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."
Brothers and sisters, have you heard the news?
The storm has lifted and there's nothing to lose,
So swap your confirmation for your dancing shoes,
Because there never was no God.
Step out of the darkness and onto the streets,
Forget about the fast, let's have a carnival feast,
Raise up your lowered head and hear the liberation beat,
Because there never was no God.
There is no God,
So clap your hands together,
There is no God,
No heaven and no hell.
But there is no God,
We're all in this together,
There is no God,
So ring that victory bell.
No cowering in the dark before these overbearing priests,
Not waiting until we die until we restitute the meek,
No blaming all our failings on imaginary beasts,
Because there never was no God.
No fighting over land your distant fathers told you of,
Not spilling blood for those who have never spread a drop of love,
No finger pointing justified by phantoms up above,
Because there never was no God.
There is no God,
So clap your hands together,
There is no God,
No heaven and no hell.
There is no God,
We're all in this together,
There is no God,
So ring that victory bell.
I know you're scared of dying man and I am too,
But just pretending it's not happening isn't gonna see us through,
If we accept that there's an end game and we haven't got much time,
Then in the here and now then we can try and do things right.
We'd be our own Salvation Army and together we'd believe
In all the wondrous things mere mortals can achieve
Well I've known beauty in the stillness of cathedrals in the day,
I've sung 'Glory Hallelujah' won't wash my sins away?
But now I'm singing my refrain and this is what I say,
I say there never was no God.
There is no God,
So clap your hands together,
There is no God,
No heaven and no hell.
But there is no God,
We're all in this together,
There is no God,
So ring that victory bell.
There is no God,
So clap your hands together,
There is no God,
No heaven and no hell.
There is no God,
We're all in this together,
There is no God,
So ring that victory bell.
The storm has lifted and there's nothing to lose,
So swap your confirmation for your dancing shoes,
Because there never was no God.
Step out of the darkness and onto the streets,
Forget about the fast, let's have a carnival feast,
Raise up your lowered head and hear the liberation beat,
Because there never was no God.
There is no God,
So clap your hands together,
There is no God,
No heaven and no hell.
But there is no God,
We're all in this together,
There is no God,
So ring that victory bell.
No cowering in the dark before these overbearing priests,
Not waiting until we die until we restitute the meek,
No blaming all our failings on imaginary beasts,
Because there never was no God.
No fighting over land your distant fathers told you of,
Not spilling blood for those who have never spread a drop of love,
No finger pointing justified by phantoms up above,
Because there never was no God.
There is no God,
So clap your hands together,
There is no God,
No heaven and no hell.
There is no God,
We're all in this together,
There is no God,
So ring that victory bell.
I know you're scared of dying man and I am too,
But just pretending it's not happening isn't gonna see us through,
If we accept that there's an end game and we haven't got much time,
Then in the here and now then we can try and do things right.
We'd be our own Salvation Army and together we'd believe
In all the wondrous things mere mortals can achieve
Well I've known beauty in the stillness of cathedrals in the day,
I've sung 'Glory Hallelujah' won't wash my sins away?
But now I'm singing my refrain and this is what I say,
I say there never was no God.
There is no God,
So clap your hands together,
There is no God,
No heaven and no hell.
But there is no God,
We're all in this together,
There is no God,
So ring that victory bell.
There is no God,
So clap your hands together,
There is no God,
No heaven and no hell.
There is no God,
We're all in this together,
There is no God,
So ring that victory bell.
Lyrics submitted by BrightEyes88
Glory Hallelujah Lyrics as written by Francis Edward Turner
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's just a phrase. He's very atheist, One Foot Before the Other pretty much explains his view on life after death. This song celebrates atheism. Hallelujah!
Never was no god, isn't that a double negative, please enlighten me.
Umm yeah, it's called artistic license (or poetic license, if you like).
When he says Because there never was no god, He means that never in history that atheism is becoming the majority.
In an interview Frank said he was an atheist, i guess that explains it.
this is such a beautiful and positive song!
A couple lyric corrections "No cowering in the dark before SOME overbearing priests, "
"Not spilling blood for those who have never spread a drop of LOVE No finger pointing justified by PHANTOMS up above,"
The middle verse bit should be
"I know you're scared of dying man, and I am too But just pretending it's not happening isn't gonna see us through If we accept that there's an end game and we haven't got much time Then in the here and now then we can try and do things right We'd be our own Salvation Army and together we'd believe In all the wondrous things that mere mortals can achieve"
Such a brilliant song. So upbeat and happy about there NOT being a god, usually people are the opposite. Fantastic. And sums up how I feel about god etc.
Went to hear Frank last night in Swansea - brilliant show from an amazing perfomer and songwriter. Hadn't heard Glory Hallelujah before - again great song, but I couldn't help thinking that even most people I know who believe in God don't believe most of the nonsense that Frank was rubbishing. That's all a long way in the past for most of us - and I'm one of the priests he was having a go at! Shame so many people think that's what religion is really all about - I guess I got a job to do!!
As someone who lives in the Bible Belt of the USA, it is unfortunately not behind everybody.
Alun54: Just what I was thinking too, as a believer. To me, this song is ultimately about stepping up as people and taking credit for the crap we do, and the good we do too. I really like Frank Turners more-or-less positive lyrics on this entire album, and this is also a pretty inspiring song!
I think what I find more surprisingly than his joyful atheism is the intensely nationalistic English identity he expresses throughout the album -- nationalism is a violent religion, and a lot of other faiths are corrupted by its allure. At least, that's the few from my angle. At any rate, what I try to take from Frank's England-fanboyism is to realize and appreciate your own culture. I see him as the English take on Americana. Englisha!?
Hoping to track this down on vinyl soon!