Magic Mountain

Album: Encyclopedia (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The nearest to a call-to-arms as anything The Drums have done, the title refers to The Magic Mountain, a 1924 novel by German writer Thomas Mann. The song was released as the lead single from Encyclopedia, their first album in three years. "Let's knock them over the head and see what happens," vocalist Jonathan Pierce said of the track. "It feels like we're sticking our necks out."

    "Three years is a long time to wait these days, for a band like us," he added. "I feel like we've been given an amazing opportunity. This is an album about being yourself and protecting yourself. We made this beautiful record, so why be timid now about what we want to say?"
  • Thomas Mann's novel is set in a Swiss sanatorium high up in the Alps. The action takes place not only there, but also in a figuratively, a reclusive, separate world.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.