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.
Thirteen Walls
Black Mountain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the demon's walls we learn to crawl
Kept shielded from the fiery flames
WHile the kids played nice with
But look behold see the damage done
The damage lies where the damage rung
Struck through the veins of anemic songs
To a lake of fire where the ghostly roam
The hand of God has raised a sign
For there you'll stand and there you'll lie
...in the broken breeze
...
Don't you ever wanna just come home
Don't you ever wanna just come home
Don't you ever wanna just come home
I have seen 13 walls
Through the demon's walls we learn to crawl
Kept shielded from the fiery flames
WHile the kids played nice with
But look behold see the damage done
The damage lies where the damage rung
Struck through the veins of our anemic songs
To a lake of fire where the ghostly roam
The lyrics to "Thirteen Walls" by Black Mountain seem to capture the idea of being trapped or shielded from something harmful or dangerous, while also being exposed to other aspects of it. The song is a metaphor for life, where we encounter barriers and obstacles that we have to overcome, but also have moments of safety where we can play and have fun. The "13 walls" may represent the different challenges and struggles that we have to face in order to reach our goals, and the demons that we encounter along the way.
The lyrics also suggest that there is a certain amount of damage that comes with each challenge that we face, and that this damage can accumulate over time. The anemic songs mentioned in the lyrics may be a metaphor for the weaker parts of ourselves that we must confront and overcome in order to become stronger.
The reference to the "hand of God" could be seen as a symbol of guidance or direction, and the idea of standing or lying in the broken breeze may represent the inevitable change and decay that life brings. The repetition of the line "don't you ever wanna just come home" may indicate a desire for safety and comfort, or may simply be a longing for a simpler time.
Overall, the lyrics to "Thirteen Walls" seem to capture the complexities of life and the struggles that we all must face. While some of the imagery is dark and foreboding, there is also a sense of hope and determination that comes through in the music.
Line by Line Meaning
I Have seen 13 walls
The singer has witnessed many obstacles and challenges over time
Through the demon's walls we learn to crawl
The tough and seemingly insurmountable situations we face in life are opportunities for growth and learning
Kept shielded from the fiery flames
Protected from danger or harm
WHile the kids played nice with
While others enjoyed a carefree existence with little adversity
But look behold see the damage done
Despite attempts to avoid harm, sometimes damage still occurs
The damage lies where the damage rung
The lasting effects of harm are felt in the places where it was inflicted
Struck through the veins of anemic songs
Even something as seemingly insignificant as a weak song can carry the weight of emotional pain or struggle
To a lake of fire where the ghostly roam
A metaphorical place of suffering where the spirits of those who have gone through hardships reside
The hand of God has raised a sign
A sign from a higher power, indicating a turning point or significant event
For there you'll stand and there you'll lie
The artist must face the consequences of their actions or decisions
...in the broken breeze
In a state of vulnerability or weakness
Don't you ever wanna just come home
Expressing a desire for comfort and security in times of hardship
Don't you ever wanna just come home
Reiterating the longing for familiarity and refuge
Don't you ever wanna just come home
A plea for comfort and safety during tumultuous times
I have seen 13 walls
Reflecting on the singer's past experiences with challenges and difficulties
Through the demon's walls we learn to crawl
Acknowledging that facing adversity can be a transformative experience
Kept shielded from the fiery flames
Seeking safety and protection from harm
WHile the kids played nice with
While others around them seemed to enjoy an easier existence
But look behold see the damage done
Despite taking precautions, harm was still inflicted
The damage lies where the damage rung
The scars of past hurt persist in the places where it was inflicted
Struck through the veins of our anemic songs
Emotional pain can surface even in seemingly insignificant parts of our lives
To a lake of fire where the ghostly roam
A metaphorical representation of the long-lasting effects of trauma
Contributed by Eli N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Razamanaz65
Love it! Make more please!
Ken Hammond
Wow! 4:05 Neil Young walked in the studio! Nice salute man you guys rule. Love your style(s) :)
lizzardking83
Gotta love this song.......
Felix P
Awesome!
Anai Bendai
This song is occult psychedelia at it's VERY finest.
Mandrill Funkadelic
keep on rockin in a free world
Crunchyadventure
My eyes start to turn into slits when I hear the intro to this song..
rakgtr
kinda reminds me of soft machine...you guys should look them up sometime
Stergann
Great song, I prefer it a thousand times to Lady gaga or other commercial shitty artists
abdelwahab faris
nice song