You Gave Me a Mountain
Encyclopedia
"You Gave Me a Mountain" (sometimes credited as "Lord, You Gave Me a Mountain") is a song written by country
singer-songwriter Marty Robbins
during the 1960s. It has been recorded by many artists, including Robbins himself, but the highest-charting version of the song was by Frankie Laine
in 1969. This version was included on Laine's album of the same name.
The lyrics to the song detail a series of challenges that the singer has endured in his life, including the death of his mother while giving birth to him, a time spent in prison "for something that I never done" and the singer's wife taking their child and leaving. He describes these setbacks as hills that he has scaled in the past, but then states that "this time, Lord, you gave me a mountain / A mountain you know I may never climb". The original third line of Robbins' song mentioned that he was "despised and ignored by my father", but Laine requested that this line be changed to "deprived of the love of my father" when he recorded his version, since Laine's father had died shortly before the recording took place.
in early 1969, Laine's version of the song was a hit single for the 55 year old singer on U.S. singles charts. It peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in March of that year, remaining in the Top 40 for seven weeks. That same month, the song spent two weeks atop the Billboard Easy Listening
chart.
also recorded a version of this song in 1969, and his version reached #7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
chart that year. Also recording this song was Elvis Presley
, who performed the song at his 1973 Honolulu concert Aloha from Hawaii
and the subsequent live album Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite
. Presley's version was included in many of his other releases throughout the 1970s.
Other artists who have recorded versions of "You Gave Me a Mountain" or performed it live include Elvis Presley
, Don McLean
, Eddy Arnold
, Ray Price
, Margie Singleton
, Gene Watson
, Jim Nabors
and Christer Sjögren
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer-songwriter Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
during the 1960s. It has been recorded by many artists, including Robbins himself, but the highest-charting version of the song was by Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
in 1969. This version was included on Laine's album of the same name.
History
In Laine's autobiography That Lucky Old Son, he stated that "Marty Robbins once told me that he'd been trying to bring 'You Gave Me a Mountain' to my attention for several years before he finally succeeded in November 1968. I wish he'd been quicker about it. There were many times in the mid-60s when I longed for a song of its quality."The lyrics to the song detail a series of challenges that the singer has endured in his life, including the death of his mother while giving birth to him, a time spent in prison "for something that I never done" and the singer's wife taking their child and leaving. He describes these setbacks as hills that he has scaled in the past, but then states that "this time, Lord, you gave me a mountain / A mountain you know I may never climb". The original third line of Robbins' song mentioned that he was "despised and ignored by my father", but Laine requested that this line be changed to "deprived of the love of my father" when he recorded his version, since Laine's father had died shortly before the recording took place.
Reception
Released as a singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in early 1969, Laine's version of the song was a hit single for the 55 year old singer on U.S. singles charts. It peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in March of that year, remaining in the Top 40 for seven weeks. That same month, the song spent two weeks atop the Billboard Easy Listening
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart.
Frankie Laine version
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 24 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 1 |
Other versions
Robbins recorded a version of his song, and although it wasn't released as a single, it is included on his 1969 album It's a Sin as well as some of his "greatest hits" compilation albums. Country music singer Johnny BushJohnny Bush
Johnny Bush, born February 17, 1935 as John Bush Shinn III in Houston, Texas, is a country music singer, songwriter, and drummer. Bush, nicknamed the "Country Caruso," is best-known for his distinctive voice and as the writer of "Whiskey River," a top-ten hit for himself and Willie Nelson's...
also recorded a version of this song in 1969, and his version reached #7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart that year. Also recording this song was Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, who performed the song at his 1973 Honolulu concert Aloha from Hawaii
Aloha from Hawaii
Aloha from Hawaii is a music concert that was headlined by Elvis Presley, and was broadcast live via satellite on January 14, 1973. It is the most watched broadcast by an individual entertainer in television history, viewed by an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide. The concert took place at the...
and the subsequent live album Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite
Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite
Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite is a live concert album by Elvis Presley, released by RCA Records in February 1973 and peaked on the Billboard chart in the Spring of 1973. Despite the satellite innovation, the United States did not air the concert until April 4, 1973. Aloha from Hawaii went to...
. Presley's version was included in many of his other releases throughout the 1970s.
Other artists who have recorded versions of "You Gave Me a Mountain" or performed it live include Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Don McLean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
, Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold
Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
, Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
, Margie Singleton
Margie Singleton
Margaret Louis Ebey , known professionally as Margie Singleton, is an American country music singer and songwriter. In the 1960s, she was a popular duet and solo recording artist, working with country stars George Jones and Faron Young. Singleton had her biggest hit with Young called "Keeping Up...
, Gene Watson
Gene Watson
Gary Gene Watson is an American country singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon," his 1982 hit "Fourteen Carat Mind," and his signature song "Farewell Party." Watson's long career has notched six number ones, 23 top tens and over 75 charted singles.-Biography:Watson...
, Jim Nabors
Jim Nabors
James Thurston "Jim" Nabors is an American actor and singer. Born and raised in Sylacauga, Alabama, Nabors moved to Southern California because of his asthma. While working at a Santa Monica nightclub, The Horn, he was discovered by Andy Griffith and later joined The Andy Griffith Show, playing...
and Christer Sjögren
Christer Sjögren
Christer Sjögren, born April 6, 1950 in Hagfors, Sweden, is a Swedish dansband and rock singer. Most people know him as the singer in the Swedish dansband Vikingarna.By mid 1978 he became a member of Vikingarna, earlier he sang in the band Pelles Orkester....
.
External links
- [ Track listing for Laine's album You Gave Me a Mountain] AllMusic.com
- Laine's 7" release "You Gave Me a Mountain" b/w "To Each His Own"
- "You Gave Me a Mountain" lyrics