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."
Can you feel that?
Ah, shit
Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Drowning deep in my sea of loathing
Broken your servant I kneel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems what's left of my human side
Is slowly changing in me
(Will you give in to me?)
Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes (oh no)
There is no turning back now
You've woken up the demon in me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me
I can see inside you, the sickness is rising
Don't try to deny what you feel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems that all that was good has died
And is decaying in me
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems you're having some trouble
In dealing with these changes
Living with these changes (oh no)
The world is a scary place
Now that you've woken up the demon in me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me
(And when I dream)
(And when I dream)
(And when I dream), (and when I dream)
No mommy, don't do it again
Don't do it again
I'll be a good boy
I'll be a good boy, I promise
No mommy don't hit me
Why did you have to hit me like that, mommy?
Don't do it, you're hurting me
Why did you have to be such a bitch
Why don't you
Why don't you just fuck off and die
Why can't you just fuck off and die
Why can't you just leave here and die
Never stick your hand in my face again bitch
Fuck you
I don't need this shit
You stupid sadistic abusive fucking whore
How would you like to see how it feels mommy
Here it comes, get ready to die
Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness has now come over me
Ah, shit
Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Drowning deep in my sea of loathing
Broken your servant I kneel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems what's left of my human side
Is slowly changing in me
(Will you give in to me?)
Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes (oh no)
There is no turning back now
You've woken up the demon in me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me
I can see inside you, the sickness is rising
Don't try to deny what you feel
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems that all that was good has died
And is decaying in me
(Will you give in to me?)
It seems you're having some trouble
In dealing with these changes
Living with these changes (oh no)
The world is a scary place
Now that you've woken up the demon in me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness is the gift, that has been given to me
(And when I dream)
(And when I dream)
(And when I dream), (and when I dream)
No mommy, don't do it again
Don't do it again
I'll be a good boy
I'll be a good boy, I promise
No mommy don't hit me
Why did you have to hit me like that, mommy?
Don't do it, you're hurting me
Why did you have to be such a bitch
Why don't you
Why don't you just fuck off and die
Why can't you just fuck off and die
Why can't you just leave here and die
Never stick your hand in my face again bitch
Fuck you
I don't need this shit
You stupid sadistic abusive fucking whore
How would you like to see how it feels mommy
Here it comes, get ready to die
Oh, ah, ah, ah, ah
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
Open up your hate, and let it flow into me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness
You mother get up come on get down with the sickness
You fucker get up come on get down with the sickness
Madness has now come over me
Lyrics submitted by spitfirek7
Down with the Sickness Lyrics as written by David Draiman Dan Donegan
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Ummmmm....... just so you guys know... he is not talking about his actual mother... he is refering to the 'mother society' or the main stream culture of today which is disgusting and looks down upon anything that is different. He saying that the people who are different are the ones that society today views as being sick. Thus the... 'get up get down with the SICKNESS'... thus(2) the name of the album is 'The Sickness'.
I disagree...I think he's talking about his own mother, because of the part where he starts screaming and begging her to stop hurting him. "And when I dream..." it's like a memory that he relives. That's a bit too personal to have such a broad meaning.
I agree with CrimsonOmega
Sounds pretty true to me
would mother beating him be the repression of the different and the "normals" staying on top?
hey idiots hes right its what david dramian said and if you dont know who he is hes the singer/song wrighter gosh you fucking idiots
For me the part means sth. really different. I think he just means motherfucker, because first he say ´you mother get up´ and then ´you fucker get up´. I liked all your interpretations but for me he´s just insulting the person he´s talking to.
its about suicide and so is inside the fire. but good interpretation.
No aitazaz117, inside the fire is about the devil speaking to him about his girlfriend that died, telling him to commit suicide to join her. It's what the devil is telling him. And it's quite obvious.
@Rowen you're 100% right on this one
@Rowen How everything has changed, I miss these times.
@Rowen "in an insane society it is often the sane that appear insane". I am so glad i read this. I didn't get it. mother society now i think i understand it a little better. i like the sickness it's my favorite so far. I have just started listening to disturbed a few months back. Thanks.
I think what rowen said is true.. It's society that is sick and we have to get down with the sickness.. Voilence and Hate is everywere you look...it may haunt you for life
I believe the song is about the possible consequences of any kind of child abuse...sexual; physical; emotional; etc. Child abuse changes people and not all can rise about its effects. It took me YEARS to battle the scars left by my father's emotional abuse. Thankfully, now that I am free of the negative effects I believe I am a much stronger person. For some, good can come from bad...it just takes time.
I'm glad that experience made you a stronger person, homie, but i'm sorry you had to go through it.
uh i think this is he opposite lol want more email me
Daddy why do you come home the way you do Daddy answer me who is in charge of you I can't sleep at night I always hear you and mommy fighting Then why am i always the one running to the phone Dailing 911
mommy put down that gun he won't hurt you Mommy you better start to run because he coming after you
I am so sick of daddy's behavior why can't he just stay sober how long until i finally end it I could but then i would get hit
Daddy's not all right Daddy's feeling agresive l
Let me teach you a lesson Don't touch me the way you do Don't touch me this will be the last Time your next to!me
I think that Rowen is right because i have listened to A LOT of disturbed songs and i know that David Drainman wouldnt say stuff like that. And just for the record Sierp you suck with a capital SUCK
Wow, what can one say? this reads like Korn's song Daddy. An chronicle of abuse that has twisted a soul so badly that all it can know is violence.
its not deep in any way at all. its in dawn of the dead like zombies u know
OMG PEOPLE............ HE'S BEEN QUOTED IN MANY MANY MAGAZINES ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL MEANING BEHIND IT IS........ IT'S WHAT I SAID EARLIER....... Quit reading so much into it! It has NOTHING to do with his actual mother! GEEEEEEEEZ!
I, on the other hand, love my mother. This song's meaning isn't so deep, it's completely blatant, but exactly how deep is anger is and how he communicates it is utterly amazing. Much like "the game," what really catches you is the emotion is singing.
PS: And yes..... I am enough of a Disturbed fanatic to know this! The artical is in the issue of Metal Edge with the entire band on the cover if you don't believe me!
sierp, i've listened to at the drive in.. there's nothing special about them.. i don't see how the stuff you listen to is any better than what we listen to.. it's all about taste.. some people don't like the shitty garage sound/whiney bitch voices.. ahem..