Mountains of Mourne
Tarkio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's people here working by day and by night
They don't sow potatoes nor barley nor wheat
There's gangs of them diggin' for gold in the street
At least when I asked them that's what I was told
So I took me a hand at this digging for gold
But for all that I've found there I might as well be
You remember old Peter O'Loughlin of course
He's here now at the head of the force
I saw him today (while I) was crossing the strand
He stopped the whole line with a wave of his hand
And as we stood talking the days that are gone
The whole population of London looked on
But for all his fine powers he's wishful like me
To be where the dark Mournes sweep down to the sea
There's beautiful girls here oh, never you mind
With beautiful shapes nature never designed
With lovely complexions all roses and cream
And O'Loughlin remarks with regards to the same
Of all these fine flowers you venture to sip
The color might all come away on your lip
So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waiting for me
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea
Oh Mary, this London's a wonderful sight
In "Mountains of Mourne", Tarkio's lead singer, Colin Meloy, sings a longing ballad to his lover Mary, expressing his disillusionment with city life in London. He describes how people are constantly working, digging for "gold" in the streets, but nothing they do feels as meaningful as the simple pleasures of rural life where one can grow their own crops or enjoy the stunning views of the Mountains of Mourne sweeping down to the sea. As Meloy reminisces about an old friend, Peter O'Loughlin, who is now a powerful figure in London, he realizes that even someone with great responsibilities and success would rather be back home, surrounded by the beauty of the Mournes.
Meloy also describes the allure of the city's beautiful women but stresses that he would rather be with the one true love who awaits him back home. The song's final chorus emphasizes Meloy's ongoing hope to return to the tranquil life he longs for, where he can be reunited with his lover and surrounded by the beauty of the Mountain of Mourne. With this lovely and delicate piece of storytelling that seamlessly blends city-versus-country contrasts with the nostalgia of love, "Mountains of Mourne" is a timeless folk song that remains relevant today.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Mary this London's a wonderful sight
London is a magnificent city and appeals to my sense sight.
There's people here working by day and by night
The city is full of people who work very hard, around the clock.
They don't sow potatoes nor barley nor wheat
The people of London do not farm the land like we do.
There's gangs of them diggin' for gold in the street
There are groups of people who are mining for precious metals within the city itself.
At least when I asked them that's what I was told
This is what I was told by the people I asked about the miners.
So I took me a hand at this digging for gold
I tried to mine for gold myself to see if it was true.
But for all that I've found there I might as well be
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea
I found no gold, and the beauty of the Mountains of Mourne draws me away from London.
You remember old Peter O'Loughlin of course
You surely remember Peter O'Loughlin, don't you?
He's here now at the head of the force
He's leading an important group of people in London.
I saw him today (while I) was crossing the strand
I spotted him while I was passing through a busy area.
He stopped the whole line with a wave of his hand
Peter used a simple gesture to bring the busy crowd to a standstill.
And as we stood talking the days that are gone
Peter and I chatted about old times.
The whole population of London looked on
Everyone else in the city watched us with interest.
But for all his fine powers he's wishful like me
To be where the dark Mournes sweep down to the sea
For all of Peter's power and influence, he longs to be away from London, just like I do.
There's beautiful girls here oh, never you mind
The city has many lovely women, but they do not interest me.
With beautiful shapes nature never designed
These women have figures unmatched by the natural world.
With lovely complexions all roses and cream
Their skin is soft, smooth, and has a healthy glow.
And O'Loughlin remarks with regards to the same
Peter comments on the beauty of these women.
Of all these fine flowers you venture to sip
Out of all the beautiful women, you might try to win over.
The color might all come away on your lip
They might not be what they seem, and you could get in trouble.
So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waiting for me
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea
Instead of pursuing the women of London, I will wait for my perfect match, wherever she may be in the Mountains of Mourne.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind