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 the truth is found to be lies
And all the joy within you dies
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Love, love
When the garden flowers, baby are dead, yes and
Your mind, your mind is so full of red
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his
Yeah, but in your head, baby
I'm afraid you don't know where it is
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Tears are running down
They're all running down your breast
And your friends, baby
They treat you like a guest
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
And all the joy within you dies
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Love, love
When the garden flowers, baby are dead, yes and
Your mind, your mind is so full of red
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Your eyes, I say your eyes may look like his
Yeah, but in your head, baby
I'm afraid you don't know where it is
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Tears are running down
They're all running down your breast
And your friends, baby
They treat you like a guest
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
You better find somebody to love
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Somebody to Love Lyrics as written by Darby R. Slick
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Actually, this song was originally written and performed by a band called "The Great Society", which was the band that was started by Grace Slick, Jerry Slick (her 1st husband), and his brother, Darby Slick.
Grace talks about the song and it's meaning in her autobiography, "Somebody to Love". The song was written by Darby and is about a more grown up version of love... She says they were tired of all of the "Why don't you love me?" songs that were typical of love songs of the era.
The song means, if you're feeling down and out, and life is handing you a bunch of shit for whatever reason, find somebody to love... To Love in the human sense, not the sexual or romantic sense. To give love, rather than bemoaning not receiving love.
In her words: "Rather than the loving you're whining about getting or not getting, a more satisfying state of heart might be the loving you're 'giving'. Suggesting that adhering to the old Puritan cliche, 'It's better to give than to receive', might actually make you a happier person. The idea of service and selflessness may sound like a tedious task reserved for bald monks, but the way Darby wrote the lyrics, altruism didn't seem like such a lofty and unattainable state. He gave the impression that giving could even be an enjoyable adventure."
Yes, I think you about nailed it. BTW, Jerry Garcia is listed as the "spiritual advisor" for the album "Surrealistic Pillow" as he said the album sounded "as Surrealistic as a pillow is soft." and The Grateful Dead have a great set of lyrics in "Truckin'" that cover the subject as well (IMHO): <br /> <br /> "Most of the cats that you meet on the streets speak of true love,<br /> Most of the time they're sittin' and cryin' at home.<br /> One of these days they know they gotta get goin'<br /> Out of the door and down on the streets all alone."