When you’re born in the shadow of a mountain

You know the warmth of the darkest of shade

You know nothing will ever rise above that mountain

In whose image and shadow you were made

 

When cast in the shadow of a mountain

Your caste can feel defined before birth

Your path may seem predestined and written

As your feet struggle to impress in the earth

 

But there’s a comfort in the shadow of a mountain

When the wind howls, you always feel safe

Though the sun bakes, the snow burns, and the rain teems

You know you’re in the best place

 

When it’s forged in the furnace of a volcano

A mountain will rise, and it will kiss the sky

In its heart, if you listen, you can hear it saying

Son, don’t be afraid to look the king in the eye

 

As you grow in the shadow of a mountain

Its stone can feel cold to the touch

But as the snow melts and falls upon your cheeks

You know the mountain loves you so much

 

Whether sandstone, limestone or granite

All mountains wither and crumble; they must

The winds and ice of time they erode them

All great mountains return to become dust

 

So, if you’re born in the shadow of a mountain

And the sun does not rise one cold day

Feel the pulse of the mountain inside you

Stand up, kiss the sky, look the king in the eye – be a mountain, be glad you were made that way.