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."
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
He drink whiskey, Poncho drink the wine
He drink whiskey, Poncho drink the wine
We met down on the fort of Rio Grande
We met down on the fort of Rio Grande
Eat the salted peanuts out the can
Eat the salted peanuts out the can
The outlaws had us pinned down at the fort
The outlaws had us pinned down at the fort
Cisco came in blastin', drinkin' port
Cisco came in blastin', drinkin' port
They rode the sunset, horse was made of steel
They rode the sunset, horse was made of steel
Chased a gringo last night through a field
Chased a gringo last night through a field
Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid, he was a friend of mine
Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid, he was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Cisco Kid, he was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid, he was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
He drink whiskey, Poncho drink the wine
He drink whiskey, Poncho drink the wine
We met down on the fort of Rio Grande
We met down on the fort of Rio Grande
Eat the salted peanuts out the can
Eat the salted peanuts out the can
The outlaws had us pinned down at the fort
The outlaws had us pinned down at the fort
Cisco came in blastin', drinkin' port
Cisco came in blastin', drinkin' port
They rode the sunset, horse was made of steel
They rode the sunset, horse was made of steel
Chased a gringo last night through a field
Chased a gringo last night through a field
Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid, he was a friend of mine
Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid, he was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Cisco Kid, he was a friend of mine
The Cisco Kid, he was a friend of mine
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Mountain Song
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I was suprised when no one had this up already. This is perhaps the greatest Eric Burdon has ever sounded. I love this song, and it is has the most delicious tendency to get stuck in your head, so you spend a whole day in relaxing outlaw groove.
@farouhk Eric Burton i think doesnt song at this moment with war, not in this album
Hm. Listening by ear, I think the line is instead:
We met down on the border; Rio Grande We met down on the border; Rio Grande
@farouhk <br /> <br /> Yes, it is correct.<br /> <br /> Pinned down at the fort is also correct.
Farouhk mentions this is the greatest Eric Burdon ever sounded. That would be correct if it WAS Eric Burdon. He recorded 2 albums with them and left the group. Do some research before you comment.
The line should be "Chased the gringo rustlers through the field"
Two lyric changes,
"We met down at the border Rio Grande" and...
Chased the gringo rustlers through the field.
@Ransolo Correct "Gringo rustlers "
Def. not Eric Burden... Eric Burden had nothing to do with "the World is a Ghetto" album... such a classic ablum straight through...
What does, "They rode the sunset, horse was made of steel' mean?
@fed3rd A "steel horse" refers to a motorcycle. I think the song is referring to modern day outlaws who ride motorcycles, but comparing their exploits to battles in the old west. In the era that the song was written there were popular Western movies as well some famous biker movies.
"We met down on the BORDER Rio Grande."
"The outlaws had us pinned down at the FORT."
Pitch it down or slow the tempo, its clear as clear can be.
No it's fort, the way it say's in the lyrics.
Consider the line-The outlaws had us pinned down at the fort
If it was border, the could just cross right? lol So yeah i don't think it's border because of context of other verses.
@slow_cheetah: It's not Fort Farouk is right. it's "We met down on the border; Rio Grande" The fort was on the Rio Grand border.
It is Fort! There is a town in South Texas by the name of Rio Grande City. It is a border town right on the Rio Grande river. In Rio Grande City, is Fort Ringgold, used back in the time. This is not the only Fort on the Texas/Mexico border. Just interesting bit of history.
@didama It IS Border not fort.