Mountain
Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band Lyrics


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I was born on this mountain a long time ago
Before they knocked down the timber and strip-mined the coal
When you rose in the mornin' before it was light
To go down in that dark hole and come back up at night

I was born on this mountain, this mountain's my home
She holds me and keeps me from worry and woe
Well, they took everything that she gave, now they're gone
But i'll die on this mountain, this mountain's my home

I was young on this mountain but now i am old
And i knew every holler, every cool swimmin' hole
'til one night i lay down and woke up to find
That my childhood was over and i went down in the mine

There's a hole in this mountain and it's dark and it's deep
And god only knows all the secrets it keeps




There's a chill in the air only miners can feel
There're ghosts in the tunnels that the company sealed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band's song "Mountain" evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and a deep connection to the natural world. The singer reflects on their life, having been born on the mountain before the destruction of the land for resource extraction. They remember the hard work of mining and the knowledge of every feature of the landscape, as well as the loss of their childhood innocence.


The repeated refrain of "this mountain's my home" speaks to a profound sense of attachment to a specific place, one that has shaped the singer's identity and given them a sense of security in the face of all the changes wrought by industry. The haunting final stanza references the many unseen dangers lurking within the mines, both physical and spiritual, and underscores the tragic cost of exploiting the earth's resources without regard for the people who live on it.


One interpretation of the song is as a warning against the dangers of unchecked industrialization and the folly of prioritizing profit over people and the environment. It also serves as a tribute to the resilience and enduring spirit of those whose lives have been defined by living and working in the mountains.


Line by Line Meaning

I was born on this mountain a long time ago
The singer was born on the mountain a while back, before logging and mining.


Before they knocked down the timber and strip-mined the coal
The mountain was once wooded and mineral extraction did not exist.


When you rose in the mornin' before it was light
Miners would be up before sunrise to start their day.


To go down in that dark hole and come back up at night
Miners worked long hours underground, returning to the surface only at night.


I was born on this mountain, this mountain's my home
The mountain is the artist's birthplace and their permanent home.


She holds me and keeps me from worry and woe
The mountain serves as a protector and provides peace of mind for the singer.


Well, they took everything that she gave, now they're gone
The natural resources of the mountain were depleted by industry, and the companies have left.


But i'll die on this mountain, this mountain's my home
The artist intends to stay on the mountain and pass away there.


I was young on this mountain but now i am old
The artist has lived on the mountain for a long time and has aged there.


And i knew every holler, every cool swimmin' hole
The artist is familiar with all the distinct features of the mountain, such as valleys and watering spots.


'til one night i lay down and woke up to find
The singer was awoken to the fact that their youth was over and things had changed.


That my childhood was over and i went down in the mine
The artist had to work in the mine and leave behind their youth.


There's a hole in this mountain and it's dark and it's deep
There is a mine shaft in the mountain which is dark and extensive.


And god only knows all the secrets it keeps
There are mysteries and unknown situations that only a higher power could understand inside the mountain.


There's a chill in the air only miners can feel
Miners, and only miners, can sense the coldness and danger present in the mineshaft.


There're ghosts in the tunnels that the company sealed
The closed-off parts of the mine are rumored to be haunted by spirits and eerie entities.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAMZA ROBERTSON, SAMI YUSUF, N UNKNOWN WRITER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Dan Burnett

Grandpa started digging coal at 12. After Korea he made his way to Cleveland, like the rest. My other grandfather ran moonshine when he was a kid. He to hit the hillbilly highway after ww2. Mom and dad did alright. But the mountain is in my blood, I started logging at 18. It's been 21 hard years. Broken bones and broken hearts. Wouldn't change it for anything. Thank you for the video

Christian Dancer

Great grandad, pappa, uncles and dad all lead, zink, galena and silver miners of the Silver Valley. God bless you and America sir.

JoonasFinland

Steve Earle is the savior of roots music. I wish that folks would play music like this on the radio more. Young people! Listen to old-time music and appriciate it!

Jim O

Hope you're listening to Ben Tod covering this today, I'm sure you'll appreciate his efforts keeping it all alive ☺️👍

JoonasFinland

@Jim O I am!

Skyler Marsh

In 2007, when i was about to graduate highschool, I heard this song on a promotional cd. I was a young musician and this song moved me so much I learned it on the spot. To this day it's still one of my favorite songs. I don't perform it at any of my gigs but all of my friends and family know it from around a campfire. Thank you Del and Steve for this song. It's a great song and a fine message. I've never met a soul who couldn't relate to the story it tells...

Martin Sundland

What a timeless piece of music-I have a hard time not getting a tear in my eye every time I listen to it. Thank you for putting it out so that more folks can hear it.

FaerySeeker

This definitely is the best version of this song. I am from WV and I remember the Sago disaster. Sure touches the heart. My father was a miner and so was my grandfather. My grandfather was killed in the mines.

Justin Gravel

This not a version, it is the original

edward richard

I'm sorry for sacrifice but it wasn't in vain.

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