Landslide
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I climbed a mountain, I turned around
And I saw my reflection in a snow covered hill
'Til a landslide brought it down
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Well, I've been afraid of changing cause I've
Built my life around you
Time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older, too
I'm getting older, too
I took my love and took it down
I climbed a mountain, I turned around
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hill
The landslide brought it down
The landslide brought it down
The Smashing Pumpkins' cover of Fleetwood Mac's 1975 song "Landslide" is a haunting and emotional ballad that explores the complexities of love, aging, and change. The song tells the story of a person who takes stock of their life while standing on top of a mountain and watching their reflection in a snow-covered hill. The reflective mood of the song takes hold as the individual feels the weight of their life choices and the inevitabilities of aging, knowing that time advances and that they are getting older.
The first verse of the song sets the tone for what follows; it depicts the person taking their love down a mountain and watching it come tumbling down in a landslide. This could be interpreted as the person realizing the futility of holding onto something that is slipping away from them, or as a metaphor for their own life crumbling apart. The second verse explores the existential questions of life, as the singer asks whether their inner child can rise above and whether they can weather the storms of life.
The chorus takes a darker turn as the singer reveals their fear of change, summoning the image of a snow-covered hill tumbling down with their reflection. The final verse repeats the first, underscoring the cyclical nature of life's struggles and the inevitability of change.
Overall, "Landslide" is a touching and introspective song that speaks to the human condition and the inevitability of change. It captures the pain, beauty, and complexity of life, and its timeless message rings true no matter your age or experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I took my love and took it down
I left my love behind and went on a journey
I climbed a mountain, I turned around
I faced my fears and looked back at where I had been
And I saw my reflection in a snow covered hill
I saw myself clearly for the first time
'Til a landslide brought it down
Until something unexpected happened that ruined everything
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
I'm questioning the nature of love and my place in it
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can my innocence and purity overcome the challenges of love?
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides?
Can I navigate the ups and downs of life and love?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Am I capable of dealing with the inevitable changes that come with time?
Well, I've been afraid of changing cause I've
I've been afraid of the unknown because
Built my life around you
I've centered my life around someone else
Time makes you bolder
As time goes on, you become stronger and more resilient
Even children get older
Even those who seem innocent and carefree eventually grow up
And I'm getting older, too
I'm not immune to the passage of time
I'm getting older, too
I'm aging, just as everyone else is
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hill
If you catch a glimpse of who I truly am
The landslide brought it down
It was the unforeseeable event that caused everything to fall apart
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephanie Nicks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind