Mountain Lion
Old Bear Mountain Lyrics
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And I got you, and a slight suspicion
Coming down, darling, watch your step
Come on down to me
And I know that we had our troubles
Hell I trembled at the sound of your voice
Looking out at the constellations
Are you watching me now?
Stormy nights in the Dark
And, whiskey bottles rolling round the car
And I, can't remember why I'd ever let you down
I've got years in the lines on my face
Of You and I, and of all we became
I was terribly amused with your love
But tell me where did it go?
It was buried down deep in those woods
In a grave on the hill where we stood
Do you recall leaving me on my knees?
That damn ring in my hand
(Solo)
Stormy nights in the Dark
And, whiskey bottles rolling round the car
And I, can't remember why I'd ever let you down
So I've got holes in the palms of my hands
And I had you and my intuition
But you've got eyes like a mountain lion
Cut me right to the bone
The lyrics to "Mountain Lion" by Old Bear Mountain describe the aftermath of a tumultuous relationship. The singer has "holes in the palms of [their] hands," possibly indicating a sense of guilt, and acknowledges past problems with their partner. Despite this, they still long for their presence, with a "slight suspicion" suggesting a lack of trust. The singer asks the partner to "come on down" to them, and questions whether the partner is "watching [them] now" under the "constellations."
The second verse continues with imagery of "stormy nights" and "whiskey bottles rolling round the car," perhaps indicating a pattern of destructive behavior in the relationship. The singer reflects on the past, with "years in the lines on [their] face" representing the time they spent together. However, the singer can't help but wonder where their love went and recalls being left "on [their] knees" with a "damn ring in [their] hand." The solo towards the end adds to the emotional intensity of the song, culminating in the line "you've got eyes like a mountain lion, cut me right to the bone," suggesting that the partner's gaze is piercing and unsettling.
Overall, "Mountain Lion" paints a vivid picture of a relationship that has left deep emotional scars on both parties. The recurring imagery of nature, such as the constellations and the mountain lion, adds to the sense of intensity and emotional rawness conveyed in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got holes in the palms of my hands
I've been hurt deeply, but I'm still strong and able to hold on
And I got you, and a slight suspicion
I have you, but I'm also aware that things may not be as they seem
Coming down, darling, watch your step
Be careful, things are about to get tricky
Come on down to me
I'm here for you, no matter what
And I know that we had our troubles
We’ve gone through tough times, but I won't let that stop us
Hell I trembled at the sound of your voice
Your voice has a powerful impact on me
Looking out at the constellations
I see the beauty in the universe and in us
Are you watching me now?
Are you aware of the impact you still have on my life?
Stormy nights in the Dark
Difficult times and dark moments have left their mark on me
And, whiskey bottles rolling round the car
I’ve turned to alcohol to help me deal with my struggles
And I, can't remember why I'd ever let you down
I don't recall how or why I hurt you, but I know that I did
I've got years in the lines on my face
My face shows the marks of my experiences and my age
Of You and I, and of all we became
Our shared experiences have left their mark on me
I was terribly amused with your love
I was so happy and entertained by your love
But tell me where did it go?
What happened to the love we once had?
It was buried down deep in those woods
Our love was hiding in nature, but not anymore
In a grave on the hill where we stood
Our love was buried in the past where it belonged
Do you recall leaving me on my knees?
Do you remember breaking my heart and making me suffer?
That damn ring in my hand
I still have a painful reminder of our love
(Solo)
A musical interlude
So I've got holes in the palms of my hands
I'm still struggling with my pain, even after all this time
And I had you and my intuition
I had faith in you and in myself
But you've got eyes like a mountain lion
Your eyes are piercing and intimidating, like a fierce animal
Cut me right to the bone
You have hurt me deeply with your actions and your gaze
Contributed by Liam C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.