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."
Truth covered in security
I can't let you smother me
I'd like to but it couldn't work
Trading off and taking turns
I don't regret a thing
I've got this friend, you see
Who makes me feel
And I wanted more
Than I could steal
I'll arrest myself
And wear a shield
I'll go out of my way
To prove I still
Smell her on you
Don't, tell me what I wanna hear
Afraid of never knowning fear
Experience anything you need
I'll keep fighting jealousy
Until it's fucking gone
I've got this friend, you see
Who makes me feel
And I wanted more
Than I could steal
I'll arrest myself
And wear a shield
I'll go out of my way
To prove I still
Smell her on you
Truth covered in security
I can't let you smother me
I'd like to but it wouldn't work
Trading off and taking turns
I don't regret a thing
I've got this friend, you see
Who makes me feel
And I wanted more
Than I could steal
I'll arrest myself
And wear a shield
I'll go out of my way
To make you a deal
We've make a pact
To learn from who
Ever we want
Without new rules
We'll share what's lost and what we grew
They'll go out of their way
To prove they still
Smell her on you
They still, smell her on you
Smell her on you
I can't let you smother me
I'd like to but it couldn't work
Trading off and taking turns
I don't regret a thing
I've got this friend, you see
Who makes me feel
And I wanted more
Than I could steal
I'll arrest myself
And wear a shield
I'll go out of my way
To prove I still
Smell her on you
Don't, tell me what I wanna hear
Afraid of never knowning fear
Experience anything you need
I'll keep fighting jealousy
Until it's fucking gone
I've got this friend, you see
Who makes me feel
And I wanted more
Than I could steal
I'll arrest myself
And wear a shield
I'll go out of my way
To prove I still
Smell her on you
Truth covered in security
I can't let you smother me
I'd like to but it wouldn't work
Trading off and taking turns
I don't regret a thing
I've got this friend, you see
Who makes me feel
And I wanted more
Than I could steal
I'll arrest myself
And wear a shield
I'll go out of my way
To make you a deal
We've make a pact
To learn from who
Ever we want
Without new rules
We'll share what's lost and what we grew
They'll go out of their way
To prove they still
Smell her on you
They still, smell her on you
Smell her on you
Lyrics submitted by spitfirek7, edited by justsomeragbabe
Lounge Act Lyrics as written by Kurt Cobain
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.
according to the book-- the girl this song is about is Tobi Vail (of Bikini Kill), Kurt's girlfriend for most of the time he wrote Nevermind. Kurt tells Tobi the song is about her and says he won't play it when Courtney is at the concert.
Don't know what book you're referring to, there's like 95 of them, but he's speaking about/to his very first girlfriend, the one on About A Girl. Saying he still smells Courtney (ugh...Love blinds so much) on her saying that yeah he's slept elsewhere and if she can't take it "i can't let you smother me". etc. I forget just now the name of his first girlfriend, he was with her from 89 to sometimes in 91, when this one from Bikini Kill and then Courtney showed up in his life then.
This song (TO ME) is back and forth thoughts from kurt's mind about his girlfriend and this other guy who she is seeing.
Sounds like a love triangle with a girlfriend of his. Maybe this chick was not all into him, maybe she had kurt on the side and he knew it. For some reason this girl captivated kurt despite the fact that she was seeing this other guy. He knows its bad for him though. "Couldn't work, Trading off and taking turns" Although its bad for him, looking back at the situation he doesn't regret being with her. "I dont regret a thing"
Don't tell me what I want to hear stanza - she's lieing about her whereabouts and etc.. about the whole situation and he knows it. Funny thing is more than likely he doesn't confront her about it.
Ill go out of my way to prove I still smell her on you. Kurt could have known this guy - circle of friends
Stealing - stealing the girl away from him, but he wanted more. "Arrest myself and wear a shield" He has to hold back from killing him ( she would be put off by this barbaric behavior and leave him possibly) but kurt goes out of his way to let that guy know, "I know you're with my girl." "smell her on you" Could be a tactic kurt used to intimidate this other man. Intimidate him so he would stop seeing his girl.
The last stanza something happened between all 3 of them. He tries to make a deal with her and it probably doesn't end up working. Im not exactly 100% sure but thats how I interpret this song. The last stanza is the hardest for me to interpret. It is a deal with him or her, more than likely her by saying "sharing what's lost" and what we grew.
Kurt was jealous and was spying on this chick lol. Almost sounds like he was obsessed. We all been there. And it sucks when a chick you really like isn't feeling the same vibe as you =[
Feedback and criticism is welcome. By the way kurt was a pisces and they are known to be caught up in some strange love situations. Wouldn't suprise me.
where the hell did u hear that? I think the last person in the world to commit rape would be kurt cobain, im sorry, but i have a real hard time beliving that.
