Mountain - Pride and Passion (1971)

Formed in 1969 around Leslie West, this group is another good example of a band that influenced the heavy metal genre popular in the 1970s. Influenced themselves by Cream, they named themselves after a solo album put out by West, Mountain, which in turn was named after West’s enormous size. It’s a common misconception that the Mountain album was put out by this group. It was actually a solo release by West which featured future Mountain members Felix Pappalardi and N.D. Smart. The group performed at Woodstock, is primarily remembered for “Mississippi Queen,” and broke up in 1972, only to get back together (with varying members) countless times since 1973.

This song comes from the group’s third album, Flowers of Evil, released in 1971. As the fifth track on the album, it’s the last track featured to be recorded in the studio. The second side of the album, comprised of the sixth and seventh tracks, was recorded live at the Filmore East in New York, June 27th, 1971. By the time of this album, drummer N.D. Smart had been replaced by Corky Laing.

You’ll have to give this one well over a minute before it really gets started.



Mountain - Pride and Passion (1971)

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Lyrics:

One man's life passed all in needing
Words out loud that want repeating
Fathers passed to sons their craving
Woman's loved, their children saving
Kings who walk in banners waving still

I have no heart for listening to the men who talk of peace
They're putting all their nonsense in my way
Won't you please, my love, please rest your tired little hands?
We've been talking half the night and there's so much more to say

Mothers asking for just one more time before their babies come
And whistlin’ in the smells of dusty tea
Someplace there's bed of timeless loving turned to stone
But the sun is shinin’ yellow and it's turned to shine on me

Sons are breathing discontent in the circling vapor light
And frozen little soldiers guard their homeland through the night
And a million nameless candles flicker out this one last time
And the heartbeat in that aching crowd
No, it will not beat with mine

The answers were all given to the faces now in tears
And Heaven led us all into the war
The children who once laughed have disappeared behind the Sun
It's the season for re-living, but they're living here no more

Sons are breathing discontent in the circling vapor light
And frozen little soldiers guard their homeland through the night
So, a million nameless candles flicker out this one last time
And the heartbeat in that aching crowd
No, it will not beat with mine

Hearts all filled of pride and passion
Sacrificed in blood of nations
Stand, we here, in humbled pleading
Save the souls who in retreating pray for peace
And ease their needing now