The Shamen were preceded by Alone Again Or, the Love-inspired name under which they recorded their first singles. After their name change, further singles picked up airplay from John Peel. Released in June 1987, The Shamen's first album Drop illustrated their love of 60s psychedelia, with influences such as Love, Pink Floyd and the 13th Floor Elevators.
By mid-1987, frontman Colin Angus was discovering the sounds of early house music pioneers such as S-Express and M/A/R/R/S and increasing his knowledge of the latest studio gadgetry. By September 1987, the Shamen were applying these techniques to their own music, mixing rock guitars, techno and hip-hop rhythms and sampled radio voices to create the prototype rock-dance sound which was to prove so influential to other indie dance groups like Pop Will Eat Itself, Jesus Jones and EMF. However, the newfound sound proved too radical for co-founder and vocalist Derek McKenzie, who the left the band in late 1987 to study at university. The Shamen were suddenly one crucial player short. Help was at hand in the charismatic form of Will Sinnott (23 December, 1960 - 23 May, 1991), who joined the group in October 1987, on bass and keyboards, freeing up Colin Angus to handle vocal and guitar chores.
Knature of a Girl was the first record by the Shamen to feature Sinnott, but it wasn't until June's Jesus Loves Amerika single that the techno influence began to show. By this stage, Angus and Sinnott had become hooked on the acid house movement taking place in London, and its music and clubs were to exert a massive influence on the pair. Keith McKenzie and Peter Stephenson were less impressed by these new developments, and left the group the following summer, after the January 1989 release of the In Gorbachev We Trust album, which saw the group further enhancing their sound.
Angus and Sinnott relocated to London, allowing them to start afresh, and plunge headfirst into the emerging rave scene. 1989 was to be a busy year. They set out on their legendary Synergy tour, a nightclub experience combined with live music from The Shamen and others and DJing from the likes of Mixmaster Morris. The tour was to last nearly two years. They also released the Phorward mini album, a genre-defining release in the history of the acid house movement.
Their third album, En-Tact, was released in 1990, and it spawned the hit singles Move Any Mountain, Hyperreal and Make It Mine. Also notable was the appearance of rapper and DJ Mr.C (real name Richard West). The transformation into a successful rave act was complete.
In May 1991, The Shamen headed to Tenerife to film a video for Move Any Mountain. On May 23, Sinnott drowned in an accident off coast of La Gomera. However, with the Sinnott family's encouragement, the group decided to continue.
With Mr C now a full member of The Shamen, and Jhelisa Anderson providing guest vocals, the Boss Drum album followed in 1992. The LP featured a noted spoken-word collaboration, Re:Evolution with Terence McKenna, and The Shamen's biggest and most controversial hit: Ebeneezer Goode. Ebeneezer Goode was accused of promoting drug use owing to the refrain "Ezer Goode, Ezer Goode" - homophonic with "E's are good" ("E" being slang for the dance drug ecstasy) - and to double entendre drug references throughout the song. This echoed similar references in previous songs such as Synergy's "M D M A-zing... we are together in ecstasy". Despite - or maybe because of - the subsequent storm of publicity, the song stayed at the top of the UK charts for 4 weeks.
Although the single was a commercial hit, it was considered a 'novelty record' and severely impacted on the 'underground' credibility of the band. Subsequent singles such as Boss Drum and Phorever People were chart hits, but some long term fans believed they paled in comparison to earlier singles.
However, The Shamen's new mainstream popularity enabled them to release an unusually large number of remix singles, EPs, and LPs during the Boss Drum era, including the Face EP, the S.O.S. EP, and the On Air and Different Drum albums. On Air featured a series of popular tracks from En-Tact and Boss Drum as performed live on BBC radio; Different Drum was a remix album containing alternate versions of every track from Boss Drum. The tracks Boss Drum, LSI (Love Sex Intelligence), Phorever People, Ebeneezer Goode, and Re:Evolution were all released as singles in their own right.
