Song For Mountains

Les Discrets' 'Song For Mountains' is a poignant reflection on the loss of natural beauty and the encroachment of industrialization. The lyrics, sung in French, evoke a dream of pristine landscapes, with vivid imagery of green expanses, piercing sunlight, pure water, and the earthy scent of woods and soil. This idyllic vision is contrasted with the harsh reality of modernity, where the natural world is being replaced by artificial constructs.

The song's narrator expresses a longing for the true face of nature, hoping that the melting snow of winter will reveal it. However, this hope is met with a stark contrast as the lyrics describe 'bocs gris' (grey blocks) and 'grands bâtons droits' (tall straight sticks), which symbolize the new rocks and trees of an industrialized world. These metaphors highlight the replacement of natural elements with man-made structures, devoid of the life and vibrancy that characterize the natural world.

The repetition of 'grands bâtons droits' emphasizes the transformation of trees into weapons, a powerful metaphor for the destructive impact of human activity on the environment. Les Discrets, known for their atmospheric and melancholic musical style, use this song to convey a deep sense of loss and yearning for a time when nature was unspoiled. The song serves as a lament for the disappearing natural world and a critique of the relentless march of industrialization.