Watching the sun come up over Mount Washington
Forever testing your intention
Watching the sun going down over some distant town
And why you sing you never could say

Hate causes any question
To do it to before it's done unto you
Hate causes any question
Your love out of frame
And nobody can keep you
From the one you know you are
Nobody to steer the way you sway
The way you walk
May there never be a time
That you don't live through
May there never be a time
That you don't walk through

Be a star
Be an altar
And I will hang it on you

Watching the sun come up over St. Jude Street
Forever testing your invention
Watching the sun going down over Mount Zion
And once awake you never sleep on

Hate causes every question
To do unto as you'd have done by you
It ain't 'cause you ever question
Your love out of view
And nobody can keep you
From the ones you know you love
Nobody to steer the way you sway
The way you walk
May there never be a time
That you don't live through
May there never be a time
That you don't walk through

Be a star
Be an altar
And I will hang it on you

You are, you are
Belonging to the unknown
You are, you are
Belonging into the unknown
May there never be a time
That I don't love you
May there never be a time
That you don't pull through

[Repeat: x2]
Be a star
Be an altar
And I will hang it on you


Lyrics submitted by AgathaKavka

Mount Washington Lyrics as written by Beth Orton

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Mount Washington song meanings
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    My Interpretation

    To me, this song is about ambition and achievement in life -- the lyrics seem to speak of a young person, who is determined to succeed.

    His or her goal is to " [...] be a star, be an altar [...] "

    The journey is full of challenges: " [...] forever testing your intention [...] forever testing your invention [...] "

    But the person is determined: " [...] nobody can keep you from the one you know you are [...] "

    Eventually, at the end of the song, the music (sort of) disintegrates -- we hear a lot of noise and strange sounds, interspersed by the repeated phrase "Be a star, be an altar". Perhaps a sign of an all-consuming obsession? Or a sign of success -- the person becomes successful, but pays a high personal price: stars shine brightly, but are made of featureless plasma -- just like the music at the end of 'Mount Washington'.

    willpuntingon March 13, 2012   Link

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