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."
Let the raining tear-drops rain down on me tonight
I think making up, faking up stories is alright
Tick tock stop the clock, fiction is my thing
My attitude is always I and me and mine
Oh I'm so clever, I'm so clever, I'm so clever
Until my paranoia kicks in then I'll accuse her
Of doing all the worst things I do best
It's funny how me fucking her about
Has got me in this fucking mess
Liar liar liar liar pants on fire
Lies alibis lies more alibis
From the truth, I admit I'm more than shy
Ain't it the times we are living in
Everybody's doing it so why can't I?
I tally up tonight's strangers
And stragglers that I've kissed
Training ground notches, perfectly executed notches
And near misses
It's all about going out and getting pissed with eagle eyes
And sincerity bottom on my list
What's the story morning glory?
I feel so low and worthless, yeah
So this is where the outcome unfurls and the truth is being told
A cloud has gathered over my head and now I know
Infidelity and my good friend ecstasy doesn't work, it makes you worse
I'm feeling so guilty about the things I said to my mum when I was ten year old
I'm feeling so guilty about any old shit
And how I think my missus is fucking every guy that she looks at
This is it, this is it, this is it, this is it
The end was always coming and now it's here
So this is the grande finale
The crescendo of demise
This is the happy ending
Where the bad guy goes down and dies
This is the end
With me on my knees and wondering why?
Cross my heart, hope to die
It's my own cheating heart that makes me cry
I think making up, faking up stories is alright
Tick tock stop the clock, fiction is my thing
My attitude is always I and me and mine
Oh I'm so clever, I'm so clever, I'm so clever
Until my paranoia kicks in then I'll accuse her
Of doing all the worst things I do best
It's funny how me fucking her about
Has got me in this fucking mess
Liar liar liar liar pants on fire
Lies alibis lies more alibis
From the truth, I admit I'm more than shy
Ain't it the times we are living in
Everybody's doing it so why can't I?
I tally up tonight's strangers
And stragglers that I've kissed
Training ground notches, perfectly executed notches
And near misses
It's all about going out and getting pissed with eagle eyes
And sincerity bottom on my list
What's the story morning glory?
I feel so low and worthless, yeah
So this is where the outcome unfurls and the truth is being told
A cloud has gathered over my head and now I know
Infidelity and my good friend ecstasy doesn't work, it makes you worse
I'm feeling so guilty about the things I said to my mum when I was ten year old
I'm feeling so guilty about any old shit
And how I think my missus is fucking every guy that she looks at
This is it, this is it, this is it, this is it
The end was always coming and now it's here
So this is the grande finale
The crescendo of demise
This is the happy ending
Where the bad guy goes down and dies
This is the end
With me on my knees and wondering why?
Cross my heart, hope to die
It's my own cheating heart that makes me cry
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a powerful song about a man who allows his own infidelity to feed him with the paranoia that if he is cheating then surely his partner is also hence his "own cheating heart" makes him "cry" as he is consumed with guilt. the lyrics are brilliantly simple yet brilliantly emotive
"it's funny how me fucking her about has got me in this fucking mess"
there is something about the strong scottish accent that really makes this song even more desperately moving. beautiful song.
Great epic song!!! My favorite song at the moment!, There's just one problem, the accent is so strong that i always have to look at the lyric to know how it goes.
Agreed.... I wish it was just a little less indecipherable
I kind of agree, but I find that once you have read what the lyrics a few times over you can understand it.<br /> Glasvegas have made me fall so in love with the Scottish and their accents!<br /> I think Glasvegas' accent really keeps them true to their heritage, and it diplays massive honesty and a uniqueness that blows everyone away!
I understand it perfectly, it's so clear to me!<br /> probably has something to do with the fact that I'm scottish as well though :P<br /> If you haven't seen em live already, I recommend that you do ;) they're awesome!<br /> I mind the 1st time I ever heard this when I was in my friends dads car, it was aaaages ago, and he came out with "These guys are gonna be huge! Just wait n see" I swear that guy's a genius... :D
Having lost the love of my life because of my own cheating heart and stupid mistakes, this song's lyrics are the most honest I've ever seen in tackling this kind of situation.
First time I heard it, I was stunned by the beauty and honesty of it.
Amazing song
Beauty and honesty... never a truer word spoken...
I think its about drugs making him paranoid
how good is this song?
It's downright brilliant, so true too.
What a song!
"liar, liar, liar, liar, liar, pants on fire"
this has got to be one of the best lyrics in any song ever, and it's a song that would never have worked without the strong Scottish accent. This song is going to be a classic singalong, especially with a bottle of buckie. LOVE THIS SONG.
just went out and bought this today played it in the car on the way back to school the album version of this is soooo BIG proper stadium sound best song on the album by far
just went out and bought this today played it in the car on the way back to school the album version of this is soooo BIG proper stadium sound best song on the album by far