The one permanent fixture amidst the Fall's ever-changing line-up was Mark E. Smith (1957 – 2018). Smith's lyrics are free, unboxed and unpredictable, touching on an extremely wide range of subjects and places, and caring little for being tied down to easily digestible messages.
Smith's singing could put off some people, but others find it a uniquely expressive instrument. Smith was not a conventionally great vocalist, but his keen sense of rhythm, his energy and personality more than made up for this.
The Fall's music changed depending on the line-up at a given time. Always experimental, Mark E. Smith claimed to invent several musical genres, including house music; "we were doing that years ago" and even the internet. "He told me I didn't understand, that we were from the bleak industrial wastes of North England, or something, and that we didn't understand the Internet. I told him Fall fans invented the Internet. They were on there in 1982." One thing that is for sure is that The Fall (and their fans) always pushed the boundaries, and were never afraid to experiment.
The Fall were a favorite group of DJ John Peel, recording 24 sessions for his BBC1 radio program over the years.
The Fall's back catalogue consists of 29 studio albums, and is very fragmented with a seemingly endless number of compilations and semi-official live albums.
In 2006, British music-critic Dave Simpson published an entertaining account of a journalist's attempt to track down all 43 former members of The Fall in the Guardian. Many previous members have been fired, often with little or no notice. Simpson's ongoing effort was subsequently described at greater length in his book "The Fallen" (2008). His effort to track down the final unaccounted stragglers of at least 50 previous members of The Fall - including drummer Karl Burns - continues in his blog. Having decried Simpson's book as a "hatchet job" in the pages of Pseud. Mag., a Fall fan-mag, Mark E. Smith countered in short order with his autobiography "Renegade: The Lives and Tales of Mark E. Smith" (Viking, 2008/Penguin 2009).
Mark E. Smith died on 24 January 2018, aged 60.
Key Albums include:
# Live At the Witch Trials (debut)
# Dragnet
# Totale's Turns (It's Now Or Nevr)
# Grotesque (after the Gramme)
# Perverted By Language
# Hex Enduction Hour
# This Nation's Saving Grace
# Middle Class Revolt
# Bend Sinister
# Extricate
# The Infotainment Scan
# Country on the Click aka The Real New Fall LP
# Fall Heads Roll
# Reformation Post TLC (new)
Compilations/Singles/B-Sides:
# 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong: 39 Golden Greats
# The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004
# Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 1) and Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 2)
# 458489 A-Sides
# 458489 B-Sides
Mountain
The Fall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They said to me
"To get a mortgage
You need an income lid"
I thought it was free
Dolly Parton and Lord Byron
They said "patriotism is the last refuge"
And water's flowing
Down the mountain
But a tree is blocking
The water flowing
So I went fishing
A note from a fish said
"Dear dope
If you wanna catch us
You need a rod and a line
Signed, the fish"
Water is flowing
Down the mountain
But a tree is blocking
The water flowing
Went to the car rental
They said to me
"You need a log book
And a licence, son"
Water's flowing
Down the mountain
But a tree is blocking
The water coming
Mountain energei
And water's flowing
Down the mountain
The first verse of The Fall's "Mountain" is a commentary on the financial system, specifically the process of obtaining a mortgage. Mister Blairstowe and Mister Partridge are likely bankers or lenders who inform the singer that they need to have a certain level of income in order to qualify for a mortgage. The singer is initially surprised by this, thinking that the process of obtaining a mortgage would be free or straightforward. This speaks to the general complexity and bureaucracy of the financial system and how it can be difficult for everyday people to navigate.
The second verse references two famous figures, Dolly Parton and Lord Byron, and their thoughts on patriotism. The quote "patriotism is the last refuge" suggests that people often turn to patriotism when faced with difficult circumstances or when they feel threatened. However, the singer now feels like they are the ones who are seeking refuge, perhaps from the financial system or society as a whole.
The chorus of the song uses the image of water flowing down a mountain, but being blocked by a tree, as a metaphor for something being obstructed or prevented from progressing. The third verse takes a turn towards a more absurd and whimsical tone, as the singer receives a note from a fish informing them that they need a rod and a line in order to catch them. The final verse returns to the issue of bureaucracy, as the singer is told by a car rental company that they need a log book and a license to rent a car.
Overall, "Mountain" is a commentary on the difficulty of navigating systems, bureaucracy, and societal norms that can obstruct and prevent progress.
