“The Mountain” was written and recorded by Ronnie Bowman, the singer and songwriter from southwest Virginia. Bowman first drew wide notice as the lead voice of the Lonesome River Band before stepping out on his own, and he recorded “The Mountain” for a solo album released in 2005.
By that time Bowman had also become a sought-after Nashville songwriter, with songs cut across country and bluegrass; he co-wrote the Randy Travis hit “Three Wooden Crosses.” “The Mountain” is one of the songs he kept for himself, sung in the plaintive, deeply felt style that became his signature.
Bowman recorded the song with his band the Committee, a group of accomplished bluegrass players. The version heard here is by Ronnie Bowman.