Snake Mountain Blues
Walkabouts · New West Motel [1996]
Let me tell you where you're bound
When you drink your green liquor
Lord, you'll roll to the ground
But you come around here
With your money in your hand
Tasted my woman
You'll die where you stand
Snake Mountain's gonna crumble
Lord, and fall from the sky
'Til that woman of mine
Keeps on telling her lies
If I'd die Lord, she'd weep
And she'd weep and she'd mourne
As soon as I was buried
Forget I been born
Well my daddy, he rides on a long holy train
And the first winds of winter
Well, I'll see him again
And it's goodbye to that yellow-headed misery I've known
Snake Mountain is callin'
Is callin' me home
Got the Snake Mountain blues X4
Got the Snake Mountain blues X4
*[One verse of the original is left out.
It goes something like this:
Well the Snake Mountain blues
Have got me down low
I could die in the morning
And no one would know
Well, my woman comes 'round
My body she'd found
Go down to Dundee
(And) Have her a time]
Snake Mountain Blues
Walkabouts' "Snake Mountain Blues" stands as a defining track from their 1996 album "New West Motel," capturing the raw energy and atmospheric depth characteristic of their indie rock and alternative country sound. The recording reflects the band's ability to blend folk instrumentation with a driving, rhythmic pulse that became a hallmark of their discography during the mid-90s. Released during a period when Walkabouts were establishing themselves as a significant voice in the American underground, the song exemplifies their commitment to authentic, unpolished production that prioritized emotional resonance over commercial gloss. Its enduring presence in their catalog speaks to the song's ability to evoke a sense of place and melancholy, resonating with listeners who appreciate the band's unique fusion of storytelling and sonic texture.