Mother Nature has provided us with several awe-inspiring creations, but nothing is more breathtaking than seeing mountains. Mountains are a popular theme in music because of their beauty and vastness, captivating us. Below you’ll find our list of the 31 best songs about mountains that you need to listen to!
1. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
First on our list is the classic 1967 song Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. This song is about strength/determination and being able to overcome obstacles in life. It’s a song about prejudice during a time when the schools were integrating blacks and whites.
The song was a huge hit making it to number three on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was featured in movies such as Stepmom and Guardians of the Galaxy.
2. Rocky Mountain High – John Denver
If country is your thing, then you probably know John Denver, and his 1972 hit Rocky Mountain High. This rock and folk song is about being in the Rocky Mountains, having friends, and some weed with him during his trip. It relates the mountains to weed in the sense it gives you a rush and is a natural type of high you can experience.
Rocky Mountain High reached number three on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and nine on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was in Final Destination and is still a beloved song today.
3. Sugar Mountain – Neil Young
Neil Young is a beloved folk rock singer who released Sugar Mountain in 1977 on his album Decade. This song is about a transition in life and is sort of a coming-of-age song that he wrote when he was 19. It’s a reflective song about changes, life, and leaving one band to find his true path in life.
4. Take me home, Country Roads – John Denver
We have to bring up the second John Denver song related to Mountains called Country Roads, a beloved and timeless song released in 1971 about West Virginia and its beauty. This song was an instant hit making it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, number three on the Adult Contemporary chart, and reached 50 on the Hot Country Singles chart. You can hear this song all over the place, including in Dark Waters and Logan Lucky.
5. High On A Mountain Top – Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is a country singer we don’t need to tell you much about; in 2004, she released High On A Mountain Top from her album Van Lear Rose. This song is all about being in the country and how your life is so much better when you’re in the mountains because it’s simple, raw, and real.
6. Mountain Music – Alabama
The 1982 song Mountain Music by Alabama goes into how those in the south often listen to mountain music and in the song, it’s reliving those memories. It’s an upbeat anthem-like song that people in the south love to this day, and it’s beautiful. This song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
7. My Tennessee Mountain Home – Dolly Parton
Next up is Dolly Parton, a beloved country music icon, and her song My Tennessee Mountain Home from 1972 is all about her upbringing in the mountains and her humble start in life. In this song, she reflects on her upbringing, past, and the beauty surrounding her as she grew up near the Smoky Mountains. The song reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and is a classic, timeless piece.
8. Rocky Mountain Way – Joe Walsh
In 1973 Joe Walsh released Rocky Mountain Way, a song he wrote while living in Colorado. This song made him a household name as a solo artist and was one of the biggest songs he ever recorded.
The Colorado Rockies use this song every time they win, and Godsmack covered this song which is what the Denver Broncos play during home games. Walsh was also asked to redo the song for Broncos quarterback John Elway dubbed Rocky Mountain Elway in 1998, so he did, and Walsh appeared in the video during Monday Night Football.
9. Rocky Top – The Osborne Brothers
Next on our list is the 1968 classic Rocky Top by the Osborne Brothers, a fight song that energizes you and prepares you to run or beat up everyone around you. The song is a tribute to Rocky Top and those living within this Tennessee town.
10. Half Moon Rising – Yonder Mountain String Band
In 1999 Yonder Mountain String Band released Half Moon Rising on their album Elevation. This is a song about the mountains in Colorado, a modern bluegrass song mentioning the Great Divide.
11. You Gave Me A Mountain – Elvis Presley
The next artist on our list, we all know, is Elvis Presley, and in 1973 he released You Gave Me A Mountain, a cover of the Marty Robbins song from 1968. This song is perfect for the soulful and emotional voice Elvis had, and it’s all about struggles in life being compared to climbing a mountain. This song remains one of the best songs from Elvis because of his raw vocal talents that make this song even more beautiful.