The line "still smell her on you" could be about bein cheated on.
wishing of her's comment is true and well thot out even if it was really poorly written
the line 'i'll wear a shield' is referring to the k records logo which he (kurt cobain) has tatooed on his arm.
Might also be a police badge ("arrest myself"), which are usually shield-shaped
@luv_burns_me No it's obviously about him telling his first girlfriend, not the girl in Bikini Kill, his true first girlfriend, that even though he's slept with other girls he wore a condom. The whole song explains to her how he cannot be the only for her. Same as he does in About a Girl.
"We've made a pact to learn from who Ever we want without new rules We'll share what's lost and what we grew"
i think that pretty much somes it up.
this song is so underappreciated it makes me sick. i think it's one of nirvana's best. i don't care if it's about rape-- that doesn't really matter. cobain is so genuinely angry in this song; what matters is that feeling you get listening to him scream.
hi, I'm an Italian girl. I'm a bit ignorant: I don't precisely know anything about nirvana... But the last summer I thought this song was about my own situation. I was "falling in love" with my best friend and I didn't accept it. So "Truth covered in security - you can't admitt it I can't let you smother me - you want to stop feeling it I'd like to but it wouldn't work - you know you can't do it And I've got this friend, you see, who makes me feel (and) I wanted more than I could steal - you want more than friendship and you need more than those moments you could "steal", those sensations you could "steal", when you're near to each other. don't tell me what I wanna hear - you don't want it to happen Afraid of never knowing fear, experience's everything you need - you want to risk, on the other side you WANT it to happen... Do you think it's completely nonsense? answer me please
No, it's not nonsense, sweetie! I've always thought the song was about a relationship going bad because the two people were lying to themselves and each other, and that definitely seems to fit your case. I don't mean to be rude by the way, I'm just trying to help. I hope everything has worked out for you with your friend. All the best!
@Dyczkowski This song spoke to you and you heard and answered.....lol....that's what's supposed to happen. Doesn't matter what others think but I am sure feedback helps sometimes. I bet you're beautiful....even 14 years after your post....;)
It's about Tobi Vail. Several of Kurt's subjects or songs or song titles are about Tobi Vail- Hello? Kathleen Hannah spray painted on his bedroom wall "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit"- Tobi Vail's deodorant. Lounge Act is about a letter he wrote to Tobi but never sent it. Courtney Love wasn't even on the scene yet. Krist Novoselic even says so.
My god! Kurt Cobain never raped anyone! He was a huge proponant of women's rights (hence a reason he was drawn to Tobi Vail. She was a Riot Grrrl and activist for equal rights for women in music and throughout society in general, especially free speech and anti-violence against women) and disgusted by rape. He wrote about the entire episode his journal.
"In a last attempt to make it clear, Lakeside High School has never had the facilities to teach those chronic retards. A lot of naive asshole kids just called her retarded because she never talked.-- And she offered me some twinkies and I sat in her lap and said "let's fuck" and I touched her tits and she went into the bedroom and got undressed in front of me with the door open and I watched and realized it was actually happening so I tried to fuck her but I didn't know how and I asked her if she had ever done this before and she said a lot of times mainly with her cousin. I got grossed out very heavily with how her vagina smelled and her sweat reaked so I left.--and that day the girls father came in screaming and accusing someone of taking advantage of his daughter and they went to the principals office and yelled at each other-- and I went down to the station and recorded my confession of what I did and said that her family can't do anything because she was 18 and not mentally retarded."
Know your Cobain before you post stupid drivel. Don't start senseless rumors about what you think you know- seriously.
@jinxd_music Nobody here knows kurt, including you, just state your opinion and shut up
@jinxd_music WOw! That cleared that up...nicely done!!!
here's whats wrong with the whole rape idea, kurt was very unpredjudiced and very kind to people. That why he wrote the song polly, to mourne for a girl who was raped and killed and he felt so bad about that, thats what cause's me to think the whole rape theory is bullshit. no offense to major believers
"Truth - covered in security"
lol, I have always found this line strangely funny. Its just kinda weird y'know? I mean... does he say "Truth, Covered insecurity" as in he has secret insecurities or "Truth, covered IN security" as in he has many secrets that are well kept?
Makes you think... Kurt had a way of playing with words like that...
This song is about his ex tobi vail..he tried to impress her by getting a "k" shield tatoo on his arm, which was a indie record label.."ill arrest myself, i'll wear a shield"