Axis Mutatis in 1995, with new vocalist Victoria Wilson James replacing Jhelisa Anderson, did not make as much of an impact. Early special editions of this album featured a bonus disk, Arbor Bona Arbor Mala, a bizarre ambient album. The Shamen continued recording into the late 1990s, releasing two additional LPs with an increasingly experimental bent. Their penultimate studio album, the instrumental Hempton Manor, followed an acrimonious split with their label One Little Indian. It is alleged to have been recorded in seven days to conclude the recording contract with One Little Indian, and the first letter of each track spell out F**k Birket, referring to label founder Derek Birket, who wanted the group to move back into more commercial territory. UV, in 1998, was their last album. UV was released independently and marked a return to form with both modern techno production and classic Shamen song structures. Mr C. has since continued as an inspiring house DJ and become a successful night-club owner.
Move Any Mountain
The Shamen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My perception is altered I do believe
Faith is so strong now nothing shall bar my way
Firm conviction is no fiction this is my day
I can move move move any mountain
I can move move move any mountain
I can move move move any mountain
I walk so tall ascending I stand so high
Earth below me revolving above the sky
I feel no fear to be here is oh so fine
Shining brightly like sunlight inside my mind
Well you know that any mountain is capable of moving
The shamen and the new generation who are proving
You can be what you want to be
Let your soul and your body and your mind be free
Well never mind we all are that
And going all the way is where I'm at
With delivery smooth like water from a fountain
That's why I can move any mountain move any mountain
I can move move move any mountain
I can move move move any mountain
I can move move move any mountain
I can move move move any mountain
Move any mountain
Move any mountain
Move any mountain
Future feeling new sensation
Body is rockin' and the mind is reeling
And rolling racing changing motion
Flowing like a river into the ocean
Better get yourself ready for the next transition
'Cause the time is right for a new vibration
My vision one nation one tribe
One day'll come the might to move any mountain
Move any mountain
Move any mountain
I can move move move any mountain
I walk so tall ascending I stand so high
Earth below me revolving above the sky
I feel no fear to be here is oh so fine
Shining brightly like sunlight inside my mind
I can move move move any mountain
The lyrics of The Shamen's song "Move Any Mountain" reflect a mindset of hope, strength and determination. The singer is both confident and optimistic, believing that he will overcome any obstacles on his path to success. He believes that his faith is the key to his success, that nothing can stand in his way if he believes in himself with determination and conviction. The lyrics also touch upon the idea of personal transformation, with the singer stating that his perception has been altered, and he feels like he can stand tall, reaching new heights in his life.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the power of the singer's will, claiming that he can move any mountain. The bridge section of the song touches upon the idea that we all have the power to be what we want to be, and that we should let our souls, bodies and minds to be free to achieve this. The listener is encouraged to look beyond their current limitations, to aim high for self-improvement, and to remain persistent and driven no matter what hurdles they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
I will not fail nor falter I shall succeed
I am determined to succeed and will not be deterred by any obstacles.
My perception is altered I do believe
I have changed the way I see the world and have faith in my new perspective.
Faith is so strong now nothing shall bar my way
My faith is unshakable and nothing can prevent me from achieving my goals.
Firm conviction is no fiction this is my day
My belief in myself is unwavering and I know that this is the day I will succeed.
I can move move move any mountain
I have the power to overcome any obstacle and achieve my goals.
I walk so tall ascending I stand so high
I am confident and proud of my achievements, standing tall and high above others.
Earth below me revolving above the sky
I am aware of my place in the world and the way everything is connected and constantly changing.
I feel no fear to be here is oh so fine
I am not afraid of anything and feel that being alive is wonderful.
Shining brightly like sunlight inside my mind
My mind is clear and positive, shining with a bright energy like the sun.
Well you know that any mountain is capable of moving
Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, even something as monumental as moving a mountain.
The shamen and the new generation who are proving
The Shamen and the younger generation are demonstrating that anything can be achieved through faith and determination.
You can be what you want to be
You have the ability to shape your own destiny and become whatever you choose.
Let your soul and your body and your mind be free
Don't be held back by limitations, free yourself to achieve your goals.
Well never mind we all are that
We all have the potential within us to achieve great things.
And going all the way is where I'm at
I am fully committed to achieving my goals and will not stop until I do.
With delivery smooth like water from a fountain
I am confident and assured in my abilities, moving forward with grace and ease.
