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by Spixxy on September 5th, 2004

Spixxy

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What is the song "Fire on the Mountain" by the Grateful Dead about?

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Answers. 4 helpful answers below.

  • by Anonymous on April 8th, 2007

    Anonymous

    There is a place called Olompolli State Park right next to my house in Marin County, California. The Grateful Dead used to own this property (which is the biggest mountain in the city) and throw parties in it until the house burned down in 1969. This might be what the song is about.

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  • by   on January 19th, 2007

     

    Here are multiple theories about the song's meaning:

    "I think this song is about trying too hard for something, anything.
    You gave all you had why you want to give more,
    the more that you give the more it will take.
    It's almost like saying if you don't slow down your gonna go insane, you can never give enough.
    My friend says it's about ambition."

    _____

    "These lyrics are written at Robert Hunter's ranch somewhere (in California) when there were huge forest fires all around them in the hills.

    My idea is that it's referring to the story of Phidippides who ran the huge distance from Marathon to Athens to warn his people of the Persion invaders who were landing.

    It's the same idea of urgency, of a city about to be distroyed, and the responsibility all comes down to one person who has a chance...."

    _____

    "The lyrics are about the red hairs on buds. At the top of a bud there are rer hairs and it looks like a mountain with fire on it."

    _____

    "It’s about Neal Cassidy - The Holy Goof.

    Long distance runner, what you standin' there for?

    - Pretty good description of Neal as Dean Moriarty/Speed Limit.

    Get up, get out, get out of the door
    Your playin' cold music on the barroom floor

    - NC’s way of rapping.

    Drowned in your laughter and dead to the core.

    - ‘dead to the core’= highest compliment.

    There's a dragon with matches that's loose on the town
    Takes a whole pail of water just to cool him down.

    - As Kesey’s Pranksters working the audience.

    Fire! Fire on the mountain!
    Almost ablaze still you don't feel the heat
    It takes all you got just to stay on the beat.
    You say it's a livin', we all gotta eat

    - Always mooching, and feeling guilty for it.

    But you're here alone, there's no one to compete.

    - Cassidy was a true original.

    If Mercy's a bus'ness, I wish it for you
    More than just ashes when your dreams come true.

    - NC creates by opening up the doors to new perceptions.

    Fire! Fire on the mountain!
    Long distance runner, what you holdin' out for?
    Caught in slow motion in a dash for the door.
    The flame from your stage has now spread to the floor
    You gave all you had. Why you wanna give more?
    The more that you give, the more it will take
    To the thin line beyond which you really can't fake.

    - NC was the real deal, as far as far-out goes.

    Fire! Fire on the mountain!"

    http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=48195

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  • by coyote252 on June 4th, 2010

    coyote252

    a fire on a mountain

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  • by bryogi on June 4th, 2010

    bryogi

    I think this song captures the essence of the true meaning of what the story of the Grateful Dead is about. It is Anubis addressing Osiris just after the moment of death- Osiris is the long distance runner: Orion in the night sky. Upon reaching the gates of the after life Anubis speaks to him in riddles- what you standing there for? Do you know you have died? Are you worthy of passing into the afterlife? Caught in slow motion in a fall to the floor- will you actually die or be sent back with more work to do? You play cold music- the geometry of the astrological alignments at the moment of death. On the barroom floor- the dust of the Earth. The dragon with matches is the kundalini fire that shoots the soul out of the top of the pineal gland through the secretion of DMT at the moment of death. Take a whole pail of water- the river of life; the milky way just to cool him down and bring him home- turn off your mind, relax and float downstream. Fire on the Mountain is the I'Ching symbol for the wanderer- the soul who is journeying through the Duat trying to find his way. Almost ablaze is the moment of judgement- the weighing of the heart against the ostrich feather of Ma'at on the scales of Anubis. Being purified through the cauldron of spirItual truth. When the heart of gold reaches the optimum temperature it flashes like a million suns and transforms into white powder gold, yet there is no explosion and one does not feel the heat. It takes all you got just to stay on the beat-stay true, stay strong through your testing and initiation. You now stand on the plain of Mfkzt. You say it's a living, we all gotta eat- justifying ones life and works on Earth. But you're here alone, there's noone to compete- you stand alone in your own judgement of yourself. If mercy's in business, I wish it for you- Anubis telling him he hopes his heart is light enough through living a righteous life to pass the test. But it's more than just ashes when your dreams come true- the gift of eternal life is achieved and he has escaped the clutches of his mortal body. Long distance runner what you standing there for? You passed, get up get out, get out of the door! The flame from your stage has spread to the core- the spark of life now burns bright in your heart and you become your own star. You gave all you had, why you wanna give more- Your earth work is complete, time to move on in your souls' evolution. The more that you give, the more it will take- such is life on earth. To that thin line beyond which you really can't fake- the moment of death has passed, your soul is judged and deemed worthy by your higher self and you have achieved eternal bliss in the afterlife- now the doors of the sky are thrown open for Horus...

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