Got to get back on the mountain
Got to get back on the hill
With my dog-eyed country woman
She know how to cure my ill

Ain't it just like Adele
Go on and change your name
So now I got to call her Carmen
But I love her just the same

Give yourself over
And over again
And I'm tired of starting over
Yes, I think my days
Out on the run are coming to an end

Got to get back on the mountain
Got to get back on still
With a bourbon whiskey freezing
If you got time to kill

I got to get back on the river
I got to get back on the land
Get myself stoned
A little down home
Even if it's second hand

Give yourself over
And over again
And I'm tired of starting over
Guess I think my days
Out on the run are coming to an end

Got to get back on the mountain
Oh yeah
Got to get back on the hill
I got to get back on the mountain
Got to get back on the hill

Overall Meaning

The song "Back on the Mountain" by Ray LaMontagne expresses the singer's desire to return to simpler times and reconnect with nature. He yearns to escape the pressures of modern life and find solace in the mountains and hills with his country woman and his dog. LaMontagne likens his situation to that of Adele, who changed her name and identity, and to that of anyone who constantly feels the need to start over. He sings about wanting to give himself over to nature and the simplicity of life, and he knows that his days of running away from it all are coming to an end.

Throughout the song, LaMontagne repeats the phrase "Got to get back on the mountain" and "Got to get back on the hill," emphasizing his longing to return to the natural world. He also mentions bourbon whiskey and getting stoned, perhaps as a way to temporarily check out of reality and escape from the stresses of life. Ultimately, the song is a celebration of the beauty and healing power of nature and a reminder that sometimes the best way to find peace is to disconnect from the modern world and return to our roots.

Line by Line Meaning

Got to get back on the mountain
The singer needs to return to a simpler life, where he can find peace of mind on the mountain.

Got to get back on the hill
The singer yearns to reconnect with nature, possibly in a place where he once found solace.

With my dog-eyed country woman
The singer's significant other is a woman with a deep connection to nature, who understands his need to find himself there once again.

She know how to cure my ill
The woman understands the artist's struggles and knows how to help him find comfort and healing in nature.

Ain't it just like Adele
This line is a reference to someone who changed their name. The artist compares this to his own situation where he must now call someone by a different name.

Go on and change your name
The singer is faced with a change he must accept, but still loves the person just the same.

So now I got to call her Carmen
The singer is forced to use a new name for the person he loves, which may cause some discomfort or awkwardness.

Give yourself over
The artist is asking himself to surrender to the natural beauty of the world, and allow it to heal him.

And over again
This phrase emphasizes the artist's need to continually surrender himself to the natural world, as a way to find lasting healing.

And I'm tired of starting over
The artist has gone through many changes in his life, perhaps struggling to find a consistent source of comfort and stability.

Yes, I think my days
The singer acknowledges that his time spent running from his problems and searching for stability is coming to an end.

Out on the run are coming to an end
The artist feels that he is nearing a time in his life where he will be able to settle down, and find the peace and stability he has been looking for.

With a bourbon whiskey freezing
The singer desires to return to a place in nature where he can relax and enjoy his surroundings, even in cold weather.

If you got time to kill
The singer is inviting others to join him in nature, and enjoy its beauty and tranquility.

I got to get back on the river
The singer yearns to reconnect with the natural world, particularly the river where he can find peace and solitude.

I got to get back on the land
The artist desires to leave behind the pressures of modern society and return to a simpler, more natural way of living.

Get myself stoned
The artist is looking for an altered state of mind, induced through natural means such as spending time in nature.

A little down home
The singer is seeking solace in the familiar comforts of home, which he hopes to find in nature.

Even if it's second hand
The singer is willing to take whatever he can get, no matter how small or insignificant, if it means reconnecting with nature and finding peace within himself.

Oh yeah
This line is used to emphasize the artist's enthusiasm and passion for returning to the natural beauty of the world.

Writer(s): RAYCHARLES JACK LAMONTAGNE

Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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