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The Mountain Goats
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Subb Offline
Music Nerd

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Post: #1
The Mountain Goats

(I posted this on another forum, but no one responded. So I thought I may as well post it here and see if anyone would be interested. I would love to hear what a conservative Christian would think of these songs, but I don't think that will happen anytime soon. The parts in italics were for the other forum, not here.)

Hi. I want to tell everyone here about this band called the Mountain Goats. I recommend that everyone here should give them a listen and come up with their own conclusion.

John Darnielle, the lead singer and writer, is a storyteller. He's also a devout Catholic, but not your normal Catholic. He writes with a cryptic tone, leading you to decipher what he means. He uses his songs to explore themes such as religion. I say this because I want to let everyone know that the lyrics I post are STORIES, and they do not necessarily reflect the views of the band. Rather, they bring attention to different points of view. The Mountain Goats do not promote any of the views, but just call attention to them.

I want to focus on a couple songs that they have done in an album called "The Life of the World to Come." Every song on that album was titled with a Bible verse. But, I put this in the Secular Music section. The song is somewhat related to the Bible verse, sometimes even exploring the same theme.

The first song is "1 Samuel 15:23." "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."





This song obviously about someone committing the sin of witchcraft. But, he wants to help people. He wants to welcome people who don't belong anywhere. He uses crystal healing to help the sick. He wants to go to Hell for the sole purpose of aiding the souls who wound up there. The man in this song is the manifestation of "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." Which is an interesting thing to think about.

Notable lyric: "There's more like me where I come from, so mark our shapes. Go down to the netherworld, plant grapes."

The second one is "Psalm 40:2" "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."





The narrator is definitely a Christian, but not a good one. His view of God is extremely unhealthy. My view of this song is a bit more murky, because there's a lot of different ways you can go with it. He either worships God only because of his power and thinks that he would stop him if he wanted to, or that he's testing God to see if he will stop him, or that he thinks God is supporting what he's doing. A perplexing glimpse into the mind of a madman.

Notable lyric: "Lord, send me a mechanic if I'm not beyond repair.
He has fixed his sign in the sky.
He has raised from the pit and he will set me high."

Again, the Mountain Goats are just telling stories. These two narrators are meant to be examined, not taken up as role models. Anyway, these guys are interesting. I hope this hasn't offended you in any way. If it has, I apologize.

Sub's Mental Log!
We've had a lot of fun, guys.
Fulltime Member, 2013-2014

RIP GWEDIN
RIP URITIYOGI
RIP NIGHT
RIP HANSGROHE
RIP VON
RIP WES
RIP USERNAME
01-09-2014 02:33 AM
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Subb Offline
Music Nerd

Posts: 1,466
Joined: Nov 2012
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Given 317 thank(s) in 184 post(s)
Post: #2
RE: The Mountain Goats

Well, the other forum has rules on posting other people's writing. This one does not. So, I'm gonna take a couple songs and interpret them.

First, "Diluadid."





"The reception's gotten fuzzy,
The delicate balance has shifted."

He's on drugs right now. His senses are clouded, and his brain chemistry is off.

"Put on your gloves and black pumps.
Let's pretend the fog has lifted."

He's with a girl, and they're getting ready for something, because she's getting dressed. Also, they are going to pretend that they did not take drugs.

"Now you see me, now you don't.
Now you say you love me.
Pretty soon you won't."

He's experiencing the effects of the drugs, and his mind is fleeting. Whatever they're going to do, she's not gonna like.

"If we get our full three score and ten.
We won't pass this way again.
So kiss me with your mouth open."

I think the three score and ten refers to money, seventy dollars, problably for drugs. If they get seventy bucks, they won't do this again. So, the gloves, pumps, and money all point to one thing; prostitution. And "kiss me with your mouth open" is him saying "I'n the one who loves you. Remember that."
"Turn the tires toward the street.
And stay sweet."

They're getting ready to go, and he wants her to stay attractive. They need this to work.

"All the chickens come on home to roost.
Plump bodies blotting out the sky.
You know it breaks my heart in half, in half.
When I see them trying to see them fly.
'Cuz you just can't do things your body wasn't meant to."

He's comparing his drug addiction to the chickens trying to fly; against their nature.

"Hike up your fishnets, I know you."

He's saying "Come on. We need this. Please do it. I know you don't want to, but we have to."

"If we live to see the other side of this
I will remember your kiss
So do it with your mouth open."

If their relationship is still okay after she sells her body, he will still love her, so she should love her too.

"And take your foot off of the brake
For Christ's sake!"

They have to go, but she won't. She will not do it. This is the last straw.

So, that was "Diluadid." That was really fun to do, actually.

Sub's Mental Log!
We've had a lot of fun, guys.
Fulltime Member, 2013-2014

RIP GWEDIN
RIP URITIYOGI
RIP NIGHT
RIP HANSGROHE
RIP VON
RIP WES
RIP USERNAME
01-09-2014 03:33 PM
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thewake Offline
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Post: #3
The Mountain Goats

Mountain Goats is ok. Thumbsup

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01-09-2014 03:37 PM
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James Comey Away
Banished Oldfaf in Exile

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Post: #4
The Mountain Goats

Damn I remember listening to this back then.

RIP GWEDIN
RIP URITIYOGI
RIP NIGHT
RIP VONUNOV
RIP WES/THEWAKE
RIP USERNAME

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Stop jerking off to porn and whining and do something about it

Make School Survival Great Again - MSSGA

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04-24-2017 06:43 AM
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