Song Lyric Sunday: Mountains And Hills

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Sunday rolls around again, which must mean that it is time for a Song Lyric Sunday piece. This week’s invitation from Jim is to play a song that mentions either a hill or a mountain, at the suggestion again of Di, of pensitivity101 blog fame. Jim’s post tells more. I’m playing one for each, one of which you may not know but one you probably will if, like me, you were around when it first came out.

Last week I started by playing a song from my favourite album by my favourite band. Many of you commented how much you liked it, and needing little further encouragement to play another track from it that’s where I’m beginning again today. If you missed last week’s offering you can find it here, and if you scroll down to the comments I remarked a couple of times that, much though I liked that song it wasn’t my favourite on the album. But this one is, and it qualifies for its evocative lyric “these brooding hills are gathering round”:

That was Oysterband with Spirit Of Dust, from their Diamonds On The Water album. And in case you need them, here are its lyrics:

there's a glimpse of light through the window-pane 
early sun through the pouring rain 
this ancient house is getting me down 
these brooding hills are gathering round

and I'll take you with me if you've got the trust 
just say you will, I cannot say you must 
for the angels left here long ago 
and the spirit of dust just says 
(aaah...) now go

we'll meet on the shores of Tal-y-llyn 
shield our bodies from the careless wind 
we'll burn our boats for our first screen-kiss 
it'll be mid-morning before we're missed

and we'll say goodbye to the lights and cries 
now the laughter's gone from their tired eyes 
for the angels left here long ago 
and the spirit of dust just says 
(aaah...) 

and we'll say goodbye to the lights and cries 
to the narrow gaze of their tired eyes 
for love of fire and burning skies 
and I'll take you with me 
I'll take you with me 
I'll take you with me

together on a journey that knows no end 
a brand new start round every bend 
together on a journey that needs no chart 
just the open road and a hungry heart

and I'll take you with me if you've got the trust 
just say you will, I cannot say you must 
for the angels left here long ago 
and the spirit of dust just says 
(aaah...) now go

Source: Oysterband website

Songwriter: John Jones

Copyright: Pukka Music

 

At the risk of repetition but in the spirit of economy, rather than dust, this is a slight edit of what I said about the band last week: Oysterband (originally The Oyster Band) is a British folk rock and folk punk band formed in Canterbury around 1976. I was born and brought up in East Kent and have always felt an affinity with the band, as well as others – such as Caravan – who also came from the area. I love their music, and have all of their albums – most of which were bought before the days when streaming took over. I have played this song on several previous occasions as it is so very good. As I said, it was included on their Diamonds In The Water album, which was released in March 2014 and achieved their highest UK chart placing: one week at #51!

Folk rock isn’t exactly a chart mainstay here, but it is a genre that I have always enjoyed and which forms a large part of my collection. This is, as I said, my favourite of the band’s albums: it is absolutely stuffed full of great songs and I recommend it highly if you enjoyed this one. The Oysters retired from touring a couple of months ago – 49 years on the road probably takes it out of you – but I’m hopeful that they can find their way back into a studio at some point. Even if they don’t they have left us a wonderful legacy of music, and I will always have the fond memories of their fabulous concerts that I have attended – too many to count!

I should perhaps add a note of credit to the amazing singer who shared the vocals on that with John Jones. She was Rowan Godel, a musician in her own right who played several times with The Oysters, and was a close friend of John’s. Sadly, we lost her to illness in February 2022, at just 50. Life can be cruel.

So, that was my hill song, and it is now time for my mountain one. I did toy with the thought of Jimi Hendrix, but felt that might be chosen by others and have instead decided to go for something much lighter, another little piece of folk rock from these shores:

Donovan released There Is A Mountain as a single in July 1967 in the US and in October in the UK. It is a fun song, though I’ve never been entirely sure what it was about and what his inspiration for it might have been. I thought they might have been chemically induced visions, but Wikipedia gives a more worthy explanation:

The lyrics refer to a Buddhist saying originally formulated by Qingyuan Weixin, later translated by D. T. Suzuki in his Essays in Zen Buddhism, one of the first books to popularize Buddhism in Europe and the US:

Before a man studies Zen, to him mountains are mountains and waters are waters; after he gets an insight into the truth of Zen through the instruction of a good master, mountains to him are not mountains and waters are not waters; but after this when he really attains to the abode of rest, mountains are once more mountains and waters are waters.

