There is a Mountain

Album: Greatest Hits (1967)
Charted: 8 11
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Songfacts®:

  • Donovan has explained that this song is about the process of change and is adapted from an old Zen proverb:

    First there is a mountain
    Then there is no mountain
    Then there is


    The song uses elements of nature but doesn't have any real drug influences. It is done with a calypso beat.
  • The Allman Brothers adapted this for their "Mountain Jam" and in 2009 the song was covered by Kenny Loggins for his All Join In album which features his daughter Hana on the second verse and a children's chorus. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sara - Silver Spring, MD, for above 2
  • This was used in 2008 commercials for the Toyota RAV4.
  • The flute on this song came courtesy of Harold McNair, who was a Caribbean Jazz player that played on many of Donovan's recordings.

Comments: 2

  • AnonymousIt's not "the lock" it's just "look uopn"
  • Sara from Silver Spring, MdDonovan is said to get the idea when he was living in a house in Scotland, and first there was a mountain, then there was no mountain and then there was!
see more comments

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