12. Fire On The Mountain – Grateful Dead
Calling all Deadheads, we’re going to talk about Fire On The Mountain, which was the 1975 hit on the album Shakedown Street by the Grateful Dead. This song is about being in California and finding gold, but it leads to loss and a bunch of trouble instead of fame and money.
This song is a little rock and country in one, but the steel guitar and fiddle make it feel very southern. If you’re into video gaming, you can download this song and play it on Rock Band.
13. Mountains – LSD
You may not know this next artist: LSD. In 2019 the song Mountains was released that says not all mountains have the same challenge when you’re trying to climb them. The song has a love element, and it talks about how both people would be willing to move mountains for one another. It’s a great song that uses the mountains to illustrate how in love these two people are.
14. Moving Mountains – Usher
R&B singer Usher released Moving Mountains in 2008 on his Here I Stand album. This song didn’t have much commercial success and only made it to 67 on the Billboard Hot 100, 56 on the Billboard Pop 100 chart, and 30 on the Billboard Rhythmic chart. However, it did peak at number 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. It’s a song about a guy who cheats on his wife and tries to make it right but can’t, so it’s like trying to move a mountain.
15. Thunder On The Mountain – Bob Dylan
Folk singer Bob Dylan released Thunder On The Mountain in 2006 on his album Modern Times, a song about religion, love, and the beauty of mountains. It’s an upbeat song that was never released as a single. He got some media buzz for the song because he mentioned Alicia Keys more than once in the song.
16. Smoky Mountain Rain – Ronnie Milsap
Next on our list is Ronnie Milsap and his 1980 song Smokey Mountain Rain from his album The Duets. This song is about returning home and finding the woman he loves. The song reached 27 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and was the biggest country song for a week straight.
17. The Climb – Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus has made a lot of great songs over the years, but the 2009 song The Climb from Hannah Montana: The Movie was really special. This was her first song to reach number one, and the RIAA certified it 6x Multi-Platinum!
It’s a song talking about the struggles in our lives we face and compares that to climbing a mountain. Sometimes it’s hard to think we will rise above, but we always find a way, so it’s an upbeat and positive song.
18. Misty Mountain Hop – Led Zeppelin
Rock band Led Zeppelin released Misty Mountain Hop in 1971 on their album Led Zeppelin IV. This song was about the Hyde Park protests of 1968 and the authorities vs. the rebellious people. There is a reference to The Lord of the Rings, which is one of the most well-known novels by J.R.R Tolkien.
You can hear the lyrics mention that you’ll find peace when you’re on or near the mountains, and it’s a great song to rock out to.
19. Mountain At My Gates – Foals
![FOALS - Mountain At My Gates [Official Music Video] (GoPro Spherical)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l_EIE5f2t6M/0.jpg)
Next up is Foals with the song Mountain At My Gates, which came out in 2015. This song is about living life to the fullest and can also be taken to mean recovery from addiction. It’s up to you what you make of the meaning, but it’s beautiful and makes you feel determined, as if you were climbing a mountain and reaching the top.
It was a huge hit when it was released, making it number one on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, hitting nine on the Adult Alternative Songs chart, four on the Rock Airplay chart, and 17 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
20. The Big Rock Candy Mountains – Harry McClintock
A song you may not know because it’s old is The Big Rock Candy Mountains which Harry McClintock released. The song became popular again when it was used in the hit movie O Brother, Where Art Thou. It’s about what a hobo would think heaven is like, and it’s a little weird and whimsical but fun.
21. Wild Mountain Honey – Steve Miller Band
The next band is one you’ve heard of, and Wild Mountain Honey was one of those popular tracks that the Steve Miller Band is known for even today. Released in 1976 on the Fly Like An Eagle album, this song is about how you should be a family person and focus on your family instead of going out trying to be rich and famous.