That's why I can move any mountain move any mountain
My unwavering faith and determination give me the power to overcome any obstacle.
Future feeling new sensation
I am excited about the future and the opportunities it holds.
Body is rockin' and the mind is reeling
I am energized and motivated, both physically and mentally.
And rolling racing changing motion
Everything around me is constantly changing and moving, and I am keeping up with the pace.
Flowing like a river into the ocean
I am at one with the universe, flowing effortlessly towards my destiny.
Better get yourself ready for the next transition
Always be prepared for what comes next, and embrace change as an opportunity for growth.
'Cause the time is right for a new vibration
The universe is ready for change, and it is up to us to create a new and positive energy.
My vision one nation one tribe
I see a world full of unity and positivity, where everyone is working together for the greater good.
One day'll come the might to move any mountain
Someday everyone will realize their full potential and have the ability to overcome any obstacle.
Move any mountain
Believe in yourself and your abilities, and you can overcome any obstacle.
Move any mountain
Never let anything hold you back, move past any obstacle in your path.
Move any mountain
You have the power within you to overcome any challenge that comes your way.
Lyrics © TAIRONA SONGS LTD
Written by: COLIN GILBERT ANGUS, RICHARD WEST, WILL SIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@atlusavalon6745
Move any mountain, move any mountain
I will not fail nor falter, I shall succeed
My perception is altered, I do believe
Faith is so strong now nothing shall bar my way
Firm conviction is no fiction
This is my day
I can move move move any mountain x3
I walk so tall, ascending I stand so high
Earth below me revolving above the sky
I feel no fear to be here is oh so fine
Shining brightly, like sunlight inside my mind
Well you know that any mountain is capable of moving
The Shamen and the new generation who are proving
You can be what you want to be
Let your soul and your body and your mind be free
Well never mind, we all are that
And going all the way is where I'm at
With delivery smooth like water from a fountain
That's why I can move any mountain
Move any mountain
I can move move move any mountain x4
Move any mountain
Move any mountain
Future feeling, new sensation
Body is rocking and the mind is reeling
And rolling race changing motion
Flowing like a river into the ocean
Better get yourself ready for the new vibration
My vision, one nation, one tribe
One day'll come the might to move any mountain
Move any mountain
Move any mountain
I can move move move any mountain
I walk so tall, ascending I stand so high
Earth below me revolving above the sky
I feel no fear to be here is oh so fine
Shining brightly, like sunlight inside my mind
I can move move move any mountain x6
@REXXSEVEN
Because it is. Listen to this song starting at 0:23. Then listen to
Streets Of Rage - Under Logic
(the baseball field stage) starting at 0:29
Also the drums and bass on this song from 1:10 to 1:26 is very similar to the ones heard in
Streets of Rage - Stage 1-1 (Go Straight)
at 1:14 to 1:30.
This song and Ebeneezer Goode are two out of many songs that influenced SOR soundtrack.
@katherenreizel4972
Another celebration TODAY. I went to Shamen’s appearance at the Lizard Lounge in Dallas, Tx 1990. I was in a Navajo Sweat Lodge and embraced my indigenous family history. This wonderful group SOLIDIFIED MY JOY even now. I am 71 this year walking this journey since I was 7. For all my relations, A’ho 🙏🏼
@rayhawkins4824
I used to play this endlessly on my way to work every morning for years. As a reminder to myself that no matter what happened that day, I could move any mountain. 30+ years later I still love this.
@geomcloco432
I still sometimes wake up and shower to it occasionally.
To wake up and get the energy flowing 😉
@haledhajdari1154
You know you brought me memories, I was doing the same , had many mountains to move. Big ones.
@user-cs7bl6rb7i
Your so gay but I hear ya
@mpetrusonis
2024. Still moving mountains.
@Lola-193
Anyone here in 2021?! I’m 57 and still feel I can Move Any Mountain. Turn this up and go dance. 💃🏻💜🕺🏻🙌
@terracat2112
I’m 51 and this song is a game changer!!
@rileedavis397
I'll be 57 in September and I've been a huge fan of the band and song since Ninety-one!
What a great message in this song.
@Qplus-tc5hh
This song had a message for us in the 90s, but that message is now becoming clearer in 2023