The song "Colony of Birchmen" from the band's third album (released in 2006), Blood Mountain, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2007. Blood Mountain was followed in 2009 by Crack the Skye, and in 2011 by The Hunter, which debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved major commercial success in the United States. The Hunter features the song "Curl of the Burl", which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2012. Mastodon's 2014 album, Once More 'Round the Sun, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and features the band's third Grammy-nominated song, "High Road". The band's seventh album, Emperor of Sand, was released on March 31, 2017, and features the band's most commercially successful song to date, "Show Yourself", which peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in June 2017. The followup single, "Steambreather", peaked at number 18 on the same chart in October 2017. The album's opening track, "Sultan's Curse", earned the band their first Grammy award. Emperor of Sand was the band's first album to receive a Grammy nomination; it was nominated for Best Rock Album.
Mastodon was formed on January 13, 2000, after drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher moved to Atlanta from Victor, New York, and met bassist/singer Troy Sanders and guitarist/singer Brent Hinds at a High on Fire show. They discovered they had a mutual appreciation of sludge metal bands Melvins and Neurosis, heavy metal legends Iron Maiden, and 1970s hard rockers Thin Lizzy, and shortly thereafter formed Mastodon. In an interview in 2009, Kelliher revealed that the first time Hinds attended a practice with the band, he "showed up so wasted he couldn't play".
The band recorded a demo in 2000, which featured Eric Saner on vocals. Saner left the band for personal reasons after just a couple of months. After recording a four-song demo and a 7-inch picture disc through Reptilian Records, Mastodon landed a record deal with Relapse Records in 2001. Mastodon released the EP Lifesblood in 2001, and its first full-length album, Remission, in 2002, with the singles "March of the Fire Ants" and "Crusher/Destroyer" (which was also featured on Tony Hawk's Underground). On each of Mastodon's first three full-length albums, the last track was an instrumental composition with a title that related to the Elephant Man.
Artist Paul Romano was responsible for all of the band's album art and backdrops up to 2011. The artwork for the band's fifth studio album The Hunter was made by AJ Fosik, a woodcarver who was also responsible for the backdrop the band used live at the time. Oakland-based artist Skinner, who, in his own words, specializes in "psychedelic nightmare paintings", has taken the reins on Once More 'Round the Sun. "It's going to be a work of art for sure. It's going to be very eye-opening", said bassist Troy Sanders before the album's release. "Very striking. It's from another dimension, and a lot of our music is geared toward that idea—taking you to another planet on songs. It's out there, and I think it's incredible."
Studio albums
Remission (2002)
Leviathan (2004)
Blood Mountain (2006)
Crack the Skye (2009)
The Hunter (2011)
Once More 'Round the Sun (2014)
Emperor of Sand (2017)
Hushed and Grim (2021)
EPs
Lifesblood (2001)
Cold Dark Place (2017)
The Last Baron
Mastodon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please, please take my hand
Please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
It is hard to see
Through all the haze at the top of the trees
Hold my head on stable ground
Please, please take my hand
Please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
Faltering foot steps
Dead end path
All I that need is this wise mans staff
Encased in crystal he leads the way
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
Please, please take my hand
Please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
I guess they would say we can set this world ablaze
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Take my black soul
Alive in the fires that burn my skin
Guide my eyes all through this maze
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
All that I have seen
Standing on the edge
The foot of precipice
Floating in the sea
Past the king of swords
Quickly to the shore
The last baron
The last baron
Ghost of man surrounds me in my slumber
I have no fear as your wing is my shelter
Cyanide he craves
Coursing through his veins
Providing him with strength
To see this to the end
Afraid of psychic eyes
Faith in mystic power
The last baron
The last baron
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I still can't see it
The song "The Last Baron" by Mastodon is a song that begs to be interpreted. The opening lines, "I'd guess they would say we could set this world ablaze. Please, please take my hand. Please take my soul to rest. So we can always be around," could be interpreted as a plea for someone to show them the way to levelling the world as it is, perhaps a metaphor for breaking down societal inequalities. The repeated lines "watch as the Earth falls all around" seems to underscore this idea, almost as if the singer is ready to watch the world burn in order to bring about change.
The singer's need for guidance comes up again with the line "All that I have seen. Standing on the edge. The foot of precipice. Floating in the sea. Past the king of swords. Quickly to the shore. The last baron. The last baron." This could be interpreted as describing the various obstacles the singer has faced and needs help overcoming. The "last baron" could be seen as a savior figure, someone who can lead the singer to safety and help them bring about the changes they seek.
The final lines, "I was standing staring at the world. And I can't see it. I was standing staring at the world. And I still can't see it," could be seen as a lament about the state of the world and the singer's inability to fully understand it. It could be interpreted as a call to action, an acknowledgement that despite the desire for change, there is still so much that is unseen or unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd guess they would say we could set this world ablaze
People might suggest that we have the power to cause great destruction to the world
Please, please take my hand
A plea for someone to offer support or guidance in a difficult situation
Please take my soul to rest
A request for rest or relief from life's struggles
So we can always be around
An expression of desire for permanence or eternal life
It is hard to see
Things are unclear or difficult to understand
Through all the haze at the top of the trees
Obstacles or distractions make it hard to see the bigger picture
Hold my head on stable ground
A desire for stability and solid footing in life
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Witnessing or experiencing destruction or chaos in the world
Faltering foot steps
Uncertainty or hesitation in one's path or direction in life
Dead end path
A route that leads nowhere or offers no solutions
All I that need is this wise mans staff
A symbol of the guidance or wisdom needed to navigate life's challenges
Encased in crystal he leads the way
A representation of someone who offers clarity and direction in life
Faltering foot steps
Uncertainty or hesitation in one's path or direction in life
Dead end path
A route that leads nowhere or offers no solutions
All I that need is this wise mans staff
A symbol of the guidance or wisdom needed to navigate life's challenges
Encased in crystal he leads the way
A representation of someone who offers clarity and direction in life
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
People might suggest that we have the power to cause great destruction to the world
Take my black soul
Offering one's soul or essence to a cause or belief
Alive in the fires that burn my skin
A metaphor for intense passion or dedication to a cause
Guide my eyes all through this maze
A request for clarity or guidance in navigating the complexities of life
All that I have seen
A reflection on past experiences and insights gained
Standing on the edge
Being on the brink of something significant or life-changing
The foot of precipice
A precarious or dangerous situation
Floating in the sea
Being adrift or lost in the uncertainties of life
Past the king of swords
Moving beyond the influence of conventional authority or power
Quickly to the shore
Seeking refuge or safety from danger or uncertainty
The last baron
A reference to someone with great power or influence
Ghost of man surrounds me in my slumber
A dream or fantasy about being haunted or influenced by the supernatural
I have no fear as your wing is my shelter
Feeling protected or safe under the guidance or influence of someone else
Cyanide he craves
Desire for something that is ultimately dangerous or harmful
Coursing through his veins
A metaphor for being consumed or controlled by something toxic
Providing him with strength
A false sense of empowerment or invincibility
To see this to the end
Determination to see a plan or project through to completion
Afraid of psychic eyes
Fear of the unknown or the mysterious
Faith in mystic power
Belief in the supernatural or spiritual realm
The last baron
A reference to someone with great power or influence
Will he save me?
Hope or doubt about someone's ability to help or rescue
I was standing staring at the world
A realization or epiphany about one's place in the world
And I can't see it
Feeling lost or disconnected from the world
I was standing staring at the world
A realization or epiphany about one's place in the world
And I still can't see it
Continuing to feel lost or disconnected from the world
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Brann Timothy Dailor, Troy Jayson Sanders, William Breen Kelliher, William Brent Hinds
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
martin j
LYRICS:
I'd guess they would say
We could set this world ablaze
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
It is hard to see
Through all the haze at the top of the trees
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
Faltering footsteps, dead end path
All that I need is this wise man's staff
Encased in crystal, he leads the way
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
I guess they would say
We can set the world ablaze
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Take my black soul
Alive in the fires that burn my skin
Guide my eyes all through this maze
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
All that I have seen
Standing on the edge, the foot of precipice
Floating in the sea
Past the king of swords, quickly to the shore
The last baron
The last baron
Ghost of man
Surrounds me in my slumber
I have no fear
As your wing is my shelter
Cyanide he craves
Coursing through his veins, providing him with strength
To see this to the end
Afraid of psychic eyes, faith in mystic power
The last baron
The last baron
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I still can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I still can't see it
All that I have seen
Standing on the edge, the foot of precipice
Floating in the sea
Past the king of swords, quickly to the shore
The last baron
The last baron
Ghost of man
Surrounds me in my slumber
I have no fear
As your wing is my shelter
Cyanide he craves
Coursing through his veins, providing him with strength
To see this to the end
Afraid of psychic eyes, faith in mystic power
The last baron
The last baron
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
I'd guess they would say
We could set this world ablaze
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
It is hard to see
Through all the haze at the top of the trees
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
Faltering footsteps, dead end path
All that I need is this wise man's staff
Encased in crystal, he leads the way
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
Guilherme Guariglia Bragiola
Lyrics
The Last Baron
I'd guess they would say
We could set this world ablaze
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
It is hard to see
Through all the haze at the top of the trees
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
Faltering footsteps, dead end path
All that I need is this wise man's staff
Encased in crystal, he leads the way
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
I guess they would say
We can set the world ablaze
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Take my black soul
Alive in the fires that burn my skin
Guide my eyes all through this maze
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
All that I have seen
Standing on the edge, the foot of precipice
Floating in the sea
Past the king of swords, quickly to the shore
The last baron
The last baron
Ghost of man
Surrounds me in my slumber
I have no fear
As your wing is my shelter
Cyanide he craves
Coursing through his veins, providing him with strength
To see this to the end
Afraid of psychic eyes, faith in mystic power
The last baron
The last baron
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I still can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I still can't see it
All that I have seen
Standing on the edge, the foot of precipice
Floating in the sea
Past the king of swords, quickly to the shore
The last baron
The last baron
Ghost of man
Surrounds me in my slumber
I have no fear
As your wing is my shelter
Cyanide he craves
Coursing through his veins, providing him with strength
To see this to the end
Afraid of psychic eyes, faith in mystic power
The last baron
The last baron
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
I'd guess they would say
We could set this world ablaze
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
It is hard to see
Through all the haze at the top of the trees
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
Faltering footsteps, dead end path
All that I need is this wise man's staff
Encased in crystal, he leads the way
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
Dady
I'd guess they would say
We could set this world ablaze
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
It is hard to see
Through all the haze at the top of the trees
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
Faltering footsteps, dead end path
All that I need is this wise man's staff
Encased in crystal, he leads the way
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
I guess they would say
We can set the world ablaze
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Take my black soul
Alive in the fires that burn my skin
Guide my eyes all through this maze
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
All that I have seen
Standing on the edge, the foot of precipice
Floating in the sea
Past the king of swords, quickly to the shore
The last baron
The last baron
Ghost of man
Surrounds me in my slumber
I have no fear
As your wing is my shelter
Cyanide he craves
Coursing through his veins, providing him with strength
To see this to the end
Afraid of psychic eyes, faith in mystic power
The last baron
The last baron
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I still can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I can't see it
I was standing staring at the world
And I still can't see it
All that I have seen
Standing on the edge, the foot of precipice
Floating in the sea
Past the king of swords, quickly to the shore
The last baron
The last baron
Ghost of man
Surrounds me in my slumber
I have no fear
As your wing is my shelter
Cyanide he craves
Coursing through his veins, providing him with strength
To see this to the end
Afraid of psychic eyes, faith in mystic power
The last baron
The last baron
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
Will he save me?
I'd guess they would say
We could set this world ablaze
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
It is hard to see
Through all the haze at the top of the trees
Hold my head on stable ground
Watch as the Earth falls all around
Please, please take my hand, please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around
Faltering footsteps, dead end path
All that I need is this wise man's staff
Encased in crystal, he leads the way
I guess they'd say we could set the world ablaze
Brandon Smith
This album completely changed my outlook on music, and what was capable within an album. I wish the guys from Mastodon knew how much this album means to me.
William Cozart
@Kruegerisgod yeah, I like that one a lot actually, still not like, as groundbreaking or perfect as Cracked, but an improvement from Emperor of Sand imo.
Kruegerisgod
@William Cozart They did Hushed and Grim. That's a risk taker dude.
Wilhelm Kaiser
You're not alone!
Nemesis302
@Subject Productions Dude... Colors live, man!
devin zelman
@Subject Productions damn you like the same bands
Bad Motor Breath
Mastodon crams more outrageously brilliant music in this one song than most other bands do in their entire discography.
Tyler
@Bad Motor Breath Yeah. Electric Wizard are fantastic. Since you liked Funeralopolis... I am 99 percent certain youll like Dopethrone (they named themselves after Wizards album of that name). Chameleon Witch and Riff Dealer are heavy as fuck. Uncle Acid are incredible too honestly.
Bad Motor Breath
@Tyler yeah I can see the Kyuss comparison. They’ve also been compared to Tool, maybe also because of the name. By the way, just listened to Funeralopolis… holy cow, that is some deeply heavy material and it kicks serious ass. Just saw you know about King Gizzard …Nonagon Infinity and Infest the Rats Nest are favourites 👍🏼🤘
Tyler
@Bad Motor Breath Listening to Goliath off Sound Awake. I dig it so far. They kind of remind me of Kyuss.