Song of the Day (A-Z): Jason Lytle – Matterhorn

Day 13 (M). Jason Lytle is almost certainly best known for his work as the frontman & main songwriter in the top-tier Indie rock band, Grandaddy. Away from Grandaddy, Lytle has also crafted a small solo career. Matterhorn is grand, widescreen elegiac pop music in a similar vein to another favourite of mine, British Sea Power, but with Jason Lytle’s signature falsetto vocals & analogue synths.

This version is a solo acoustic version which Lytle actually recorded on the mountainside of the Matterhorn itself, the titular mountain which straddles the Swiss/Italian border. The song itself wonders at the merits of braving dangerous situations, like climbing the Matterhorn, versus the merits of staying home where it’s “safe and warm”. This lends a humorous element to the choice of location.

10 o’clock and her life quit going
It wasn’t long till it started snowing
And the end saw the wind really blowing around

Lone bird on a perch nearby
Saw something in her come untied
And then shivered just a bit as she aimed toward the sky

Get down that Matterhorn
What’s wrong with the safe and warm?
What’s wrong with a book and tea at night?
Up high in a friendless wind
Tears frozen upon descent
Get down that matterhorn again

There’s a handwritten note he wrote
In the pocket of a cold down coat
On the body of the one who has left our world

And in the note there’s a love professed
And some apology about some mess
But she won’t be reading those words too soon

Get down that Matterhorn
What’s wrong with the safe and warm?
What’s wrong with a book and tea at night?
Up high in a friendless wind
Tears frozen upon descent
Get down that matterhorn again

Up high in a frightening sky
What’s wrong with a quiet night?
Get down that Matterhorn again.