"Gonna Build a Mountain" is a song by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the 1961 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd.
Lady Gaga recorded a two version of the song, one solo version for Harlequin (2024), her companion album to the musical thriller film Joker: Folie à Deux and second duet version with Joaquin Phoenix for film itself and its soundtrack. Harlequin version was produced by Gaga and Benjamin Rice.
Lyrics
One, two, three, and two, two
Gonna build a mountain
From a little hill
Gonna build me a mountain
'Least I hope I will
Gonna build a mountain
Gonna build it high
I don't know how I'm gonna do it
Only know I'm gonna try
Gonna build me a daydream from a little hope
Gonna push that daydream up the mountain slope
Gonna build a daydream, gonna see it through
Gonna build a mountain and a daydream
Gonna make 'em both come true
Gonna build me a heaven from a little hell
Gonna build me a heaven, and I know darn well
That if I build a mountain, oh yeah, with a lot of care
I'll take our daydream up the mountain, and a heaven will be waiting there
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
When I build that heaven, as I will someday
And the Lord sends Gabriel to take me away
I want a fine young son to take my place
I need a son in a heaven on earth with the good Lord's grace
Performances
 Dates
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 Location
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 City
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|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | The Belasco: Harlequin Secret Show | Los Angeles, CA | 
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Credits
| Written By | Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley |
| Published By | Ludlow Music, Inc. (BMI) Downtown DMP Songs (BMI) Songs of Peter (BMI) |
| Producers | Lady Gaga and Benjamin Rice |
| Arrangers | Lady Gaga, Benjamin Rice, Michael Polansky, Brian Newman, Alex Smith, Daniel Foose, Steve Kortyka, Donald Barrett and Tim Stewart |
| Recording Studio | Sound Factory at The Palms, Las Vegas, NV
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| Engineers | Kevin Harp and Benjamin Rice |
| 2nd Engineer | Joe Dougherty |
| Asst. Engineers | Patrick Hundley and Daniel "Chief Van Billiard |
| Musicians | Trumpet - Brian Newman Organ - Alex Smith Bass - Daniel Foose Saxophone - Steve Kortyka Drums - Donald Barrett Guitar - Tim Stewart Additional Percussion - Benjamin Rice |
| Asst. Mixing Engineer | Bryce Bordone |
Joker: Folie à Deux Version
Anticipating that Arthur (Joaquin Phoenix) will be acquitted at his murder trial, Lee (Lady Gaga) bursts into this gospel-tinged song from The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd as she imagines the happy life that she and Arthur will build together. The number takes place in a nightclub with Lee behind the piano and Arthur in his Joker makeup doing a tap-dance for the audience.
Lyrics
We're gonna build a mountain from a little hill
Gonna build me a mountain, least I hope I will
Gonna build a mountain, gonna build it high
I don't know how we're gonna do it, only know we're gonna try
Gonna build us a heaven from a little hell
Gonna build us a heaven and I know darn well
That if I build that mountain (Oh yeah) with a lot of care (With a lot of care)
I'll take my daydream up the mountain and Heaven will be waitin' there
(Gonna build us a heaven from a little hell)
(You'll take your daydream up the mountain and Heaven will be waitin' there)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Oh yеah (Oh yeah)
Oh yeah (Oh yeah)
Look at that mountain (Look at that mountain)
Look at that mountain (Look at that mountain)
Look at that mountain (Look at that mountain)
Look at that mountain (Look at that mountain)
Gonna build a mountain (Gonna build a mountain)
Gonna build a mountain (Gonna build a mountain)
Gonna build a mountain (Gonna build a mountain)
Gonna build a mountain (Gonna build a mountain)
Gonna build that mountain
No (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
(Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Lеt me build it (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
(Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Just one (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
(Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Mountain high (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
(Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Gonna build a mountain with a lot of care (Build a mountain, build a mountain)
I'll take my daydream up the mountain and Heaven will be waitin' there
Gonna build
I'm gonna build us
I'm gonna build us a mountain
Build us a mountain
Build us a mountain
High, let's build it
Mountain, mountain, build a mountain
Mountain, mountain, build a mountain
Mountain (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Mountain (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Mountain (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Mountain (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Mountain (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Mountain (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Mountain-tain-tain (Mountain, mountain, build a mountain)
Mountain
Credits
| Performed by | Lady Gaga with Joaquin Phoenix |
| Written by | Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley |
| Published by |
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| Arranged by | Brian Newman Quintet & David Campbell |
| Recorded at |
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