There Is a Mountain

"There Is a Mountain" is a song written and performed by British singer-songwriter Donovan in 1967.[1]

"There Is a Mountain"
Single by Donovan
B-side"Sand and Foam"
ReleasedAugust 1967 (US)
October 1967 (UK)
RecordedJuly 1967, CBS Studios, London
GenrePsychedelic pop
LabelEpic 5-10212 (USA)
Pye 7N17403 (UK)
Songwriter(s)Donovan Leitch
Producer(s)Mickie Most
Donovan (UK) singles chronology
"Mellow Yellow"
(1966)
"There Is a Mountain"
(1967)
"Jennifer Juniper"
(1968)
Donovan (US) singles chronology
"Epistle to Dippy"
(1967)
"There Is a Mountain"
(1967)
"Wear Your Love Like Heaven"
(1967)

Background

The lyrics refer to a Buddhist saying originally formulated by Qingyuan Weixin, later translated by D. T. Suzuki in his Essays in Zen Buddhism, one of the first books to popularize Buddhism in Europe and the US:[2]

Before a man studies Zen, to him mountains are mountains and waters are waters; after he gets an insight into the truth of Zen through the instruction of a good master, mountains to him are not mountains and waters are not waters; but after this when he really attains to the abode of rest, mountains are once more mountains and waters are waters.[3]

Featured musicians are Donovan (vocals and acoustic guitar), Tony Carr on percussion, Harold McNair on flute and arrangement and Danny Thompson on bass. The B-side of the single is "Sand and Foam", an acoustic album cut about a nighttime visit to a Mexican beach Donovan took while on vacation. It was drawn from Mellow Yellow, which was released a few months prior to "There is a Mountain".

Record World described it as "jazzy" and "Latin-styled" with "weird" lyrics.[4]

Chart performance

In the UK, "There Is a Mountain" spent 11 weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 8.[5]

In the US, the song peaked at No. 9 on the Cashbox Top 100.[6] It reached No. 11 on Billboard's Hot 100.[7]

Cover versions

References

  1. Gilliland, John. Show 48 - The British are Coming! The British are Coming!: With an emphasis on Donovan, the Bee Gees and the Who. [Part 5], audio recording, Date Unknown; University of North Texas Libraries.
  2. Lopez, Donald S. Buddhism & Science: A Guide for the Perplexed University of Chicago Press, 2009. 227.
  3. Suzuki, Daisetz Teitaro. Essays in Zen Buddhism (First Series). Rider & Company, 1958. 24.
  4. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Record World. August 5, 1967. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  5. The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles. Enfield : Guinness Superlatives, 1983. 68.
  6. Top 100 Singles, Cashbox. September 23, 1967.
  7. "Billboard Hot 100 - WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23, 1967". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
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