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."
"Till the end of...No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"N-N-No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender No No surrender no surrender and no retreat"
"Y'all ready?"
[Evidence]
Yo, aiyo potent
Straight up with the force to keep fighting
Samson, Atlas, Colossus, Ti-tan
In the dark night the torch steady lightens
I'm strong, cast iron heart of the lion
A mighty foundation to a tower of power
With the energy needed to turn the seed into a flower
Fortified type, sturdy sound constructions make rappers duck down
Like I'm Boogie Down Productions (Boop Boop Boop Boop)
I can tell they're weak, delicate
It ain't hard to sell when I speak
Over rock-hard breaks (breaks!) never riddle little beats
See me on rap city B-E-T spit graffiti
Present a full section of flavors thats robust
Dilated Peoples my brother we gon' crush
Leave up support, insulate your stage
I got self control but can't hold the rage
Many ya products, gimmicks wit' time limits
I give you what you want plus put my mind in it
Rocka Iriscience trained to go the length
Finding all terrain thin tanked in full strength
"No surrender and no retreat"
Chorus [Evidence]
Stand my ground dig in with both feet
No surrender no turning no cheat no retreat
Stand my ground dig in with both feet
No surrender no turning no cheat no retreat
Stand my ground dig in with both feet
No surrender no turning no cheat no retreat
Stand my ground dig in with both feet
"No surrender and no retreat"
[Evidence]
Uh, uh, yo, worldwide
From great heights we take perish by night
And lay by day from sonic doodalay espy tight
Twelve hundad tech me sharp cut and free
Detonate the drums heat the plastique
thats a dangerous man
Who can speak with his hands
Watered down lyrics on dirty tracks turned to sand
To sink in better watch the the X that you inkin'
Or on so disrespect and step on my lawn
Pass the gate insulate till sound deton's
Twelve ten and debt never met chapter eleven
My fam's my strength my pops I got my aim from
?????????????????????????
One's for breath, the rest as you feel it
Fuck what you've done you've got skills reveal it
Team with Iriscience pro's with flows
I risk my life on flights for hype shows
Rest assure vaccines are far from cures
And plant some new shit that hit me two weeks into tour
But I'll adapt guaranteed make it through
Evidence, Iriscience and my man Babuuuu
Worldwide
"Dilated"
"I told all these corny mothafuckas what a no retreat sound like"
Chorus [Evidence]
[B-Real]
Never givin' up never givin' in never holdin' back never runnin'
No cowardly acts dumpin' no retreat
Constantly moving ahead ???
Psychological diabolical shrimp filleted it eat ya
Now I hate it cuz the flavor is gone cater to those
Lyrics are bomb savor the shows wait for the pro's
Beats made it with flows hated by foe's
Never surrender your soul and rope with the cold
Others are makin' but sadly mistakin' the straight broke
In the end with no cheddar of bacon thats left poked
Pictures afloat over remote notes and potent mic's
Break you up put you in the pipe light you up
To the night, shadows are runnin' around peepin step out of bounds
And watch a nigga get put to sleep
But never recover never surrender
I know you hate it quit us get eliminated
Fuckin' with Dilated
"No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"N-N-No surrender and no retreat"
"Ha! Hahaha"
"Ha Two Thousand"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"N-N-No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender No No surrender no surrender and no retreat"
"Y'all ready?"
[Evidence]
Yo, aiyo potent
Straight up with the force to keep fighting
Samson, Atlas, Colossus, Ti-tan
In the dark night the torch steady lightens
I'm strong, cast iron heart of the lion
A mighty foundation to a tower of power
With the energy needed to turn the seed into a flower
Fortified type, sturdy sound constructions make rappers duck down
Like I'm Boogie Down Productions (Boop Boop Boop Boop)
I can tell they're weak, delicate
It ain't hard to sell when I speak
Over rock-hard breaks (breaks!) never riddle little beats
See me on rap city B-E-T spit graffiti
Present a full section of flavors thats robust
Dilated Peoples my brother we gon' crush
Leave up support, insulate your stage
I got self control but can't hold the rage
Many ya products, gimmicks wit' time limits
I give you what you want plus put my mind in it
Rocka Iriscience trained to go the length
Finding all terrain thin tanked in full strength
"No surrender and no retreat"
Chorus [Evidence]
Stand my ground dig in with both feet
No surrender no turning no cheat no retreat
Stand my ground dig in with both feet
No surrender no turning no cheat no retreat
Stand my ground dig in with both feet
No surrender no turning no cheat no retreat
Stand my ground dig in with both feet
"No surrender and no retreat"
[Evidence]
Uh, uh, yo, worldwide
From great heights we take perish by night
And lay by day from sonic doodalay espy tight
Twelve hundad tech me sharp cut and free
Detonate the drums heat the plastique
thats a dangerous man
Who can speak with his hands
Watered down lyrics on dirty tracks turned to sand
To sink in better watch the the X that you inkin'
Or on so disrespect and step on my lawn
Pass the gate insulate till sound deton's
Twelve ten and debt never met chapter eleven
My fam's my strength my pops I got my aim from
?????????????????????????
One's for breath, the rest as you feel it
Fuck what you've done you've got skills reveal it
Team with Iriscience pro's with flows
I risk my life on flights for hype shows
Rest assure vaccines are far from cures
And plant some new shit that hit me two weeks into tour
But I'll adapt guaranteed make it through
Evidence, Iriscience and my man Babuuuu
Worldwide
"Dilated"
"I told all these corny mothafuckas what a no retreat sound like"
Chorus [Evidence]
[B-Real]
Never givin' up never givin' in never holdin' back never runnin'
No cowardly acts dumpin' no retreat
Constantly moving ahead ???
Psychological diabolical shrimp filleted it eat ya
Now I hate it cuz the flavor is gone cater to those
Lyrics are bomb savor the shows wait for the pro's
Beats made it with flows hated by foe's
Never surrender your soul and rope with the cold
Others are makin' but sadly mistakin' the straight broke
In the end with no cheddar of bacon thats left poked
Pictures afloat over remote notes and potent mic's
Break you up put you in the pipe light you up
To the night, shadows are runnin' around peepin step out of bounds
And watch a nigga get put to sleep
But never recover never surrender
I know you hate it quit us get eliminated
Fuckin' with Dilated
"No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"No surrender and no retreat"
"N-N-No surrender and no retreat"
"Ha! Hahaha"
"Ha Two Thousand"
Lyrics submitted by dan ginzburg
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
Perhaps the most underrated rap group of all time. Dilated Peoples kick ass.