreaker
Heart
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Mountain Song
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First of all, what is up with people on this site spelling his name Paige? It's Page, you sad sad people. I thought you said you were a guitar player Muzzy?
Now to the song. This is THE definitive blues rock song. I mean, what in this world is better? Not many people have commented here mainly because theres not much in the lyrics to be interpreted, its pretty straight forward. Just a girl who makes guys fall in love with her and then dumps them. Anyway, top notch. To me, this is true Zeppelin, not the techno stuff they get into later in their career. They should have just kept it to blues rock and their odd style of folk rock. That's true Zep. Songs like In the Evening are good for what they are, just not up the Led Zeppelin par (although the live version on their DVD is a vast improvement, Page's whammy bar work is truly something to see.)
ok where the heck are the comments on this song? this has got to be one of zeppelin's greatest songs EVER! jimmy page's solo is absolutely incredible. robert plants vocals are stunning. john bonham was freakin rockin on drums and john paul jones was doing a heck of a job on bass. an absolutely incredible song. i can't believe i'm the first to comment on it.
I used to think that the 'Annie' in the song was a prostitute or something, but now I'm not so sure. Either way, she is some kind of sexual predator that Mr. Plant finds it hard to break away from. The song is easily one of their best. The riff is perfect. Anyone else notice how Zeppelin's best riffs sound like orgasms? "Black Dog" and "The Ocean" spring to mind. For a direct and frankly appalling rip-off of this song, look no further than 'Strange Kind of Woman' by the decidedly average Deep Purple.
she's a hooker...it's just about women in general and how they can fuck with dude's heads with out even knowing it
one of those catchy songs u just gotta hum while in a que for sumthing hehe
When Page said that the solo was bad he was referring to the fact that it is slightly sloppy. But it still kicks ass. To listen to an even better solo pick up How The West Was Won. Great performance.
yeah dude, that cd fuckin rocks! im listening to it right now.
its about a gold diggin slut
Does anyone else notice the similarities between the instrumentals in this song and the song by the Doors called "Wild Child"
Great song either way.
ahhhh this is my favorite led zeppelin song, its soo good. Ya the riff is really cathy sounding. i like the whole song, and i dont know if its about a whore, but im pretty sure he sings about a whore in hey hey what can i do.
i can play most of the song the guitar part of the song.. well most of it.. kind of everything except for the solo, which i think is fabulous... great...