The Mountain Song

Lyrics: Jerry Garcia, David Crosby, Paul Kantner
Music: Jerry Garcia, David Crosby, Paul Kantner

Developed by Jerry Garcia, Paul Kantner, David Crosby, Grace Slick et al during the PERRO sessions in 1971. Then re-recorded by Paul Kantner (without Garcia) for his 1983 album "The Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra."

For a different development of the song, see Robert Hunter's lyric Let The Mountain Be By Home, now set to music by Brian Lesh and performed by Furthur under the title "Mountain Song".

The PERRO tapes essentially consist of improvised singing around the refrain "Gonna make the mountains be my home". The version labelled "Mountain Song #4" starts with a verse which was also recorded by Crosby as a separate fragment on the PERRO tapes, where it is sometimes titled "Walkin' In The Mountains" and sometimes as "Mountain #5".

The lyrics below are a composite of several of the versions on the PERRO tapes:

I went walking out last summer (note 1)
Trying to find a breath of air
I went walking on the mountain
A friend had told me I'd find you there

Gonna make the mountains be my home
Gonna make the mountains be my home
Gonna make the mountains be my home
Gonna make the mountains be my home

Gonna make the mountains be my home (note 2)
('Cause the sky above me is gold)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(The river is a dark ...)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(The river is dark ... down to the sea)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
('Cause the sky above is gold)

Gonna make the mountains be my home (note 3)
(I've been thinking about)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I'm going to move)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I want to breathe)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I'm going to move on)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I don't want to be here)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(Any more, any more, any more, no I don't)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(No, no, no, no)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I gonna leave you, I'm gonna leave you)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I wanna breathe)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I'm gonna move, I'm gonna move, yeah)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I don't need you)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I gotta, I gotta, I gotta go)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I think I put on my saddle and ride)
Gonna make the mountains be my home

Gonna make the mountains be my home (note 4)
(Such a long time)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I want to breathe)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(Got to have some damn fool talking to me every two minutes)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I'm gonna move the mountains)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I'm gonna move the mountains)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I'm gonna move)
Gonna make the mountains be my home
(I'm gonna be there)
Notes
(1) this verse is from the version listed on the PERRO tapes as "Mountain Song #4", and also separately as "Walkin' on the Mountain" or "Mountain #5", sung by David Crosby.
(2) the lines in italics are sung by Grace Slick on "Mountain Song #2".
(3) the lines in italics are sung by David Crosby on "Mountain Song #3".
(4) the lines in italics are sung by David Crosby on "Mountain Song #2".

The lyrics from the Paul Kantner album are rather more developed:
Gonna make the mountains be my home
Gonna make the mountains be my home
Gonna make the mountains be my home
Gonna make the mountains be my home

Up from the desert floor to the cool sky
Up through the early forests
Past mountain streamways
Into the cavern of the dreamers
Into the cavern of the lovers
Gonna make the sky be my home
Gonna make the sky be my home
Somebody's got to sleep with the machines
If you want to make the sky be home

I could be in love today
I could be in love today
I could be in love today

Gonna make the mountains be my home
Gonna make the mountains be my home
This land is everything I wanted it to be
This land is right for you and me
Redwood forests and shy sparkling water
Like Woody Guthrie said, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free
It's a land of imagination
It's a land where my children can run free
Life of reason, life of treason
Gonna make the mountains be my home

I have a dream and I will not let it go
I have a dream
Trial by wilderness, trial by tenderness
Gonna make the sky be my home

I could be in love today
I could be in love today
I could be in love today

Gonna make the mountains be my home
Gonna make the sky be my home
Gonna touch my feet on another world
Another girl gonna take my hand
And make the sky be home
Gonna make the sky be my home
Gonna make the sky be my home
Gonna make the sky be my home
Gonna make the sky be my home
(Look up to the sky and the roof is gone)
Gonna make the sky be my home
Recordings
     Date Album Recorded By
     1983 Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra Paul Kantner


Further Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography

 


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