Harlem River marked the solo debut. Known for his work as the singer/guitarist for the Brooklyn band The Babies and bassist for Woods, the Kansas City native and new Los Angeles resident, calls the record “an homage to New York City,” his adopted home for the past five years.
I Have Been To the Mountain
Kevin Morby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Demanding answers
Pleading skies
Cry for hours
Dropping peace bombs
Collecting prayers
A sky that mirrors
A sky that stares as I sing
I have been to the mountain
And I have walked on his shore
I have seen but I can't see him no more
Round 'em out, make an echo
Destroy the destroyer
And do it fast
That man lived in this town
Til that pig took him down
And have you heard the sound
Of a man stop breathing, pleading?
I have been to the valley
And I have sung all her songs
Watch me sing
Watch me sing along
And I say
I have been to the mountain
And I have walked on his shore
I have seen but I can't see him no more
The lyrics of "I Have Been To the Mountain" by Kevin Morby are striking and loaded with emotion. The first few lines showcase a sense of urgency and desperation as the singer demands answers and pleas with the skies that cry for hours. The lyrics "Dropping peace bombs, collecting prayers" suggest that the singer is asking for peace in a troubling and violent world. The imagery of the sky mirroring and staring at the singer as he sings adds a layer of complexity to the lyrics. It creates a feeling of being watched or judged by a higher force, which adds to the sense of urgency in the lyrics.
In the chorus, the singer proclaims to have been to the mountain and the valley. These lines signify a journey of self-discovery and perhaps enlightenment. The mountain and the valley can also be interpreted as metaphors for different stages of life or states of mind. The lines "I have seen but I can't see him no more" suggest that the singer has had an experience that has changed him, but he can never return to that moment or feeling. This feeling of longing and nostalgia is palpable in the lyrics.
The rest of the verse is a critique of violence and social injustices. The lyrics "Round 'em out, make an echo, destroy the destroyer, and do it fast" suggest that the singer wants to put an end to violence and destruction quickly, like an echo that fades away. The line "That man lived in this town, Til that pig took him down" is a commentary on how some people abuse their power and use it to harm others. The last lines "And have you heard the sound of a man stop breathing, pleading?" are haunting and add to the overall sense of despair in the song.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Have Been To the Mountain" are multilayered and thought-provoking. They cover topics like self-discovery, social injustices, and the search for peace in a violent world.
Line by Line Meaning
Calling out
Initiating communication
Demanding answers
Expecting a response with a resolution
Pleading skies
Appealing to the heavens above for help
Cry for hours
Weeping for an extended period of time
Dropping peace bombs
Spreading non-violent messages to encourage peace
Collecting prayers
Gathering spiritual requests for assistance
A sky that mirrors
A heavens that reflects emotions felt
A sky that stares as I sing
An atmosphere that listens to me perform
I have been to the mountain
I have had a spiritual experience
And I have walked on his shore
And I have physically been in that location
I have seen but I can't see him no more
I used to have that spiritual connection, but it is no longer present
Round 'em out, make an echo
Surround them and create a reverberation of support
Destroy the destroyer
Put a stop to the one causing harm
And do it fast
Take immediate action before further harm is done
That man lived in this town
That individual was a part of this community
Til that pig took him down
Until the destructive figure caused their death
And have you heard the sound
Did you listen to the cries for help?
Of a man stop breathing, pleading?
Of an individual gasping for air and begging for mercy?
I have been to the valley
I have experienced hardship and struggle
And I have sung all her songs
And I have expressed my emotions through music
Watch me sing
See me pour out my heart
Watch me sing along
See me participate in the shared experience
And I say
And I declare
I have been to the mountain
I have had a spiritual experience
And I have walked on his shore
And I have physically been in that location
I have seen but I can't see him no more
I used to have that spiritual connection, but it is no longer present
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kevin Robert Morby, Samuel Benjamin Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@benoitguerin7375
Calling out
Demanding answers
Pleading skies
Cry for hours
Dropping peace bombs
Collecting prayers
A sky that mirrors
A sky that stares as I sing
I have been to the mountain
And I have walked on his shore
I have seen but I can't see him no more
Round 'em out, make an echo
Destroy the destroyer
And do it fast
That man lived in this town
Til that pig took him down
And have you heard the sound
Of a man stop breathing, pleading?
I have been to the valley
And I have sung all her songs
Watch me sing
Watch me sing along
And I say
@nickgreefpool
The dislike ratio (for those who wanted to know) is probably because the song is about the death of Eric Garner caused by a NYPD officer putting him in a chokehold while arresting him.
''Round 'em out, make an echo
Destroy the destroyer
And do it fast
That man lived in this town
Til that pig took him down
And have you heard the sound
Of a man stop breathing, pleading?''
@valsites
the bass, the chorus the vocals - love it all.
discovered this artist a year ago, listening every day
@johangaudissabois8668
SINGING SAW as a whole is wonderful. One of the many MORBY CLASSICS. And "Mountain"' is of course a fantastic song.
@kimsherlock888
The Dancing , acting, production is probably the best I believe I've personally enjoyed. Brilliance I laughed hard, another part entertained the genius. Great Artistry.
@simple11q
Yay - "The Dawn Wall" was great ! I was so overjoyed and exhilarated when Kevin overcame pitch 15 !
@blakeelledge8516
I feel that 💯 The Dawn Wall has gotta be one of my favorite documentaries
@yolandapiotrowicz
Still one of the best songs ever, the music video scares me but Nathan Mitchell is such a beautiful dancer
@michelerussu8759
Nathan mitchell
@mikeydeloa7348
What scares you about it?
@ShivamSharma-or6lz
Tnx for the name of the artist
@pranaysethi87
This is amazing! The times when Kevin Morby was a lesser known gem are passe. I guess this was inevitable.