Mother don't worry, I killed the last snake that lived in the creek bed
Mother don't worry, she's got some money saved for the weekend
Mother remember being so stern with that girl who was with me?
Mother remember the blink of an eye when I breathed through your body?

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten
Sons are like birds, flying upward over the mountain

Mother I made it up from the bruise on the floor of this prison
Mother I lost it, all of the fear of the Lord I was given
Mother forget me now that the creek drank the cradle you sang to
Mother forgive me, I sold your car for the shoes that I gave you

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten
Sons could be birds, taken broken up to the mountain

Mother don't worry, I've got a coat and some friends on the corner
Mother don't worry, she's got a garden we're planting together
Mother remember the night that the dog had her pups in the pantry?
Blood on the floor, fleas on their paws,
And you cried 'til the morning

So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten
Sons are like birds, flying always over the mountain


Lyrics submitted by Unrumble25, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Upward Over the Mountain (Iron & Wine cover) song meanings
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30 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Jesse's covers should always go up. He tends to change little things here and there, but even a little change can have a lot of meaning. And that's what this site is about.

    Arteron May 08, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    OH MY GOD!

    One of my favorite bands covering another one of my favorite bands. My head may asplode.

    amplifiedmouseon July 20, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Mother don't worry, I killed the last snake that lived in the creek bed Mother don't worry, she's got some money saved for the weekend Mother remember being so stern with that girl who was with me? Mother remember the blink of an eye when I breathed through your body?

    So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten Sons can be birds, flying always over the mountain

    Mother I made it up from the bruise on the floor of this prison Mother I lost it, all of the fear of the Lord I was given Mother forgive me now that the creek drank the cradle you sang to Mother forgive me, I sold your car for the shoes that I gave you

    So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten Sons can be birds, taken broken up to the mountain

    Mother don't worry, I've got a coat and some friends on the corner Mother don't worry, she's got a garden we're planting together Mother forgive me now that the creek drank the cradle you sang to Mother remember the night that the dog had her pups in the pantry? Blood on the walls, and fleas on their paws, And you cried 'til the morning

    So may the sunrise bring hope where it once was forgotten Sons are like birds, flying always over the mountain

    -- a couple of minor changes, jesse says "walls" not "floor". there's another 'cradle you sang to' line in the last verse. and he clearly says "forgive me" every time it should be "forget me" (i like it better like that anyway...) a few other things...

    Indagateon February 05, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    oh wow. this song is so beautiful. nothing tops jesse's la da da's paired with a soft melody by acoustic guitar.

    perhaps in the title someone should add "(iron & wine cover)" ?

    straitjacketfunon February 07, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Just so you guys know, Jesse covered this song as the soundcheck to that show.

    Fighting over which version is better is stupid. That's not what this site is for.

    I love Iron and Wine (I probably never would've heard of it had it not been for this cover.) I listen to Iron and Wine when I can't sleep. I tend to prefer Jesse's version to the Iron & Wine version, though. Depends on my mood.

    I would LOVE to hear I&W cover brand new. That would be spectacular.

    Arteron April 05, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love all of the hate in this . . . thread, I guess. I love how we have a group of elitist assholes come in and complain that a song by a band they like was covered by a band they don't like. I also love childish rebuttals some of the Brand New fans have posted. Why does everybody have to flame each other on the internet? Jeez.

    RedHandedMoonon November 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is an Iron and Wine song, NOT Brand New. I don't care if he covered it, this shouldn't be up here.

    regginon May 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    So car or am I wrong shouldn't be up either then?

    Unrumble25on May 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with Arter. I love Jesse's covers, and he does change little things now and again.

    Remmyon May 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song might be about some guy who's mother needed him to take care of her but he ended up moving away in the end. Almost reminds me of Mother by Pink Floyd.

    Arteron May 18, 2007   Link

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