[Verse 1] Shadows are falling And I’ve been here all day It’s too hot to sleep And time is running away Feel like my soul has Turned into steel I’ve still got the scars That the sun didn’t heal There’s not even room enough To be anywhere
[Refrain] It’s not dark yet But it’s getting there
[Verse 2] Well, my sense of humanity Has gone down the drain Behind every beautiful thing There’s been some kind of pain She wrote me a letter And she wrote it so kind She put down in writin’ What was in her mind I just don’t see why I should even care
[Refrain] It’s not dark yet But it’s getting there
[Verse 3] Well, I’ve been to London And I’ve been to gay Paris I’ve followed the river And I got to the sea I’ve been down on the bottom Of a world full of lies I ain’t lookin’ for nothin’ In anyone’s eyes Sometimes my burden Is more than I can bear
[Refrain] It’s not dark yet But it’s getting there
[Instrumental Interlude]
[Verse 4] I was born here, and I’ll die here Against my will I know it looks like I’m moving But I’m standing still Every nerve in my body Is so vacant and numb I can’t even remember what it was I came here to get away from Don’t even hear a murmur of a prayer
[Refrain] It’s not dark yet But it’s getting there
“Thunder On The Mountain” is a song written by Bob Dylan, released in 2006 as the first track on his album Modern Times.
The song, alongside “Someday Baby“, has had considerable success, garnering more airtime than any other track on the album.
Dylan references his former residence, Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan and a former resident, Alicia Keys. He was inspired to write the song after admiring Keys’ performance at the Grammys.[1]
The song alludes to the bible, with Dylan playing the role of the archangel Gabriel blowing his horn.[2]
Prompted by Dylan, American rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson recorded a country version of the song that was released as a single in 2011. The name “Jerry Lee” was substituted for “Alicia Keys”.[3]
