Magic Mountain – English Lyrics

• By: Japanese Breakfast
• Album: For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the rich literary landscape of Japanese Breakfast's "Magic Mountain," a track steeped in introspection that serves as a musical response to Thomas Mann's classic novel. By exploring themes of time, ambition, and personal reflection mirrored in the book's narrative, this song offers a sophisticated entry point into complex ideas, showcasing Zauner's ability to weave profound literary concepts into beautiful, hazy dream pop.

[English]

Once the fever subsides

I'll return to the flatlands

A new man,

a new man

Playin' king,

slowin' time

Bundled for our rest cure with your x-ray in my locket

Planting seeds,

idle hours

Chained to my reflection in the shadow of a mountain

Playin' king,

playin' bride

Bloomin' in my leisure, slipping hours left uncounted

You and me,

and soon ours

Bury me beside you in the shadow of my mountain

Key Grammar Structures

• Once the fever subsides

  ➔ Present simple with 'once' for future condition

  ➔ 'Once' here introduces a future condition, indicating that the action will happen after the fever subsides.

• A new man, a new man

  ➔ Repeated noun for emphasis

  ➔ Repeating 'a new man' emphasizes the transformation or change being described.

• Playin' king, slowin' time

  ➔ Gerund form for continuous action

  ➔ The gerund forms 'playin' king' and 'slowin' time' describe ongoing actions or states.

• Bundled for our rest cure with your x-ray in my locket

  ➔ Past participle in passive voice

  ➔ 'Bundled' is the past participle used in a passive construction, indicating an action done to the subject.

• Chained to my reflection in the shadow of a mountain

  ➔ Prepositional phrase for location

  ➔ The prepositional phrase 'in the shadow of a mountain' describes the location of the reflection.

• You and me, and soon ours

  ➔ Coordination of subjects with 'and'

  ➔ The subjects 'you and me' are coordinated with 'and' to show a relationship, and 'soon ours' adds a future element.

• Bury me beside you in the shadow of my mountain

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose with 'to'

  ➔ The infinitive phrase 'to bury me' expresses the purpose of the action described in the sentence.