Artist & Tune
Version by Izquierda
Version by Naomi Littlebear Morena
Version by Columbus Women's Chorus
Version by Deep Throat Choir
Reference
About the Song
The first video below uses the original 1979 Izquierda recording from their 1979 "Quiet Thunder" album. Izquierda was a feminist ensemble that Naomi Littlebear was the lead singer for. The 2nd recording is a video created in 2017 by Littlebear.
The song's composer, Naomi Morena, wrote a messge to Mudcat Cafe in 2012:
"I wrote this song when I was in the group Izquierda Ensemble. We were active in the women's music scene in the '70s and the song was performed at various university gigs but most heard at the Michigan Womyn's Music festival and the Champaign-Urban Women's music festival.
In the early '80's I learned that the song was one of many adopted by the women's international peace movement, mostly notabley sung at the Greenham Common Women's Peace camp. In 1984 I went to the UK and was fortunate to meet some women to record the song on the 'We Have a Dream"\' LP. I am humbled by the stories I have heard regarding the singing of my song at the various protests, peace and healing gatherings through out the world. It (the chorus) has been used by many singers, writers etc and unfortunately many people believe the song is anonymous. I would love to hear more stories of how and when my song has been sung. I am an older mom of a soon to be 8 year old boy and would love to someday share these stories with my son."
- Naomi Morena jlstager@aol.com
About the 2016 video (the first one below):
Like a Mountain has inspired acts of courage and resistance for over 40 years. Avalanche survivors of Mt. Rainier sang it to keep themselves alive through a freezing night in 1978.
Thirty-thousand women held hands surrounding the Greenham Commons Nuclear Cruise Missile site while singing Like a Mountain. The song sustained that protest for 20 years. (U.K. 1980-2000) The time has come for us to gather our spirit and sing it again. An elder and stalwart group of diverse feminists created the first video below in 6 weeks in 2016 soon after the election of Donald Trump, so it could nurture us during times of struggle. Lead vocals are by Marilyn T. Keller. The video was produced by Beverly Standish.The song is sung by choirs all over the world. Learn the song, sing the song and post video here and we may use it in a future video. Stay strong, our journey has just begun. Like a Mountain, written by Naomi Littlebear, copyright 1977Originally recorded on Quiet Thunder, 33 1/3 lp album by The Izquierda Ensemble, 1979
Music published in Hermanas Songbook, by Naomi Littlebear, 1977Choral arrangement (audio & pdf of SATB score) by Joan Szymko: https://joanszymko.com/works/ind/mountain
Translation(s)
Alt Lyrics
The 2016 video includes a new intro:
Pick your feet up everyone
Today your journey has begun
Pick your feet up everyone
Today that journey has begun
different lyrics for the 2nd verse than the original ones:
Nobody can stop a woman from feelin'
That she has to rise up like the sun
Somebody may stop my song from being sung
But the truth will live on & on
and a new "tag":
Though the path is long, stay strong
We will carry on!
We will carry on & on & on
Lift our voice as one, sing on
We will carry on