I've had this song on repeat all week!

When I'm feeling down I listen to this song and the chorus just pick me up and puts me in a GREAT mood! Not to mention it's part of my favorite Prince era.

PARADE '86 BABY!!!!


But I say it's only mountains and the sea
Love will conquer if U just believe (Oh yeah!)
It's only mountains and the sea
There's nothing greater (oh), U and me

Used 2 be one of my fav Parade tracks!!Well,still is!

Also liked the 12"version,heavier groove and great intro...

Hey U,get up on that dancefloor

this may be my favorite prince song ever.

Guitars and drums on the one..!





Once upon a time in a land called Fantasy
17 mountains stood so high.
The sea surrounded them and together they would be
The only thing that ever made u cry
U said the devil told u that another mountain would appear
Everytime somebody broke your heart
He said the sea would 1 day overflow with all your tears,
And love will always leave u lonely

But I say it's only mountains and the sea
Love will conquer if u just believe (oh yeah)
It's only mountains and the sea
There's nothing greater, u and me

Once upon a time in a haystack of despair,
happiness sometimes hard 2 find. (yeah)
Africa divided, hijack in the air,
it's enough to make you want to lose your mind

But I say it's only mountains and the sea
Love will conquer if u just believe (Oh yeah)
It's only mountains and the sea
There's nothing greater, u and me

Guitars and drums on the 1

(Bobby on the drum - ah!)

It's only mountains (oh yeah) and the sea. (and the girls sing)
There's nothing greater, u and me

[starvation]

Mountains

OMG, I never knew this is what he was saying:

"Guitars and drums on the one..! "

Thanks. Now I can really sing the whole song..
[Edited 5/26/06 20:37pm]

the live version that Wendy Lisa & Sheila have been doing in their last 3 shows is soooo great! i wish all the mountains fans could hear it.

Anx said:

The 12" version is definitely a contestant for mine too.

PeachBlack said:

I thought it was "Bobby I'm the drummer!"

GangstaFam said:

you know, i always did too, even though it didn't make sense. hmmm...

wonder505 said:

I thought he said:U guys on the drums are the one huh!

An amazing track! Probably my favourite one tied with "When Doves Cry" and "Paisley Park"!

Amen supreme song, I don't know why it didnt go any higher on the charts.

Yes this song does wonders to lift your spirits!

12 inch is my favourite Prince tune ever.

madartista said:

I thought it was Hundalasilia!

Agreed. One of my all time favorites too. A great feel good song with a kick ass drum beat right from the start.

hey you... i just got this on CD (finaly got a rip off a 12"--which i have a copy or 2 of so it is not like i stole it) but this topic makes me a very sad panda... i had the 10" white vinal... but i left it with smeone and she lost it... (gave it away)

Yes, I really love this song. I've yet to hear the extended version though...

I admit it: I don't like this song too much. Rather weak writing that he tried to cover with a completely overblown production. One of the weaker tunes on "Parade" imo.

GangstaFam said:

i always thought it was "MOMMY I'M A DRUMMER!"

EmancipationLover said:

Wow, your tough you call this weak writing:
Once upon a time in a land called Fantasy
17 mountains stood so high.
The sea surrounded them and together they would be
The only thing that ever made u cry
U said the devil told u that another mountain would appear
Everytime somebody broke your heart
He said the sea would 1 day overflow with all your tears,
And love will always leave u lonely

But I say it's only mountains and the sea
Love will conquer if u just believe (oh yeah)
It's only mountains and the sea
There's nothing greater, u and me

Once upon a time in a haystack of despair,
happiness sometimes hard 2 find. (yeah)
Africa divided, hijack in the air,
it's enough to make you want to lose your mind

But I say it's only mountains and the sea
Love will conquer if u just believe (Oh yeah)
It's only mountains and the sea
There's nothing greater, u and me

Guitars and drums on the 1

(Bobby on the drum - ah!)

It's only mountains (oh yeah) and the sea. (and the girls sing)
There's nothing greater, u and me

[starvation]

Mountains
[Edited 5/27/06 13:47pm]

wonder505 said:

I was more talking about the music. Not his strongest melodic ideas imo...

EmancipationLover said:

hahahahaha!

Imago said:

I think that's spelled Hundalasiliah.

EmancipationLover said:

Ah, interesting. I always thought the melody (and the song overall) was more of an homage to Sly Stone.

How do you feel about the chord progressions -- particularly from the breakdown to the vamp? I love those changes. Textbook Wendy & Lisa.

ThreadBare said:

I'm sorry, I'm not a musician (wish I was), but because I love this song so much I'm fascinated. Can you explain what you mean?

My favorite song ever.

wonder505 said:

The melody (what gets sung by Prince, Wendy & Lisa) is derivative (but sweetly) of the sort of vocal approach and melody employed by Sly & the Family Stone. The same approach is seen in 1999, Push, Daddy Pop (Sly's influence is all over Diamonds & Pearls), Family Name and Make Yo Mama Happy.

But after the chorus that follows the breakdown ("Guitars and drums on the one"), the song does a neat little shift. And, if you listen to the chords being played on the keyboard while the horns do their thing, some really cool sonic colors are being painted. Especially the chords' resolution that precedes "Starvation." Whoooweee!!! The vamp that leads into the extended latin version is beautiful.

Whatever flaws or faults that song might have, the chords (to me) more than make up for them.

I listened to this on my mp3 player, whilst walking home drunk from a friend's house, the other night.

I'd always wondered what the words were about but I had this sudden realisation that the line "It's only mountains and the sea" could refer to countries.

I think he's saying that countries are just mountains surrounded by sea. The line about Africa being divided, sort of confirms to me that it's a song about sustaining a love across geographical borders.

Fell in love with that song in seventh grade in the early 90s.