Rocky Mountain High – English Lyrics

• By: John Denver

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the beauty of the English language through John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High." This song is a wonderful opportunity to learn descriptive vocabulary related to nature and emotions. Its poetic lyrics, inspired by a real-life experience under the stars, make it a special and heartfelt piece of music that captures a deep appreciation for the natural world.

[English]

He was born in the summer of his twenty-seventh year

Coming home to a place he'd never been before

He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again

You might say he found a key for every door

When he first came to the mountains, his life was far away

On the road and hangin' by a song

But the string's already broken, and he doesn't really care

It keeps changin' fast, and it don't last for long

But the Colorado Rocky Mountain high

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby

Rocky Mountain high (Colorado)

Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below

He saw everything as far as you can see

And they say that he got crazy once, and he tried to touch the sun

And he lost a friend but kept his memory

Now he walks in quiet solitude, the forests and the streams

Seeking grace in every step he takes

His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand

The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

Talk to God and listen to the casual reply

Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

Now his life is full of wonder, but his heart still knows some fear

Of a simple thing, he cannot comprehend

While they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more

More people, more scars upon the land

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly

Rocky Mountain high

Colorado Rocky Mountain high

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

Friends around the campfire and everybody's high

Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

Rocky Mountain high (high in Colorado)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
born /bɔːrn/ A2	verb - to come into life; be brought into existence
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
mountains /ˈmaʊntɪnz/ A2	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter
road /roʊd/ A1	noun - a way made for traveling on
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ B1	adjective - separated into pieces; not in working order
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region above the earth
shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/ B1	noun - a dark area produced by blocking light
climbed /klaɪmd/ A2	verb - went up or ascended
silver /ˈsɪlvər/ B1	adjective - of a lustrous grayish-white color
touch /tʌtʃ/ A1	verb - to put a hand or finger on
solitude /ˈsɒlɪtjuːd/ C1	noun - the state of being alone
forests /ˈfɒrɪsts/ A2	noun - a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth
streams /striːmz/ A2	noun - a small, narrow river
grace /ɡreɪs/ B2	noun - elegance or beauty of movement
serenity /sɪˈrenɪti/ C1	noun - the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled
wonder /ˈwʌndər/ B1	noun - a feeling of amazement and admiration
scar /skɑːr/ B1	noun - a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed
eagle /ˈiːɡəl/ B2	noun - a large bird of prey with powerful wings

Key Grammar Structures

• He was born in the summer of his twenty-seventh year

  ➔ Past Simple (was born)

  ➔ The verb 'to be' in the past simple form indicates a completed action in the past.

• Coming home to a place he'd never been before

  ➔ Present Perfect (coming home)

  ➔ The present perfect is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present.

• He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again

  ➔ Past Simple (left) + Past Perfect (was born again)

  ➔ The past simple and past perfect are used to describe actions that happened in the past, with the past perfect indicating a completed action before another past action.

• When he first came to the mountains, his life was far away

  ➔ Past Simple (came) + Past Simple (was)

  ➔ The past simple is used to describe a completed action in the past, with 'was' indicating a state of being in the past.

• It keeps changin' fast, and it don't last for long

  ➔ Present Continuous (keeps changing) + Negative (doesn't last)

  ➔ The present continuous is used to describe an action that is happening now or is in progress, and the negative form is used to indicate that something does not happen or is not true.

• But the Colorado Rocky Mountain high

  ➔ But (contrasting conjunction) + Past Simple (was)

  ➔ The conjunction 'but' is used to introduce a contrasting idea, and 'was' is used to describe a state of being in the past.

• I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

  ➔ Past Simple (have seen) + Past Simple (rained)

  ➔ The past simple is used to describe a completed action in the past, with 'have seen' indicating an action of perceiving in the past.