John Denver – Wrangle Mountain Song

About the song

A Song of Soaring Peaks and Enduring Love

John Denver’s “Wrangle Mountain Song” is a captivating ballad that paints a vivid picture of the Alaskan wilderness and the enduring power of love. Released in 1980, the song quickly became a beloved classic, capturing the hearts of listeners with its soaring melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Denver’s gentle vocals and emotive guitar work perfectly complement the song’s themes of natural beauty, personal connection, and the indomitable spirit of the human heart.

Setting the Scene: Alaska’s Rugged Beauty

The song opens with a setting that is both remote and breathtaking: “Sunday, and it’s raining in Alaska / Seven days, I haven’t seen the sun.” The listener is immediately transported to the Alaskan wilderness, a land of towering mountains, dense forests, and vast expanses of untamed nature. Denver’s evocative imagery paints a picture of a world both harsh and beautiful, a place where the forces of nature are both awe-inspiring and humbling.

A Pilot’s Journey: Longing for Home

The protagonist of the song is a pilot, flying through the Alaskan skies, longing for the warmth and comfort of home. The lyrics convey a deep sense of isolation and loneliness, as the pilot navigates the treacherous weather and vast distances of the Alaskan landscape. Yet, amidst the solitude, there is also a sense of determination and resilience, as the pilot presses on, guided by the hope of returning home.

The Power of Love: A Beacon in the Wilderness

As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the power of love, a beacon of hope that shines brightly amidst the wilderness. The pilot sings: “I can’t wait to see the Wrangell Mountains / I can’t wait to do what I will do / When I can’t wait to get back home to you.” These lines express a deep longing for connection and belonging, a desire to be reunited with loved ones amidst the vastness of the Alaskan wilderness.

A Timeless Classic: Enduring Themes

“Wrangle Mountain Song” has resonated with listeners for decades due to its universal themes of love, longing, and the enduring beauty of nature. Denver’s heartfelt lyrics and captivating melodies have cemented the song’s place as a timeless classic, a testament to the power of music to connect with the human spirit. Whether you’re an experienced outdoorsman or an armchair traveler, “Wrangle Mountain Song” will transport you to the heart of the Alaskan wilderness and leave you with a profound appreciation for the power of love and the beauty of the natural world.

Video

Lyrics

“John Denver – Wrangle Mountain Song”

 

 

Sunday and it’s raining in Alaska
Seven days, I haven’t seen the sun
Flying bush, flying low along the shore lune
Doing everything I can to make it home

I can’t wait to see the Wrangle Mountain
I can’t wait to do what I will do
Honey, did I never say how time goes by so slowly
When I can’t wait to get back home to you

Three years from the war and settled down now
I did my time and served my country well
In the freedom I defended I fly beneath the North Star
And I just don’t know a better way to feel

I can’t wait to see the Wrangle Mountain
I can’t wait to do what I will do
Honey, did I never say how time goes by so slowly
When I can’t wait to get back home to you

It’s a quiet life out here among the mountains
In a cabin that was built with these two hands
McCarthey lies asleep beside the Glacier
It’s colder now, winter’s in the air
If you think they’re wild it’s just because they can’t be broken
It’s a strong and gentle people living there

I can’t wait to see the Wrangle Mountain
I can’t wait to do what I will do
Honey, did I never say how time goes by so slowly
When I can’t wait to get back home to you