The Mountain Song
Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known … Read Full Bio ↴Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, activist, actor, and humanitarian, whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singer, starting in the 1970s. He was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists. By 1974, he was firmly established as America's best selling performer, and AllMusic has described Denver as "among the most beloved entertainers of his era". After traveling and living in numerous locations while growing up in his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. Denver recorded and released approximately 300 songs, about 200 of which he composed, with total record sales of over 33 million.

He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, his disdain for city life, his enthusiasm for music, and his relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including country music, the Billboard Hot 100, and adult contemporary, in all earning him twelve gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Sunshine on My Shoulders".

Denver starred in films and several notable television specials in the 1970s and 1980s. He continued to record in the 1990s, also focusing on environmental issues by lending vocal support to space exploration and testifying in front of Congress in protest against censorship in music. He lived in Aspen, Colorado for much of his life and was known for his love of Colorado which he sang about numerous times. In 1974 Denver was named poet laureate of the state. The Colorado state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one of its two state songs in 2007. Denver was an avid pilot and died at the age of 53 in a single-fatality crash of his personal experimental aircraft.

The Mountain Song
John Denver Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I came here from the city
A thousand miles away
I came just for a little while
You know I never meant to stay
I meant to take my pleasure
Have a good time and be gone
But I fell in love with a lady
Now I sing a mountain song

I listened to the music
Of the night wind in the pines
I saw the quiet slender
Of a field of columbine
I skied on crystal pathways
To a mountain peak so tall
And I walked the mighty summits
With the one who made it all

And I fell in love with a lady
'Cause I've seen her at her best
And I've walked her wild and rugged paths
Through her open wilderness
And now I never can betray her
Steal her riches and be gone
'Cause when you love a mountain lady
You're gonna sing a mountain song

Now people come from everywhere
To see what they can find
And some take lots of pictures
And some just take their time
But they're some who take her beauty
That can't be bought or sold
And they think of only money
While destroying wealth untold

But you fall in love with a lady
When you've slept upon her breast
And I've walked her wild and rugged paths
To her open wilderness
And you never can betray her
Steal her riches and be gone




'Cause when you love a mountain lady
You're gonna sing a mountain song

Overall Meaning

The "Mountain Song" by John Denver, talks about the transformative power of nature on a person who comes from a busy city life. The song starts with Denver mentioning that he came from the city to the mountains, but never intended to stay. However, he fell in love with the mountains and a lady that represented the essence of what the mountains are: wild, rugged, and beautiful. After experiencing the beauty of the mountains, he could no longer betray the mountains and had to sing a song about the lady of the mountain.


Throughout the song, Denver uses images and experiences of his time in the mountains to show how the wilderness and unspoiled nature can have a profound impact on a person. He mentions hearing the music of the night wind in the pines and skiing on crystal pathways, emphasizing the natural sounds and sights he discovered in the mountains. He also mentions that no matter how much people come to exploit the mountains for money and profit, true love for nature can never be swayed to act against nature.


The Mountain Song is almost like a love letter to nature and all that it offers. It showcases the beauty and magnificence of nature and how it can have a positive impact on a person's life. It shows how those who take the time to appreciate and learn about nature can not only fall in love with the wilderness but also become defenders of the environment.


Line by Line Meaning

I came here from the city
I arrived here from the urban area


A thousand miles away
I traveled a distance of 1000 miles to reach here


I came just for a little while
Initially, I intended to visit for a short time


You know I never meant to stay
I did not plan to reside here for a long time


I meant to take my pleasure
I intended to enjoy the experience


Have a good time and be gone
I planned to enjoy, then leave


But I fell in love with a lady
However, I got attracted to a woman


Now I sing a mountain song
This made me write a song about this place


I listened to the music
I heard the melodious sound


Of the night wind in the pines
Of the wind moving through the pine trees at night


I saw the quiet slender
I noticed calm and thin appearance


Of a field of columbine
Of a grassland with flowers named after Christopher Columbus


I skied on crystal pathways
I moved through snowy clear routes


To a mountain peak so tall
To the top of the highest mountain


And I walked the mighty summits
I climbed the tallest peaks


With the one who made it all
With a person who created this beautiful place


'Cause I've seen her at her best
As I saw the best version of this place


And I've walked her wild and rugged paths
I experienced difficult but unique trails


Through her open wilderness
I went through the vast and untouched areas


And now I never can betray her
I can't be disloyal to this place


Steal her riches and be gone
I cannot take away its resources and leave


'Cause when you love a mountain lady
If you adore this place, like I do


You're gonna sing a mountain song
You'll express your feelings through a song about it


Now people come from everywhere
Now visitors arrive from various locations


To see what they can find
To discover what's there in this place


And some take lots of pictures
Some people capture numerous photographs


And some just take their time
Few people are in no hurry and relax


But they're some who take her beauty
However, some people harm this place intentionally


That can't be bought or sold
Damaging the beauty of this place has no monetary compensation


And they think of only money
They're concerned only about making money


While destroying wealth untold
Even though they're causing damage to enormous wealth that can't be measured


When you've slept upon her breast
When you have rested comfortably in this place


You never can betray her
In this scenario, you cannot disrespect this place


'Cause when you love a mountain lady
If there's love and respect for this place


You're gonna sing a mountain song
It drives you to write a song about it




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: TRACEY WICKLAND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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