22. Mountain Sound – Of Monsters And Men
Of Monsters and Men released Mountain Sound in 2012 off of the album My Head Is An Animal, and it’s a great catchy song with many harmonies you’ll find entertaining. Of Monsters and Men is an Icelandic pop and indie folk group, so this song is one that’s very different from what you’re used to.
It reached number two on the Billboard Rock Airplay chart, three on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, and 14 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
23. Mountains – Biffy Clyro
You might have heard of Biffy Clyro before, and the rock song Mountains is one of their biggest hits. This song is all about moving on after the frontman lost his mother and is grieving her loss. While not a huge success, it’s a great song that looks at life after loss.
24. Misty Mountains – The Dwarf cast & Richard armitage
The Hobbit movie featured a song called Misty Mountains Cold, known as the dwarf song. This song is just about mountains in the middle of the Earth, where many of J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories take place. Fog and mists inhabit the mountains, and it’s a little weird and mysterious.
25. Mountain Top – Built To Spill
In 2020 Built To Spill covered the song Mountain Top which Daniel Johnston wrote beforehand. This song discusses being on top of a mountain and contemplating your life. The band released this song as a tribute to Daniel Johnston. It’s a beautiful tribute and video and a little rock but still subtle and soft.
26. Small Mountain – Midlake
Next up on our list is Midlake, a rock and folk band that released the song Small Mountain on their 2010 album The Courage Of Others. You can hear a lot of mountain references in the song, which goes into how struggles have been making it hard to have a hopeful and meaningful life.
27. The Mountains Win Again – Blues Traveler
We don’t need to say too much about Blues Traveler as they are a great band with multiple hits, including The Mountains Win Again, on their 1994 album Four. The song compares a troubled relationship with having to climb a mountain. In Blues Traveler style, you get the harmonica from John Popper, and this is one of the best and catchiest songs from the band.
28. Ask The Mountains – Vangelis
From the 1995 album Voices, Vangelis released Ask The Mountains, which is about how we need to look to nature to find the answers because nature is trying to tell us something if we just listen. Mountains can offer us many lessons in life; if you’re open to it, then you’ll see and hear those lessons. A beautiful song that might make you look at nature a little differently from now on.
29. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song – Fleet Foxes
Up next is Fleet Foxes with the hit Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, a song about murder up near Tiger Mountain. The band is from the area around Tiger Mountain, which is in Washington state. In the song, a search group looks for someone murdered and dumped around the mountains. It’s a song that will leave you with many different emotions and feelings about the next mountain range you see.
30. Go Rest High On That Mountain – Vince Gill
The country singer Vince Gill had a smash hit with Go Rest High On That Mountain, released in 1995. It’s more of a religious song after the sudden death of fellow country star Keith Whitley. Gill started writing the song after his death but didn’t complete it for several more years when his brother died, and it moved him to complete the song as a tribute.
This song has been used by Gill and others as a tribute to those that have died. When it was released, it reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and has become an iconic song he performed hundreds of times.
31. Rocky Mountain Rangers – Colter Wall
In 2020 Colter Wall released Rocky Mountain Rangers, a modern take on the cowboys from back in the day. The song features old west notes and a huge voice with the acoustic guitar creating grit. It’s one of the more upbeat modern songs about mountains and the old west.
From the time she was little, Florence loved listening to music and quickly learned how music can make you happy and feel fulfilled. One of her favorite memories is being in the garage with her dad working on classic cars with the local rock station blaring in the background. Ever since Florence was 3, she loved grunge music and spent hours listening to bands such as Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Soul Asylum, and Soundgarden.
She also enjoys classic rock, modern rock, nu metal, alternative rock, and old 90’s R&B. Her love of music grew as she got older, and used music to help her get through tough times in her life. More often than not, you’ll see Florence with earbuds in while she’s writing, cooking, cleaning, and doing other tasks. She also loves to debate music with her friends such as which lead singer is the best vocalist, the most iconic guitar solos in music, and what songs are really the best of the decade.
Thanks for such a complete list, especially for students learning about mountains.