Man on the Silver Mountain – English Lyrics

• By: Rainbow
• Album: Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the electrifying world of classic rock with Rainbow's "Man on the Silver Mountain." This iconic track is a fantastic entry point for understanding rock music with mystical and symbolic lyrics, allowing you to explore vocabulary related to fantasy and spirituality. Ronnie James Dio's commanding vocal delivery and Ritchie Blackmore's distinctive guitar work make this song a powerful and engaging listening experience, perfect for connecting with the dramatic storytelling often found in the genre.

[English]

I'm a wheel, I'm a wheel I can roll I can feel

And you can't stop me turnin'

'Cause I'm the sun, I'm the sun I can move I can run

But you'll never stop me burnin'

Come down with fire

Lift my spirit higher

Someone's screaming my name

Come and make me holy again

I'm the man on the silver mountain

I'm the man on the silver mountain

I'm the day, I'm the day I can show you the way

And look I'm right beside you

I'm the night, I'm the night I'm the dark and the light

With eyes that see inside you

Come down with fire

Lift my spirit higher

Someone's screamin' my name

Come and make me holy again

I'm the man on the silver mountain

I'm the man on the silver mountain

...

Come down with fire

And lift my spirit higher

Someone's screaming my name

Come and make me holy again

I'm the man on the silver mountain

I'm the man on the silver mountain

Well I can help you, you know I can

I'm the man on the silver mountain

I'm the man on the silver mountain

Just look at me and listen

I'm the man, the man give you my hand

I'm the man on the silver mountain

Coming down with fire

I'll lift your spirit higher

I'm the man on the mountain

The man on the silver mountain

I'm the night, the light the black and the white

The man on the silver mountain

I'm the man on the silver mountain

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wheel /wiːl/ A1	noun - a circular object that revolves on an axle and is fixed below a vehicle or other object to enable it to move easily over the ground.
roll /roʊl/ A2	verb - move or cause to move in a particular direction by turning over and over.
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - be aware of (something) through touching.
stop /stɒp/ A1	verb - bring or come to an abrupt end.
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth
move /muːv/ A1	verb - go in a specified direction or manner.
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move at a speed faster than a walk
burn /bɜːrn/ A2	verb - be damaged or destroyed by fire.
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke.
lift /lɪft/ A2	verb - raise to a higher position or level.
spirit /ˈspɪrɪt/ B1	noun - the nonphysical part of a person regarded as their true self and as capable of surviving physical death or separation.
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to.
holy /ˈhoʊli/ B2	adjective - dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred.
mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ A1	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level; a large steep hill.
silver /ˈsɪlvər/ A1	noun - a lustrous greyish-white metal. adjective - of a colour like silver; greyish-white.
dark /dɑːrk/ A2	adjective - with little or no light.
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible. adjective - having plenty of light; not dark.
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs of vision in the human and animal body.
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb.

Key Grammar Structures

• And you can't stop me turnin'.

  ➔ Gerund after Preposition ('stop me turnin')

  ➔ While 'stop' commonly uses an infinitive (to turn), using the gerund ('turnin'') after 'stop' is grammatically correct and highlights the continuous aspect of the action being stopped. The apostrophe is short for 'turning'

• I'm the sun, I'm the sun I can move I can run

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (repeated actions/characteristics)

  ➔ The use of the simple present tense emphasizes the singer's inherent abilities and characteristics. "I can move" and "I can run" display his capability and role as 'the sun'.

• Someone's screaming my name.

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense (action happening now)

  ➔ The present continuous tense indicates an action that is happening at this very moment. "Screaming" expresses an ongoing activity.

• Come and make me holy again.

  ➔ Imperative and Bare Infinitive (command and purpose)

  ➔ "Come" is an imperative verb, giving a direct command. "Make me holy" uses the bare infinitive after "come", expressing the purpose or result of the command.

• I'm the day, I'm the day I can show you the way

  ➔ Modal Verb 'can' (ability/possibility)

  ➔ 'Can' expresses the speaker's ability to guide or show someone the path. It indicates potential and a claim of capability.

• Just look at me and listen

  ➔ Imperative Mood (giving direct commands)

  ➔ Both 'look' and 'listen' are in the imperative mood, directly instructing the listener what to do.

• I'm the night, the light the black and the white

  ➔ Parallel Structure (listing related concepts)

  ➔ The phrase uses parallel structure to emphasize the duality and encompassing nature of the 'man on the silver mountain'. It presents related concepts in a similar grammatical form.