Rocky Mountain High

John Denver

He was born in the summer of his 27th year
Coming home to a place he'd never been before
He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again
You might say he found a key for every door

When he first came to the mountains his life was far away
On the road and hanging by a song
But the string's already broken and he doesn't really care
It keeps changing fast and it don't last for long

But the Colorado Rocky Mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby
Rocky Mountain high (Colorado)
Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below
He saw everything as far as you can see
And they say that he got crazy once and he tried to touch the sun
And he lost a friend but kept the memory

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forests and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
Talk to God and listen to the casual reply
Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)
Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

Now his life is full of wonder but his heart still knows some fear
Of a simple thing he cannot comprehend
While they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more
More people, more scars upon the land

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly
Rocky Mountain high

Colorado Rocky Mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
Friends around the campfire and everybody's high
Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)
Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)
Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)
Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)
Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)
Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Rocky Mountain High Lyrics as written by Mike Taylor John Denver

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Rocky Mountain High song meanings
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34 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment
    "I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky" refers to a time when him several of his friends (including his x-wife who is still alive) went up to the Colorado mountains to watch a meteor shower. He said that they were some where around 10,500 ft elevation with the tree line right below them. The x-wife said that it was an amazing meteor shower that you must one day experience from way up in the mountains. I also experienced this life the last 5 years living in California, near mountains. I recently made the biggest mistake of my life taking a job promotion. They moved me to NYC. These people who were born and raised here have no freakin idea what they are missing. And by the way, this is the dirtiest city I have ever encountered. To include trips to Mexico! I have lived all over the country and several countries. You have no idea if you have lived in the city your whole life. Just my 02. cents.
    globe traveleron August 03, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    i'm the 1st thats crazy. this song is a very great song. i love all of john denver's music, he jams about nature and the country, and if you aint seen the country side, then get off the fucking computer and go see it, you need to check out the grand canyon, the shandoah river, the yosemite national park and most of all yelowstone national park. Go cause if you dont you mise well say you aint lived!!!
    njrockstarbanditon May 30, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    yea, its just breathe taking, imagine living there, near a luscious waterfall, where the sun rises over the mountains and makes the trees glisten with gold. where the sky looks like heaven is just above your head, where the river flows making a gentle song for a tender ears, where the lake is as clear as the a mirror leaving a reflection that looks like a whole nother' world. man, one day... i'm gonna live in a place like that... i'm gonna own a few horse, and really live my life.
    njrockstarbanditon June 03, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    always knew this song, & took it at face value... JD was my favorite singer from the age of 9 or 10. BUT, coincidentally.... the song's meaning changed for me in MY 27th year... that was the year I got clean & sober. All of a sudden, this song became an allegory for my experience of getting sober, finding myself, making incredible changes (and changing incredibly), and coming into a mature sobriety (9 years this past spring). The song's imagery is one long metaphor for my journey, which isn't over yet. I know this isn't what JD meant by his lyrics, but it's really special to me that HE wrote this song... I bought "An Evening With..." when I was 10 years old, & still have that same LP... worn out, but I love it.
    charvanaon June 20, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    OMG! Some knuckleheads will take any chance to pontificate their twisted BS, even over a decent man's grave. I don't think an atheist would use the very words in this song, "you can talk to God and listen to the casual reply" if he was truely atheist. Or how about "Thank God I'm a Country boy"? Find another cantidate to hang your foolishness on. You've got the wrong guy with which to associate your atheism, you moran. Sheesh. And, yes it's true, a meteor shower was the inspiration for "I've seen it rainin fire from the sky".
    Yosemiteguyon January 05, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I love this song too... Hell.. I love all of john Denvers songs... This one is awesome because it talks about the beuty and wonder of nature and the mountins. I hope his music lives on forever.
    MysticDragonon May 30, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    trust me brother, it will, he has a way with his songs that aint no joke. john denver, may he rest in peice, is peace speaker, and we need more of them
    njrockstarbanditon May 31, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I love this song, friends around the campfire and everyone is high!!!! reminds me of every time I go camping with my friends, just sitting there smoking and bullshitting about life and everything
    pgtallon May 04, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    This song brings back memories of going to yellowstone and yosemite when I was little...it is one of the best songs I've ever heard and it holds so many memories for me. I know that I will do what my parents did and listen to John Denver while we go camping and show them the beauty of his music and mother nature. I might only be a senior in high school but this song has inspired me since I couldn't talk.
    Geehwon February 17, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    The whole first stanza is about his becoming a "born again" Christian in "the summer of his 27th year." He is singing about quietly waling in the mountains, "Seeking grace in every step he takes," and talking with God (listening to his casual reply). He does take great pleasure in the outdoors, but lets not put the cart before the horse.
    eeeeeeekon June 13, 2012   Link

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