Black Mountain
Mark Lanegan feat. Isobel Campbell Lyrics

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I met a man whom I'll never doubt
Flew into the sun, our bodies on fire
Betrothed to a mate, pray it is not so
Invoke father time, then he let her go

Lie true lie true lie true lie true
Lie true lie true lie true lie true
Lie true lie true lie true lie true

Lie true lie true lie true lie true

I know a dog much blacker than night
Who lives in a house where nothing is right
All sorrow and loving riches at bay
All watching a few to the

Lie true lie true lie true lie true
Lie true lie true lie true lie true
Lie true lie true lie true lie true
Lie true lie true lie true lie true

Some dream of coins or some beauty's find
But I want the truth while I serve my time
Most complex and pain, I'd share it with you
The moon looks bright, so come say I'll do

Lie true lie true lie true lie true
Lie true lie true lie true lie true

Lie true lie true lie true lie true
Lie true lie true lie true lie true

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell's song "Black Mountain," the singer describes meeting a man who has taken a great risk by flying into the sun, their bodies on fire. This man is also betrothed to a mate, but the singer hopes that it is not so. They evoke Father Time to help them let go of this love, implying that it was not meant to be. The repetition of "lie true" throughout the song acts as a reinforcement of this notion, as if to say that the truth of the situation is being acknowledged and accepted even if it is hard to face.

In the second verse, the singer shifts their focus to a dog that is described as being "much blacker than night." This dog lives in a house where nothing feels right, and the people there are consumed by sorrow and a sense of unfulfilled longing. The singer seems to empathize with this dog and its environment, recognizing that sometimes life can feel hopeless despite our attempts to possess riches or beauty.

The final lines of the song suggest that despite the complexity and pain of life, the singer is willing to share it with someone they love. They are seeking truth rather than material wealth, and they want to serve their time in this world alongside someone who understands this perspective. The song is ultimately about the search for meaning and connection in a world that can often feel cold and unforgiving.

Line by Line Meaning

I met a man whom I'll never doubt
I met a reliable man whom I trust entirely

Flew into the sun, our bodies on fire
We fell deeply in love and were consumed by it

Betrothed to a mate, pray it is not so
I fear that my fiancé may not be the right choice for me

Invoke father time, then he let her go
I wished for time to slow down, but it inevitably moved on

Lie true lie true lie true lie true
Repetition indicating deception and lies

I know a dog much blacker than night
I am acquainted with a dark and melancholy character

Who lives in a house where nothing is right
They reside in a place full of disorder and chaos

All sorrow and loving riches at bay
Emotions of sadness and affection are kept at a distance

All watching a few to the
The few who observe this situation

Some dream of coins or some beauty's find
Others may desire material wealth or physical attractiveness

But I want the truth while I serve my time
I seek honesty and authenticity while I navigate life