The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Album: The Best of Glen Campbell (1974)
Play Video
  • See her how she flies
    Golden sails across the sky
    Close enough to touch
    But careful if you try
    Though she looks as warm as gold
    The moon's a harsh mistress
    The moon can be so cold

    Once the sun did shine
    Lord, it felt so fine
    The moon a phantom rose
    Through the mountains and the pines
    And then the darkness fell
    And the moon's a harsh mistress
    It's so hard to love her well

    I fell out of her eyes
    I fell out of her heart
    I fell down on my face
    Yes, I did, and I, I tripped and I missed my star
    God, I fell and I fell alone, I fell alone
    And the moon's a harsh mistress
    And the sky is made of stone

    The moon's a harsh mistress
    She's hard to call your own. Writer/s: JIMMY WEBB
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Øivind Enger from NorwayIn my opinion the late Norwegian singer Radka Toneff has one of the most beautiful versions of this song. It appears on her album Fairytales. She sings it accompanied by Steve Dobrogosz on piano. I have read that the two recorded this on their first "take" win no rehearsal. Sadly Toneff died just months after the song was recorded.
  • Patti from UkLoved this song in an instant. Beautiful and emotive lyrics lend themselves to Mr Campbell's rendition of a tune that needed composing and performing by him. A song to love forever...
  • Staley from Dallas, TxJimmy Webb may have gotten the title from a Heinlein novel, but Heinlein got it from Walt Whitman. This is another of Webb's most beautiful melodies, though the lyrics are a little on the opaque, overly poetic side.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.