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."
Eh marara I lle llea
You are about to embark on a journey
You are going to visit monkeys, dolphins
And people
I look around and all I see are politicians on the take
I look at me, I am the same but I don't notice
And I have learned that everybody
Has a price tag on his head
Though it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
And it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey, monkey
Monkey dance
On Sunday mornings when I went went to church
A buck was always made
A true parade to pave the way into the glory
And 30 coins was all they paid for
All the ways I should behave
Though it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
And it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
Aye, awa ko ako
And I have paid my way through life
I've kept myself so far removed
From everyone and everything that could be purchased
I will collect what I've put in my piggy bank is locked within
Though it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
And it's money that will make the monkey dance
Oh, I want money give me money, so much money
Tender money
'Cause it's money that will make the monkey dance
I'm the monkey, I'm the monkey
Eh marara I
And though my pockets have a hole
I feel content within my soul
I've been sincere with all the customers encountered
I can't complain, I'm rich in love
And I must thank my God above
Though it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
And it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
You are about to embark on a journey
You are going to visit monkeys, dolphins
And people
I look around and all I see are politicians on the take
I look at me, I am the same but I don't notice
And I have learned that everybody
Has a price tag on his head
Though it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
And it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey, monkey
Monkey dance
On Sunday mornings when I went went to church
A buck was always made
A true parade to pave the way into the glory
And 30 coins was all they paid for
All the ways I should behave
Though it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
And it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
Aye, awa ko ako
And I have paid my way through life
I've kept myself so far removed
From everyone and everything that could be purchased
I will collect what I've put in my piggy bank is locked within
Though it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
And it's money that will make the monkey dance
Oh, I want money give me money, so much money
Tender money
'Cause it's money that will make the monkey dance
I'm the monkey, I'm the monkey
Eh marara I
And though my pockets have a hole
I feel content within my soul
I've been sincere with all the customers encountered
I can't complain, I'm rich in love
And I must thank my God above
Though it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
And it's money that will make the monkey dance
Yes, it's money that will make the monkey dance
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Great song, get as many songs from this guy as you can.. nillara.net to buy his cds he's so good..