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."
I think we can fly and swallow fire
Blow smoke and hold our breath for as long as it takes
Every hello is goodbye
As we exchange strangers and lies
For estranged lovers and time
All loved ones get held up
So I can stop running and the air can hum
The busy sister's stunning, won't she be stunned
By the infinite parade of punk rock t-shirts on
When you can't break through
With the one that you want
If we survive, are we free
Of the dumb luck that surrounds us?
And we get stuck between the places I messed up
So I can stop running and the air can hum
The busy sister's stunning, won't she be stunned
By the infinite parade of punk rock t-shirts on
When you can't break through
With the one that you want
No you can't, you cannot know, you can't, you cannot
Should I feel flattered that you hate everything but me?
When you can't break through
With the one that you want
No you can't, you cannot know
Blow smoke and hold our breath for as long as it takes
Every hello is goodbye
As we exchange strangers and lies
For estranged lovers and time
All loved ones get held up
So I can stop running and the air can hum
The busy sister's stunning, won't she be stunned
By the infinite parade of punk rock t-shirts on
When you can't break through
With the one that you want
If we survive, are we free
Of the dumb luck that surrounds us?
And we get stuck between the places I messed up
So I can stop running and the air can hum
The busy sister's stunning, won't she be stunned
By the infinite parade of punk rock t-shirts on
When you can't break through
With the one that you want
No you can't, you cannot know, you can't, you cannot
Should I feel flattered that you hate everything but me?
When you can't break through
With the one that you want
No you can't, you cannot know
Lyrics submitted by woodwell
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I think that this song is talking about a frustrated member of a best friend duo who is in love with his friend, but she is too independent to be tied down. The singer sounds more vulernable and weak ("if we survive, are we free of the dumb luck that surrounds us and we get stuck between the places I messed up") and the best friend sounds stronger ("when you can't break through with the one that you want").
He's just frustrated, but it sounds like he's kind of accepted it too. He's just wondering if he even has a chance.
I heart this song.
heavenly voice