It was Mark's birthday, and a bunch of songwriting friends were gathered on the hilltop deck at his folk's place, just above Mark's hollow. Mark was the first to notice the moon rising out of a spectacular pink sunset, high above the songs ringing through the hills west of Nashville. He casually blurted out the first line of the song and then warned all the other songwriter's that it was his birthday, and his line. - so no one better write it first. He love's his friends, but he knew better than to trust them all not to write that song. He wrote it by himself later that night. The song has been the band's show-closing anthem since the beginning.
Lyrics
From The Top Of This Hill
Mark Elliott
The moon unfolds just like a note
From a lip stick sealed envelope
And spreads like words across the sky
Followed by a shooting star
A comet's tail, a planet far
Miles above a long lost satellite
That's the view from the top of this hill
Takes my breath, makes my heart stand still
Lying on a blanket and staring off into space
I like to think of everything I’ve lost
What I ’ve gained and at what cost
Where I can see over my troubles and my spills
From the top of this hill babe - from the top of this hill
A west bound jet flies overhead
But down below everyone’s in bed
Lights go out 'cause the hour ’s getting late
Shadows on the pine trees dance
Just like chance and circumstance
Life never looks the same from day to day
Repeat Chorus
I’m a king on a throne
I’m a wild heart, rolling stone
I am strong, I am happy, I am free
And that's the view from the top of this hill
Takes my breath, makes my heart stand still
Lying on a blanket and staring off into space
I like to think of everything I’ve lost
What I ’ve gained and at what cost
Where I can see over my troubles and my spills
From the top of this hill babe - from the top of this hill
©2004 Mark Elliott Music, BMI