Monday Music: Seven Story Mountain

Thomas Merton wrote an early autobiography titled, The Seven Story Mountain. The title refers to Mount Purgatory in Dante's Divine Comedy. I don't know if Railroad Earth's song, "Seven Story Mountain," was inspired by Dante or Thomas Merton, but it is nevertheless a rich presentation, both lyrically and musically. I like to imagine it a Dante-inspired bluegrass number.

Railroad Earth, a "new grass"/Americana/roots music group was a happy discovery for me. They took their name from the title of a short story by Jack Kerouac, "October in the Railroad Earth."

Seven Story Mountain

Oh lord, to see a light, but fail in strength to follow,
Sometimes it's hard to let it go.

Oh lord, to fail in heart, and each day grow more hollow,
Sometimes I just don't wanna know.

But the road that led me here, it's begun to disappear.
Sometimes I wonder where I am.

Oh lord, to hear a voice, but let it fade and wallow,
Sometimes it's hard to let it to.

Oh lord, to find the words, but keep them in and swallow,
One day the top is gonna blow.

But the road that left me here, it's begun to disappear.
Sometimes I wonder who I am.

Oh lord, to stumble blind, for years without knowing,
Sunrise has burned my eyes again.

Oh lord, to crumble quiet, watching from the silence
Sunrise has burned my eyes again.

It's a seven-story mountain. It's a long, long life we live.
Got to find a light and fill my heart again.

It's a seven-story mountain. It's a long, long life ahead.
Got to find a voice and fill my throat again



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