Clear as mud! Whatever, it isn’t difficult to remember the lyrics to sing along with – just don’t think about them too much! The American magazine Record World described it as “jazzy and Latin-styled with weird lyrics.” Sounds fair to me! It did well in chart terms, peaking at #8 in the UK and #11 in the US. Other musicians – apart from Donovan on vocals and guitar – are Tony Carr on percussion, Harold McNair on flute, and the late, great Danny Thompson on double bass. And it has the distinction of being referred to in songs by both The Allman Brothers Band and The Grateful Dead. Steve Earle covered it in concert for a while, too.

At that time Donovan was in the middle of a long-running contractual dispute with his record company in the UK, which meant that several of his albums weren’t released here until much later. As far as I can tell this song wasn’t on a studio album though it did feature on his first live record, Donovan In Concert, which was recorded in Anaheim in November 1967 and released in the US in June 1968 and in the UK that September. It peaked at #16 in the US but didn’t make the UK Chart. As I said, it’s still a fun song and someone has created an attractive video to go with it.

That’s me done for the day. My usual Sunday afternoon football awaits (the proper game, the one where people actually kick the thing), so I’ll give my usual thanks to Jim for running the show and bid you adieu. I hope to see you again for Tuesday Tunes – the start of this year’s seasonal blitz. Have a lovely day 👍

55 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday: Mountains And Hills”

  1. Hey there! I loved reading through your beautiful blog post. The way you describe it makes me feel like I’m taking a walk in your shoes while listening to your voice and seeing all the emotions that come with this topic. Your posts are so thoughtful and relatable, and I can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeve! Keep up the great work, and I’ll be sure to leave my own sincere comment below.”
    Sure thing! Here’s a short, authentic comment for the blog post:

    “Hey there! The way this post is written makes me feel like I’m learning something new. Your words flow so naturally that it feels like you’re speaking directly to me, just like in real life. I especially loved

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  2. The post offers a thoughtful selection built around a simple but evocative theme. There is something satisfying about seeing how different artists interpret the imagery of mountains and hills, each reshaping the metaphor through their own musical language. What interests me most is how the choices reveal a quiet dialogue between genres and eras, as though the terrain becomes a shared emotional landscape. It is a reminder that good curation can illuminate familiar songs in unexpected ways. The piece is presented with clarity and a genuine love for the craft of listening.

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  5. I didn’t know Oysterband were from Canterbury (and that you’re from East Kent). I love the “Canterbury Scene” of the ’60s and ’70s: Caravan, Soft Machine, Gong, Hatfield and the North, Egg, and all individuals associated with them.

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    • Several of them met at the University of Kent, and played in local folk clubs, notably Whitstable. They were the non-prog part of the scene, though a little later than the likes of the others you mention.

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      • I met a few of the Canterbury proggers, notably Richard Sinclair, who now lives in southern Italy. Ironically, I presented him with a slice of pumpkin pie when he came through the Cincinnati airport, Thanksgiving 1992! A very nice man who loves reminiscing about the Canterbury Scene.

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      • I met the band after a gig, when they were promoting In The Land Of Grey And Pink. Probably 1971-2. They were a very nice bunch, happy to chat with fans before we all had to go out into a fearsome gale!

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  8. Clive I do enjoy the first selection. Mind-boggling that The Oysterband has been “49 years on the road” and understandable why they want to give touring a rest. Hoping your dream comes true and they create more music in the studio in the future.

    I recognized the Donovan song once it started playing but not by title. It’s a fun tune with what sounds like a calypso beat. I remember it being on the radio.

    Hope you are enjoying your football Sunday.

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  13. Five big stars for you this morning, Clive! So great to hear that very cool Donovan song once again but you really got me with the Oysters. I liked them last week and I like them even more this week. Thanks for introducing me to an excellent and fun new group. This one’s going on my playlist for sure. Happy Sunday! 😊

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    • That’s great, Nancy, I’m really pleased. I think I’ve made it my mission to introduce Oysterband to as many people as possible – they are so very good.

      Donovan was a fun addition that came to mind from my teenage years 😊

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    • I’ve been on a campaign with them lately, haven’t I! I’ll have to see if they have anything suitable for next week 🤣

      I referred to the Allmans in the post – and the Dead also borrowed from this one.

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  17. Pingback: Song Lyrics Sunday: Because it’s there! – willowdot21

  19. Excellent choices today Clive- I just came from Adam’s Blog where I was introduced to the Donovan song- which has a delightful Island’s feel to it- and the idea of sun and sand is always welcome here.

    I also enjoyed another selection from the Oysterband- as I was one of the people who so loved my introduction to them last week.

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