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."
If I say I don't need anyone
I can say these things to you
'Cause I can turn on anyone, just like I've turned on you
I've got a tongue like a razor
A sweet switchblade knife
And I can do you favors but then you'll do whatever I like
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
I've seen everything imaginable
Pass before these eyes
I've had everything that's tangible
Honey you'd be surprised
I'm a sexual innuendo
In this burned out paradise
If you turn me on to anything
You better turn me on tonight
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
I see you standin'
Standin' on your own
It's such a lonely place for you
For you to be
If you need a shoulder
Or if you need a friend
I'll be here standing
Until the bitter end
No one needs the sorrow
No one needs the pain
I hate to see you
Walking out there
Out in the rain
So don't chastise me
Or think I, I mean you harm
Of those that take you leave you strung out
Much too far
Baby, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, baby, yeah
Don't ever leave me
Say you'll always be there
All I ever wanted
Was for you
To know that I care
I can say these things to you
'Cause I can turn on anyone, just like I've turned on you
I've got a tongue like a razor
A sweet switchblade knife
And I can do you favors but then you'll do whatever I like
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
I've seen everything imaginable
Pass before these eyes
I've had everything that's tangible
Honey you'd be surprised
I'm a sexual innuendo
In this burned out paradise
If you turn me on to anything
You better turn me on tonight
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
I see you standin'
Standin' on your own
It's such a lonely place for you
For you to be
If you need a shoulder
Or if you need a friend
I'll be here standing
Until the bitter end
No one needs the sorrow
No one needs the pain
I hate to see you
Walking out there
Out in the rain
So don't chastise me
Or think I, I mean you harm
Of those that take you leave you strung out
Much too far
Baby, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, baby, yeah
Don't ever leave me
Say you'll always be there
All I ever wanted
Was for you
To know that I care
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Mountain Song
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