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

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.