Umpteen Miles [Tommy Shaw]

Umpteen Miles

Written by Tommy Shaw, Brad Davis

Lead Vocals by Tommy Shaw

My daddy died upon this mountain
Spent his life working with his hands
Made his pay fair by hauling flat rock
From up here on the back side of his land

When I was ten he took me to the quarry
Taught me things I never will forget
He showed no fear when he walked along the high side
Far above that rocky river bed

It's umpteen miles boy can you climb it?
It's umpteen miles to the ferry car
When you're umpteen miles high you can't back down it
It's umpteen miles down the bottom rock

Times may have changed but not this mountain
All these years it stood there all alone
I passed the torch and now it's up to you son
To make your mark upon this stone mass stone

It's umpteen miles boy can you climb it?
It's umpteen miles to the ferry car
When you're umpteen miles high you can't back down it
It's umpteen miles down the bottom rock

It's umpteen miles boy can you climb it?
It's umpteen miles to the ferry car
When you're umpteen miles high you can't back down it
It's umpteen miles down the bottom rock
It's umpteen miles down the bottom rock

Hell yeah

Interpretation

When I was ten my dad took me to the quarry where he worked and showed me the work he did.  It was honest work, hauling rock every day. He was fearless, walking along the high cliff above the quarry. He explained how the mountain was always there, and we need to respect it.  One day it would be my job to carry on the work.