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."
It's getting to the point where I am no fun anymore, I am sorry.
Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud, ‘I am lonely.'
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard.
Remember what we've said, and done and felt about each other, oh babe, have mercy.
Don't let the past, remind us of what we are not now, I am not dreaming.
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard.
Tearing yourself away from me now, you are free and I am crying.
This does not mean I don't love you, I do, that's forever, yes, and for always.
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard.
Something inside is telling me that I've got your secret. Are you still listening?
Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart and I love you.
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard, and you make it hard, and you make it hard, and you make it hard.
Friday evening, Sunday in the afternoon, what have you got to lose?
Tuesday morning, please be gone, I'm tired of you what have you got to lose?
Can I tell it like it is, listen to me baby-
it's my heart that's a suffering, it's a-dying and that's what I have to lose.
I've got an answer. I'm going to fly away, what have I got to lose?
Will you come see me Thursdays and Saturdays? What have you got to lose?
Chestnut brown canary, ruby throated sparrow,
sing a song, don't be long, thrill me to the marrow.
Voices of the angels, ring around the moonlight,
asking me, said, she so free, how can you catch the sparrow?
Lacy, lilting lyrics, losing love lamenting. Change my life, make it right, be my lady.
Que linda me la traiga Cuba
La reina de la Mar Caribe
Quiero solo visitarla alli
Y que triste que no puedo vaya
O va, o va
Sometimes it hurts so badly I must cry out loud, ‘I am lonely.'
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard.
Remember what we've said, and done and felt about each other, oh babe, have mercy.
Don't let the past, remind us of what we are not now, I am not dreaming.
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard.
Tearing yourself away from me now, you are free and I am crying.
This does not mean I don't love you, I do, that's forever, yes, and for always.
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are, you make it hard.
Something inside is telling me that I've got your secret. Are you still listening?
Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart and I love you.
I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are
You make it hard, and you make it hard, and you make it hard, and you make it hard.
Friday evening, Sunday in the afternoon, what have you got to lose?
Tuesday morning, please be gone, I'm tired of you what have you got to lose?
Can I tell it like it is, listen to me baby-
it's my heart that's a suffering, it's a-dying and that's what I have to lose.
I've got an answer. I'm going to fly away, what have I got to lose?
Will you come see me Thursdays and Saturdays? What have you got to lose?
Chestnut brown canary, ruby throated sparrow,
sing a song, don't be long, thrill me to the marrow.
Voices of the angels, ring around the moonlight,
asking me, said, she so free, how can you catch the sparrow?
Lacy, lilting lyrics, losing love lamenting. Change my life, make it right, be my lady.
Que linda me la traiga Cuba
La reina de la Mar Caribe
Quiero solo visitarla alli
Y que triste que no puedo vaya
O va, o va
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Great version of a great song,
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This is my favorite song of all time. It will def always be. It calms me down. It's such a nice song. I love CSNY. I can't wait to see them live, even though it's 2003, it'll still be awesome. I wish I lived in the 60s. That would have been great! :o)