Their self-titled album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005. In the Future was a finalist for the 2008 Polaris Music Prize and was also nominated for "Best Alternative Album" in the 2009 Juno Awards. The song "Stay Free" from In the Future was featured on the Spider-Man 3 soundtrack.
In 2005 the band opened for Coldplay on their Twisted Logic Tour for three weeks, with their final opening in San Diego.
In September 2010 Black Mountain performed in an amphitheater located in the woods of Oisterwijk at the Incubate (festival) in Tilburg, Netherlands.
Leader Stephen McBean also heads another similarly named band, Pink Mountaintops, who are the more experimental side of McBean's musical abilities. Black Mountain is the front line band for Black Mountain Army, a collective of musicians, artists and friends in Vancouver. In an interview the band said "Black Mountain is just the five of us. The Black Mountain Army… which has kind of gotten blown out of proportion, it was kind of just a joke, because everybody thought we were this hippie collective, like we all lived in one house. But it’s basically just our friends at home in Vancouver, just our extended family of creative people that we know."
Several members of the band have, for as long as a decade, worked for organizations that meet the basic living requirements of the chronically poor, drug addicted and mentally ill in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighborhood, such as Insite. In an interview, the band said: "After work we all try not to think too hard about the effect it has on our lives. It keeps us grounded."
Wilderness Heart was named as a longlisted nominee for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.
March 11, 2014 The Black Mountain song "Wucan" was featured on season 2 of the FOX drama "The Following" during the eighth episode entitled "Messenger".
The Black Mountain song "Druganaut" is featured in a June, 2014 Father's Day commercial for J.C. Penney.
Licensed To Drive
Black Mountain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your spirit wheel is burning
Close
We're living close
Close
We're living close
The mirrors and the chrome
Shifting out of neutral
Reborn behind the wheel
Live now
Be one the man or the machine
Earth on the horizon with nothing in between
Frantic jet propulsion
Closer to the edge
Terminate your terrors
Metal meets its lead
Live now
Speed thrills
Hunted by the radar
The thunder of the steel
Close
We're living close
Close
Close to the edge
The highway is your heaven
The static is your hell
White light across the blacktop
The magic of her spell
Speed thrills
Be one the man or the machine
Your spirit wheel is burning
Transfigured and unchained
Close
We're living close
Close
Close to the edge
Edge
The opening lines, "Your spirit wheel is burning", are a metaphor for the intense passion, energy and drive that one feels while driving. The repetition of these lines emphasize the sense of urgency and excitement that comes with getting behind the wheel. The lines "Live now, be one the man or the machine" suggest the idea of assimilating oneself into the car, becoming one with the vehicle and immersing oneself into the driving experience.
The lyrics describe the exhilaration and thrill of speed, with the lines "Frantic jet propulsion, Closer to the edge". The sense of danger and adrenaline rush that comes with pushing oneself to the limit is conveyed through these lyrics. The mention of hunting by the radar creates the implication of danger and adds excitement to the already exhilarating experience.
The lyrics also convey the sense of closeness and connection with the car, with the lines "Close, we're living close" and "the magic of her spell". This creates the sense of a symbiotic relationship between the driver and the car, implying a deep connection and mutual dependence. The final line "Close to the edge" reiterates the idea of pushing oneself to the brink, and living on the edge of danger and excitement. Overall, Licensed to Drive is a celebration of the freedom and thrill of driving, as well as the connection and unity that comes with that experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Your spirit wheel is burning
You are filled with a passionate desire to drive, to explore and to experience the world through movement
Close
We are in this together, united in our love of driving
We're living close
Driving is not just a mode of transportation, but a way of being close to each other and the world around us
Behind the tinted windows
Safe behind the protective barrier of the car, you are free to express yourself and explore without the limitations of the outside world
The mirrors and the chrome
Your car is a reflection of your own personal style and identity, a symbol of your freedom and power
Shifting out of neutral
It's time to take control of your life and experience the thrill of the open road
Reborn behind the wheel
Driving is a rebirth, a chance to become something more, to experience life on a whole new level
Live now
The only time that matters is right now, in this moment, behind the wheel of your car
Be one the man or the machine
Driving is a chance to become one with your car, to experience the power and the thrill of the machine as an extension of yourself
Earth on the horizon with nothing in between
The world is your playground, your horizon is limitless, and there is nothing standing in your way
Frantic jet propulsion
The speed and power of your car is like a rocket taking off, lifting you to new heights of exhilaration
Closer to the edge
Driving is about pushing yourself to the limit, to the very edge of what is possible and experiencing the exhilaration of living on the edge
Terminate your terrors
Driving is about facing your fears and overcoming them, taking control of your life and experiencing the power of the open road
Metal meets its lead
Your car is your weapon, your freedom machine, your way of defying the limitations of the world around you and experiencing life on your own terms
Speed thrills
Driving is about the thrill of speed, the freedom of the open road, and the exhilaration of pushing yourself to the limit
Hunted by the radar
Driving is about pushing the boundaries of what is legal and acceptable, exploring the limits of society's rules, and embracing the thrill of the chase
The thunder of the steel
Your car is a powerful beast, a symbol of your freedom and your road to adventure, and the sound of the engine is like the roar of the thunder, announcing your presence to the world
The highway is your heaven
Driving is not just a mode of transportation, but a spiritual experience, a chance to connect with the world around you and the universe itself
The static is your hell
The only thing that can get in the way of your driving experience is the static of the outside world, the noise and uncertainty of everyday life
White light across the blacktop
Driving is about the contrast between light and dark, the beauty of the world around you, and the thrill of seeing it all from behind the wheel of your car
The magic of her spell
Your car has a power all its own, a magic that enchants and captivates, drawing you in and making you part of something bigger than yourself
Transfigured and unchained
Driving is a transformation, a way of breaking free from the chains that bind you and experiencing life on your own terms, unencumbered by society's rules and limitations
Edge
The edge is where you live, where you thrive, where you are truly alive, experiencing the power and the thrill of the open road as only a true driver can
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephen Gordon McBean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind