White Mountain (song)

Song_infobox
Name = White Mountain


SorA = album
Artist = Genesis
Album = Trespass
Released = 23 October, 1970
track_no = 2
Recorded = June-July 1970
Genre = Progressive rock
Progressive folk
Length = 6:43
Writer = Tony Banks, Peter Gabriel, Anthony Phillips, Mike Rutherford
Composer =
Label = Charisma/Virgin (UK)
MCA (USA)
Producer = John Anthony
Chart position =
prev = "Looking for Someone"
prev_no = 1
next = "Visions of Angels"
next_no = 3

"White Mountain" is a song by the progressive rock group Genesis. It was released on their second studio album, "Trespass".

Lyrically, the song tells a fable of a wolf named Fang, who seeks to usurp the authority of the pack leader (an old undefeated hero known as One-Eye) by learning of the crown and sceptre known only to the king. The sentence for Fang's sin is death. As the song progresses, Fang is chased by a pack of wolves led by One-Eye, before falling before the king in an epic final battle between the two. One-Eye then hides the crown and returns to his pack in peace.

The song was performed live during 1976, on the "A Trick of the Tail" tour, with Phil Collins singing the lead as Peter Gabriel had by this time left the band. Live versions did not include significant drum parts, but rather an accompaniment using a hi-hat. John Mayhew, the drummer who recorded the song, had been dismissed after the recording of the album, with Collins replacing him shortly thereafter.

The album takes its name from the song as Fang is said to have "trespassed where no wolf may tread," save the king himself.

The names of Fang and One Eye are borrowed from Jack London's novel White Fang. In the story, Fang has the first name of White, and One Eye is Fang's father. The song and the story differ in every other respect.