Line by Line Meaning
Mister Blairstowe and Mister Partridge
Two individuals, seemingly of some importance, advised the singer that they needed an income ceiling to qualify for a mortgage.
They said to me
The singer is relaying that he is recounting advice given to him by the aforementioned individuals.
"To get a mortgage
The advice given pertained to the requirements for obtaining a loan for a house purchase.
You need an income lid"
The individual giving the advice suggested that the singer needed to have an income limit in order to be approved for a mortgage.
I thought it was free
The singer was unaware that they would have to qualify for a mortgage based on their income and thus believed it to be a free process.
Dolly Parton and Lord Byron
The singer references these two historically famous individuals, perhaps to provide context for the following quote.
They said "patriotism is the last refuge"
The quote from Dolly Parton and Lord Byron suggests that some individuals may cling to patriotism as a last resort.
But now it's me
The singer may be referencing their own situation as now being one where they have to rely on patriotism as a last refuge.
And water's flowing
The singer has shifted subject matter and is now speaking of water and a mountain.
Down the mountain
The water is flowing down a descent in the physical terrain.
But a tree is blocking
Somewhere along the course of the water there is an obstruction in the form of a tree.
The water flowing
The water is obviously in motion down a mountain slope.
So I went fishing
The subject matter has shifted again, now to the experience of fishing.
A note from a fish said
The lyrics take an interesting turn with what appears to be a message from a talking fish.
"Dear dope
The note begins in a somewhat familiar and informal manner, with the writer addressing the singer by a slightly derogatory name.
If you wanna catch us
The note is essentially advising the singer on how to catch the fish in the water nearby.
You need a rod and a line
The author of the note suggests that the necessary tools for catching the fish are a fishing rod and a fishing line.
Signed, the fish"
The song takes another laughable turn with the seemingly impossible concept of a talking fish signing off on the note.
Water is flowing
The song lyrically jumps back to the water and the mountain from earlier in the song.
Down the mountain
The water is still moving downward as gravity pulls it down the slope of the mountain.
But a tree is blocking
Again the obstacle of the tree blocking the flow of the water is mentioned.
The water flowing
The water is still in motion and appears to be making a valiant effort to overcome the blockade created by the tree.
Went to the car rental
The subject matter has again changed, this time to a rental car experience.
They said to me
The singer is relaying the advice or information provided by a car rental employee.
"You need a log book
The rental car company requires the driver to have a log book.
And a licence, son"
In addition to the log book requirement, a driver's licence is also necessary.
Water's flowing
The song circles back to the water and mountain imagery from earlier in the song.
Down the mountain
The water is still flowing down the mountain's slope, seemingly without regard for the tree in its path.
But a tree is blocking
The tree seems almost symbolic of some kind of obstacle - perhaps something in real life that is blocking the flow of progress.
The water coming Mountain energei
This line is difficult to definitively interpret, as it appears to be a non-sequitur or nonsense phrase.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mark E Smith, Dave Milner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark P
The slow, but eventualy real, realization of the audience, that Mark E. and The mighty Fall had hypnotized them.
Joshua Ross
A song about an audience hypnotised at a festival sounds like something Mark was writing on albums in 83-84 PBL/WAFWOTF
Jamie Musella
Mark P stil have my Fall records.
Oliver Cant
This is brilliant. There always seems to be that line between genius and tragedy. At the start you think it's a going to pot. Mark can't to work out where he is, everyone else looks tense and worried. He drops the mic, wanders around. Any other band would be guaranteed a scathing review that finishes them the next day. Then suddenly out of nowhere comes this force in Mark that propels him and the rest of the band, despite the crowd's indifference. By end you realize why they're so great. Perfect
jaye see
Mark was an old Pro'.
The Jongler
Oliver CAN
Killie Dan
Yep👍
Andrew Storey
Spot on son. 👌
Carl Inman
Oliver Cant
imexiled
How can I put this? It's like... I don't think anybody just goes through a "phase" of listening to The Fall. Those of us who listen to them, pretty much always have there music at the forefront of our collections. I mean, I've gone through phases where I listened to a lot be-bop and The Fall. Or a lot of industrial/techno/trance and The Fall. or sixties psychedelic garage, and The Fall, or a Bach binge... and The Fall. You know what I am saying? Anybody?