Monday, July 13, 2009

Music Monday/Lyric Lundi

Due to the wonders of technology, I am actually off hiking in the Poconos with my friend Linda while this is posting for me. The Poconos aren't exactly the Rockies, but I've seen the Rockies (I actually prefer the gentle, rolling East Coast mountains to those gigantic, rugged West Coast ones. Not that they're not all magnificently gorgeous). I also know what it's like to "come home to a place I'd never been before." It happened to me the first time I visited Scotland at age 15. It happened again the first time I visited Manhattan. And it happened a third time on my first trip to Maine. So, it seems appropriate to give you one of my favorite songs today that has to do with mountains and "coming home."

Who knows? I've never hiked in the Poconos. Perhaps, at this moment, I am discovering yet another "home." I'll let you know when I get back.

Rocky Mountain High
by John Denver

He was born in the summer of his 27th year
Comin' home to a place he'd never been before
He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again
You might say he found a key for every door

When he first came to the mountains his life was far away
On the road and hangin' by a song
But the string's already broken and he doesn't really care
It keeps changin' fast and it don't last for long

But the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullabye
Rocky mountain high (high Colorado) rocky mountain high (high Colorado)

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below
He saw everything as far as you can see
And they say he got crazy once, and he tried to touch the sun
And he lost a friend but kept his memory

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forests and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

And the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply
Rocky mountain high (high Colorado) rocky mountain high (high Colorado)

Now his life is full of wonder but his heart still knows some fear
Of a simple thing he cannot comprehend
Why they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more
More people, more scars upon the land

And the Colorado rocky mountain high
Ive seen it rainin' fire in the sky
I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly
Rocky mountain high

It's a Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
Friends around the campfire and everybody's high
Rocky mountain high (high Colorado) rocky mountain high (high Colorado)
Rocky mountain high (high Colorado) rocky mountain high do de do

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is fantastic. I guess I've never really listened to the song before. Perhaps this is why Lyric Lundi is awesome. Glad you're having fun.

Stefanie said...

I love John Denver and especially this song! Since I grew up in the west in sight of craggy mountains and a frequent visitor of them I love them dearly. What a shock moving to the midwest was! I have not seen the rolling east coast mountains though so maybe some day I might change my mind :)

Emily Barton said...

Sara, yes, it's interesting when you really start paying attention to some of the lyrics, isn't it?

Stef, my guess is we prefer that with which we are raised (although I could be wrong). The rolling east coast mountains are worth a look. My door is always open...