“Snow-Capped Mountain” [music video]
LIVING-ROOM VIDEO #48: “Snow-Capped Mountain”. I originally began writing this song more than 12 years ago. Now, after some additional verses and a vocal bridge, it has become appropriate. Elders are not being valued for their wisdom, knowledge and experience. This song is an anthem against ageism! I hope it resonates with you. Please click above to listen… and share. Here are the full lyrics…
Snow-capped mountain has a heart
in all that stony scree —
it has a mind beneath the snow
which few will want to see.
For empty eyes will only spot
the snow-cap in the sky.
They can’t perceive the things below,
no matter how they try.
[Refrain]
There’s silver on the summit
and gold in them there hills.
Youthful as a fountain —
still gets high on crazy thrills.
Still living for adventure
and all the joys of Spring;
refuses all self-censure,
drinking all that life will bring…
life will bring… life will bring…
And when the mountain came in view,
their faces tumbled down.
They made a hasty judgment ’cause
they didn’t know the ground.
Primed to see the colours
concordant with their dreams,
they greyed-out all the snowy caps
which didn’t suit their schemes.
[Vocal bridge]
True elders are not valued —
looked down on as debris.
“It’s time to euthanize them all!”
the dark cries out with glee.
They claim to hate all “–isms”,
with sex and race on top.
But when it comes to people’s age
those principles are dropped!
They only listen to the words
of twenty-something teens.
Wisdom doesn’t figure in
the things that they esteem.
[Refrain]
There’s silver on the summit
and gold in them there hills.
Youthful as a fountain —
still gets high on crazy thrills.
Still living for adventure
and all the joys of Spring;
refuses all self-censure,
drinking all that life will bring…
life will bring… life will bring…
They judge a sausage by its skin
and only read a book
by what the cover has to say
and inside never look.
If all that snow was turned to mud,
they’d think that they were blessed.
But just because there’s whiteness there,
they’ll never be impressed
[Refrain]
There’s silver on the summit
and gold in them there hills.
Youthful as a fountain —
still gets high on crazy thrills.
Still living for adventure
and all the joys of Spring;
refuses all self-censure,
drinking all that life will bring…
life will bring… life will bring…
Now normally that snowy white
is seen as something clean.
But when it’s perched on someone’s head
its wisdom is demeaned.
If all bright snow is melted
to abolish every trace,
then all that’s left is wasteland in
a sterile darkened space.
[Refrain]
There’s silver on the summit
and gold in them there hills.
Youthful as a fountain —
still gets high on crazy thrills.
Still living for adventure
and all the joys of Spring;
refuses all self-censure,
drinking all that life will bring…
life will bring… life will bring…
© Alan Morrison, 2020
The Naked Troubadour 